OSLO
OSLO, Norway – The first stop on my month-long trip around Europe was Oslo, capital city of Norway, the country famed for its mythology and rich history. On the way in, there was beautiful green scenery and cottages on rolling hills, just as I expected.
Viking shoes on display at the Viking Museum. (Myah Guild/YJI)
The city, however, was quite different. Very clean, tidy and modern, but without the hallmark Norwegian feel I was hoping for. In other words, you could really have been anywhere.
With regards to food, brace yourself! It is very expensive in Oslo. A pizza, in one restaurant, was £18 (about €23 and $31) so be careful. Some of the places sold snacks for a reasonable price.
Inside the Viking museum is a boat like those used as burial caskets. (Myah Guild/YJI)
A Viking ax in the Viking Museum. (Myah Guild/YJI)
My friend and I, as young travelers, chose the safe option and bought food from the supermarket. This is a very good tip because you can save yourself a meal and a drink on the train.
Parliament building in Oslo. (Myah Guild/YJI)
In the museum they displayed the ships and information about the farmer who came across them buried on a farm in the early 1900s. They were used as burial caskets.
Artifacts, such as shoes and combs, were in cabinets beside them. It was amazing to see how well-preserved the items were.
A house in Bygdøy (Myah Guild/YJI)
After that, we walked around the suburb we were in, Bygdøy, which was obviously one of the wealthier parts. The houses were like ranches: all different with some designed traditionally, with different features like shutters and picket fences, while others had more of a modern look.
laundry facilities.
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Myah Guild / youthjournalism.org One of the floating hotels in Stockholm
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STOCKHOLM
passes. The train was very comfortable and easy to find in Oslo Central
Station. We reserved seats, which cost about £5, or about $8 each which was
well worth it because the train filled up fast.
The conductors simply check your passes andreservations and ask you to fill the details in as you go. Most are very
helpful if you want details of connecting trains as well.
Stockholm, which took five hours, gives inter-railers the chance to sleep and
relax on the train allowing more time to explore when you arrive at your
destination.
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Myah Guild / youthjournalism.org A fountain showing the Norse
god Thor slaying The Midgard Snake.
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p.m., found our hostel over the river in the older and “hippier” area of Södermalm, and headed straight out to explore.
with pubs, restaurants, shops, and a brilliant view of the Ericsson Dome, which
is the largest spherical building in the world.
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Myah Guild / youthjournalism.org A main shopping street in Gamla Stan.
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and a very cheap beer (their restrictions aren’t as harsh, as it ended up being
about £1/€1.26/$1.68). From
there we followed a tip picked up from the last hostel and found Skinnarviksparken,
a nearby park.
passing the fountain ‘Tor and Midgardssnake’ showing the Norse god Thor slaying
The Midgard Snake. A show and a lawn bowling tournament were taking place next
to the fountain, which was entertaining.
locals and went swimming at a nearby spot. The park near the water was filled
with people (swimming is obviously a popular pastime here), and the barrier
meant the place was safe for everyone.
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Myah Guild / youthjournalism.org
View of Gamla Stan from Skinnarviksparken.
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royal palace, complete with wall fountains, and having a look through their
narrow streets and various souvenir shops. It’s still quite expensive, but your
money seems to go further here.
narrow streets, and then we discovered all the floating hotels along the
harbour. They have a brilliant view across the lake of the old town which is
architecturally stunning.
The whole place is very modern, yet still very
traditional and, ultimately, Swedish. I will definitely return.
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Myah Guild / youthjournalism.org
The Round Tower and Köbmagergade, a major shopping street in Copenhagen.
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COPENHAGEN
lacklustre, but still scenic”
Copenhagen, home of legendary fairy-tale author Hans Christian Andersen.
I had thought about the small stretch of water
between the two countries but, after finding out a train went between the two
cities, I just accepted we would be able to go between the two without any
surprises.
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Myah Guild / youthjournalism.org
Arriving in Denmark.
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we all went up to the top deck and enjoyed a half hour ride across the water in
the sun.
jazz festival, so we found a venue close by and ate some street food – a mixture
of meat, vegetables and béarnaise sauce (eggs, vinegar and herbs.) Very tasty.
the theme park Tivoli and the main
square where street performances were taking place.
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Myah Guild / youthjournalism.org
The famous fairytale theme park, Tivoli.
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found it was closed on a Monday. So we went to Plan B and wandered around,
looking at Christiansborg Palace which houses the Danish Parliament, the Prime
Minister’s office, and the Supreme Court.
before remembering our mission to seek out a Danish pastry.
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Myah Guild / youthjournalism.org
The Dragon Fountain in the
main square.
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the middle of the city, with a really nice café in the center. After finding a
nearby bakery, we sat in the park with our pastries. One of the best things
about these cities was the fact there was always a park to sit and relax.
Assuming they were all going somewhere interesting, we followed them. We ended
up on Köbmagergade, a main street with shops and side streets and The Round
Tower, an astronomical lookout built by Christian IV in 1642.
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Myah Guild / youthjournalism.org
One of the mini-lakes with a view of the
planetarium.
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Myah Guild is a Senior Reporter for Youth Journalism International.
