Scandinavia 2008 - Day 14
This morning I walked to a nearby grocers to buy some food for breakfast. I bought milk, eggs, and a bag of frozen chopped potatoes with some mystery meat. Later I discovered that the meat tasted like green pork (I hope that's what it was); despite this, it was a hearty and filling meal. I checked out, sad not to see my favorite desk clerk before going. At the train station I had some time before my train to Oslo, but I discovered there was a bus about to depart that would get me there sooner, I ran across the parking lot just in time to catch the bus as the driver was closing the doors. The bus drove out of the city and into the countryside for an hour. Soon enough the bus pulled of the small narrow road and into a town where in the driver informed me that I was to get off and wait with everyone else for the train that would take us the rest of the way. The town I now stand in is maybe 8 or 9 cottages. The train stop was just that, there was nothing to call a station other than a small boy of 11 or 12 who had small push cart full of drinks and candies. After about 10 minutes a train pulled up, and we all got on. This was a very weird experience, why I had to stop in the middle of nowhere to get a train to the capital of Norway I'll never know. But at least the train had a self-serve cappuccino machine in every other car.
The train entered Oslo from the south, like Venice, Oslo is an amazing town to approach. The train tracks run along the ocean and off to my left were many brilliant green islands, some were uninhabited and others had cute little cottages built on them. Ahead past more islands I could see Oslo on the coast, and in the very center a large white building that shimmered in the sunlight.
Once the train arrived I walked out of the station a bit confused in which direction I was facing and in which direction I was to go. Like any seasoned traveler I proceeded to follow the majority of the crowd out of the station to a large set of steps that were atop a large piazza. The steps were crowded with people milling about, business-less, and if going anywhere, were headed nowhere. Beyond the steps the piazza itself was torn-up and under construction, small paths of sharp gravel were left in place of streets.
My hostel was just a few blocks up and to the left of the main entrance of the train station. I checked in and discovered that I shared a room with 4 old Chinese women. After unpacking, washing up, and changing, I leafed through my guidebook to plan my attack on the city of Oslo; from my hostel window I could see several prostitutes standing in front of a homeless shelter.
Walking past the train station and the many junkies who inhabited its steps I walked to the old town area of Oslo that is a mire of shops, restaurants, and I suppose unseen slums from the shady foreign (non-Norwegian) characters I have noticed hanging around. I finally found my destination which is were I currently sit, having finished dinner and a postcard. I am in the 100+ year old beer hall turned fancy restaurant called Olympian. I had a wonderful but pricey dinner (344NOK=$70) but I didn't have lunch and this is a very nice establishment. I am nearly done drawing my postcard of Copenhagen and I am just enjoying a beer. Tonight I shall take it easy and get some rest. If I feel adventurous, I might watch the women below work the streets from my 3rd floor window.
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