Money, money, money

parliament building
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Saturday 19th September 2009. Alarm call at 3am and WE were on our way to stansted airport. WE, being, Pete (brother) and Ian (nephew, also Vienna blog). This time for a very short trip to Oslo, the capital of Norway. Our flight, with which we passed over some stunning norwegian countryside into Oslo-torp airport, (about 70 miles south west of the city) and we were there and with the sun shining brightly, gave us our first taste of this beautiful country. After a 90 minute bus trip into the city, which dropped us off in the centre, we were ready to cram in as much as we could. After a quick stop at burger king for refuelling we made our way to our hotel, which was behind the royal palace and was around a 20 minute walk. A quick look at our pokey little room, (luckily for one night), followed by a sharp turnaround and we were back on our way. A walk around aker brygge, the new redeveloped harbour front and it was time to have our first pint. I (stupidly) said, " I will get these". Three pints of norwegian lager arrived with a rather stupid bill of 204 kroner (£22.65), with which i demanded that "we sit and enjoy these". After getting over the shock we had a stroll around, taking in the new and stunning Opera house and a few other sights. It was now time to source a cheaper pub for the next hour or so. Neon lights saying "expressen pub" situated on fred olsen gate caught our eye and we were in. A pint of local lager and a couple of games of pool followed. I have never been happier to pay £5.33 a pint in my life. After a few more beers it was time to make our way back to get ready for the evening. A taxi ride to the underwater pub (its not) and a walk back into the centre to the scots mans pub we were getting a little peckish. This is really where the expense of this city hit me. A look at the menu and finding that steak and chips was going to cost me £32, we instead made do with another burger king and a few more pints at the expressen pub. We then watched Ian do a very english (only fools and horses) version of Crying (cwying) to a pub full of locals, and pete and I doing rather subdued attempts (in comparison) of songs. Off back for a sleep and sunday morning greeted us with rain and gloom. A walk around the rather odd looking Vigelandsparken (sculpture park) and it was time to pack our bags and make our way to the city centre to buy some souvenirs and dodge the now heavy rain. A quick drink (soft one this time) and bite to eat (burger king again) and the rain had stopped. We walked around by aker brygge again to take a few pictures and the city hall, where every december the nobel peace prize is awarded and it was nearing the time to make our way back to the bus station and onto the airport. Oslo is a really nice, clean city with a few sights along the way but I would say that two days was enough to see what it has to offer. Be prepared though, you will need lots of money,money,money!!

I have never been happier to pay £5.33 a pint in my life