Our route from Stockholm to Oslo was over 600km so we planned an overnight stop at Karlstad on the way. Inland from Stockholm Sweden is lake country, and so most of the towns we diverted to on the way had attractives waterfront areas. 

 Orebro was busy on the day we were there - Sweden's National Day. Their celebrations of music and dancing were held in the Wadkoping area. The on and off rain did not seem to affect the celebrations.This beautiful part of town along the Svarten River has a village created from wooden houses that would otherwise have been demolished. It is not a paying attraction but rather part of the parkland. As we walked closer to the town centre we saw many large attractive but slightly more modern houses. 

 
 
 
There was an interesting sight at Kristinehamn on the shores of Lake Vanern. Here on a rocky outcrop stands a 15 metre high sculpture designed by Picasso! It is one of a series of sculptures themed on his wife Jaqueline. Apparently each of the 'wing' bits on the side weigh 8 tonnes so it would have been a feat to erect.
 
As we drove closer to the Norwegian border the lakeland started to be replaced by forest. And once we were in Norway that was what we saw. Forest interspersed with farms. And for a change we started to see white houses among the brown. Amazing how entering another country one can suddenly see such obvious differences.

Rather than going directly to Oslo we drove south so we could travel up to the city along the the eastern side of the Oslofjord. And first stop was Halden. Crowning the town here is the Fredriksten Festning, an imposing fortress that looks over the town. Seems unreal that so many towns and cities had so much spent on structures to hopefully save themselves from attack. They must have been very uncertain times.

Our last stop before Oslo was Fredrikstad, one of the 3 cities in Norway surrounded by fortifications. There is no way when you are there that you would realise the fortress has diamond shaped points that make an interesting shape from above. Which we could not see (as in the borrowed image I have included). Interesting that the fortress was constructed according to an old Dutch) system. It is certainly a very well preserved town.
 
And so to Oslo and our hostel. A place with no atmosphere. But with a large newly renovated clean room with kitchenette and bathroom, and a supermarket downstairs we were happy.