This evening a local was going to take me on of a walking tour of some of the old town homes. Usually people skip these and just take the funicular car to the top for the city view
Luckily the rain had died down somewhat from the afternoons massive downpour. Although the streets may seem touristy these were peoples homes so it was interesting to see the detailed care they had taken of their homes
We walked up to the city fortress for some city views which again most tourists don't do. He explained the original historic wharf area was double but was destroyed accidently by dynamite during WWII.
City residents can use the tourist funicular but pay the same rates and don't get a locals discount.
He showed me his house which had been passed down from his grandmother to his mother and now him. It had a spectacular city view. Now it divided into three apartments
He explained the massive prices in Norway were nothing to do with import costs vs Iceland. As Norway is not part of the EU and has oil wealth, when the financial crisis hit (which did not affect Norway) it became a safe haven.
Prices are relative to income and what people are willing to pay as I don't remember it being this crazy on my last visit in 2003.
Back in the hotel the bar below was playing loud music but it just sounded like a neighbour with their stereo on so not as bad as the reviews made out
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2025-05-22