Oslo, Oslo, NorwayCampervan had to be returned by 9 am to the same place we picked it up. Luckily, the side mirror that got knocked off, was easily replaceable and there was no extra charge. Planned to take an Uber back, but they were nice enough to drive Ran back to the hotel since it was so close. Took him less than an hour to return the campervan. After breakfast and repacking, took taxi to hotel in Oslo city center, about a 50-minute drive.
OSLO - HOTEL BONDEHEIM - 4 nights
Arrived around 2:00. Peter, clerk at reservation desk, super nice. There was a problem with our reservation that we made through Booking.com. Luckily, the manager worked it all out. Thank goodness, for such wonderful people!
Really nice hotel, in a GREAT location in the middle of the city center right around the corner from the most popular main street. Lots of the city sights were within easy walking distance. Breakfast included-- good variety with a large selection of items.
Nice, comfortable room. The pictures above the bed are of the famous Norwegian poet Olav H. Hauge (Poet of Ulvik) and his "Dream" poem. Translation: "It's this dream we carry that something wonderful is going to happen…" How great is that for a daily philosophy.
Our room #530 on the top floor had a tiny little balcony that overlooked Kristian IV gate. The last morning before checking out, we finally took a stroll down Akersgata, the charming alley-type street, that intrigued us every time we looked out the window.
OSLO - HOTEL BONDEHEIM - 4 nights
Arrived around 2:00. Peter, clerk at reservation desk, super nice. There was a problem with our reservation that we made through Booking.com. Luckily, the manager worked it all out. Thank goodness, for such wonderful people!
Really nice hotel, in a GREAT location in the middle of the city center right around the corner from the most popular main street. Lots of the city sights were within easy walking distance. Breakfast included-- good variety with a large selection of items.
Nice, comfortable room. The pictures above the bed are of the famous Norwegian poet Olav H. Hauge (Poet of Ulvik) and his "Dream" poem. Translation: "It's this dream we carry that something wonderful is going to happen…" How great is that for a daily philosophy.
Our room #530 on the top floor had a tiny little balcony that overlooked Kristian IV gate. The last morning before checking out, we finally took a stroll down Akersgata, the charming alley-type street, that intrigued us every time we looked out the window.
OSLO CITY SIGHTS - Sept 9-10:
Time to stretch our legs and and do a bit of city sightseeing: Our cousin is also here, then two other cousins will be coming. Fun times ahead.
Nye Theater is next to the hotel's main entrance on Rosenkratz gate (gate means street in Norwegian).
Kristian IV gate is the side street next to the hotel. Nice view of the cathedral at the far end. Headed out for our first city walk.
Heimen Husfliden store has the city's largest selection of Norwegian and Scandinavian handicrafts and designs made using traditional patterns and techniques. Large selection of beautifully made pewter, ceramics, textiles, and clothing. There's also bunad, the national costume. So glad we stopped in here. Very impressive, very expensive.
Didn't even get a block away before the striking window displays of WayNor drew us inside. "Fun and lively accessories, inspired by traditional, Norwegian culture and patterns strive to create joy and pride, and to preserve the good memories." We sure had fun in here.
Time to stretch our legs and and do a bit of city sightseeing: Our cousin is also here, then two other cousins will be coming. Fun times ahead.
Nye Theater is next to the hotel's main entrance on Rosenkratz gate (gate means street in Norwegian).
Kristian IV gate is the side street next to the hotel. Nice view of the cathedral at the far end. Headed out for our first city walk.
Heimen Husfliden store has the city's largest selection of Norwegian and Scandinavian handicrafts and designs made using traditional patterns and techniques. Large selection of beautifully made pewter, ceramics, textiles, and clothing. There's also bunad, the national costume. So glad we stopped in here. Very impressive, very expensive.
Didn't even get a block away before the striking window displays of WayNor drew us inside. "Fun and lively accessories, inspired by traditional, Norwegian culture and patterns strive to create joy and pride, and to preserve the good memories." We sure had fun in here.
Oslo Cathedral: The present building dates from 1694–1697. The Norwegian Royal Family and the Norwegian Government use the cathedral for weddings and funerals.
Closed for services. Walked around the complex and the unique bazaar halls.. Enjoyed dinner at the Cathedral Cafe.
Closed for services. Walked around the complex and the unique bazaar halls.. Enjoyed dinner at the Cathedral Cafe.
KARL JOHAN GATE:
Oslo's main street full of shops, restaurants, and important landmarks. Named after the Swedish-Norwegian King Karl III Johan (1818-1844), it extends from Oslo’s Central Station up to the Royal Castle - less than a mile long. A shopper's dream street. Every day we spent time along this gorgeous pedestrian boulevard.
Oslo's main street full of shops, restaurants, and important landmarks. Named after the Swedish-Norwegian King Karl III Johan (1818-1844), it extends from Oslo’s Central Station up to the Royal Castle - less than a mile long. A shopper's dream street. Every day we spent time along this gorgeous pedestrian boulevard.
from Eastern end > Western end:
Central Station: The east end of the street ends at the Central Square, which also has the Visitor Center.Prominent in the square is a Tiger statue, one of Oslo's most photographed "inhabitants." Why a tiger?
Central Station: The east end of the street ends at the Central Square, which also has the Visitor Center.Prominent in the square is a Tiger statue, one of Oslo's most photographed "inhabitants." Why a tiger?
- The city's nickname Tigerstaden ("The Tiger City") was probably first used by Norwegian poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. His poem "Sidste Sang" from 1870 describes a fight between a horse and a tiger; the tiger representing the dangerous city and the horse the safe countryside. Since then Oslo has been known as "The Tiger City", but these days it's not necessarily meant as a negative thing. "The Tiger City" can be an exciting and happening place rather than dangerous.
The Grand Plaza (Stortorvet) is the city's central square. Christian IV bronze statue by Carl Ludvig Jacobse shows Christian IV pointing toward the ground and declaring “Here lie the city.” It recreates where the king decided to rebuild after the devastating fire of 1624.
The Cathedral is on the other side of the square.
The Cathedral is on the other side of the square.
- Iron Roses is a memorial from the people, for the people to commemorate the 77 people that were killed in terrorism attacks around Norway in 2011.
Freia chocolate factory since 1899. High-quality Norwegian chocolates. Loaded up on our last day here.
Stortings plass memorial park. Christian Krohg statue, 19th century painter, looks like he's the greeter for the cute street-side cafe.
Stortings plass memorial park. Christian Krohg statue, 19th century painter, looks like he's the greeter for the cute street-side cafe.
Favorite corner was the intersection of Karl Johanas and Rosenkrantz gates - Grand Hotel, Parliament, and Eidsvoll Square. Only a block from the hotel, we walked by here almost every day. Pretty spectacular spot!.
Grand Hotel & Cafe: White granite building with iconic Clock Tower opened in 1874. Grand it was - starting with walking through the double glass doors into the very modern-looking lobby. Art works everywhere. Interesting mix of traditional and modern.
Palmen Restaurant luxurious velvet seats, intricate glass ceiling topped by a magnificent chandelier. Mesmerized by this glittering work of art made by Cerith Wyn Evans with Murano glass blowers in Venice.
Grand Hotel & Cafe: White granite building with iconic Clock Tower opened in 1874. Grand it was - starting with walking through the double glass doors into the very modern-looking lobby. Art works everywhere. Interesting mix of traditional and modern.
Palmen Restaurant luxurious velvet seats, intricate glass ceiling topped by a magnificent chandelier. Mesmerized by this glittering work of art made by Cerith Wyn Evans with Murano glass blowers in Venice.
- One entire wall of multiple paintings was by a Norwegian artist Supposedly she wanted viewers to escape the real world through her take on a world of fairytales inspired by the history of both the hotel itself and the city of Oslo.
Talked to the hostess about dinner. Didn't need a reservation if we come early. Came for dinner one night celebrating all of us cousins being together.
A wedding reception was going on and the bride was the same one we saw walking down the street earlier in the day. Neat seeing all the people dressed up. Some wore traditional Norwegian attire, and a couple of young boys were in knickers with long white socks.
A wedding reception was going on and the bride was the same one we saw walking down the street earlier in the day. Neat seeing all the people dressed up. Some wore traditional Norwegian attire, and a couple of young boys were in knickers with long white socks.
Parliament (Stortinget) and Eidsvolls plass are across from the Grand Hotel. Impressive yellow brick building with two huge granite lions - called “Lion’s Hill.” Quite picturesque with the park directly in front of such a majestic building.
Bakers Henson perfect spot for a midmorning break. Cinnamon bun with vanilla cream - looked better than it tasted.
National Theater: Beautiful Baroque-style building completed in 1899. Statues of the great Norwegian writers, Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, guard the theater's main entrance.
Royal Place situated on a rise, the Bellevue, at the western end of Karl Johans gate. Almost 165 years old, it's the residence of Norway's King & Queen. Red flag on top of castle means the king is there.
Looking down from Palace Square, awesome view of the entire length of Karl Johans gate.
Lovely Palace gardens filled with flowers.
Nice walk through the surrounding park under tall trees, water feature, even a gazebo. Even though there was a constant very light drizzle, enjoyed walking through the different garden areas.
National Theater: Beautiful Baroque-style building completed in 1899. Statues of the great Norwegian writers, Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, guard the theater's main entrance.
Royal Place situated on a rise, the Bellevue, at the western end of Karl Johans gate. Almost 165 years old, it's the residence of Norway's King & Queen. Red flag on top of castle means the king is there.
Looking down from Palace Square, awesome view of the entire length of Karl Johans gate.
Lovely Palace gardens filled with flowers.
Nice walk through the surrounding park under tall trees, water feature, even a gazebo. Even though there was a constant very light drizzle, enjoyed walking through the different garden areas.
Met a couple that lives nearby. They said to go to Pascal. All the famous people that tour the castle, then go to Pascal. They just opened and we were the only customers. So many things to choose from and the clerk was so sweet (ha-ha) explaining them all. Tried several different flavored macrons and a couple desserts. Such a nice place to sit and relax. Didn't take long for the place to fill up.
2025-05-22