Thoughts on traveling to Oslo in December

A few thoughts on traveling to Oslo in December (outside of tourist season, April - September)

• I had most of the tourist attractions to myself. I could spend as much time as I want at the ski museum and had the top of the Holmenkollen all to myself. I was legitimately startled when I came face to face with another person at the Kon-Tiki museum. 
• Hours are shorter for most places and some attractions don't operate at all. For example,  the Kon-Tiki museum was only open until 4pm, a free walking tour only operated on weekends, and the bike tour I found is by-appointment-only. Certain ferry routes and the Homenkoller giftshop were closed completely. Always, always check ahead and try as best a possible to communicate with a human (email or phone call). 
• Fewer people in general means empty restaurants and good service.
• It's cold! I was pretty prepared for this, but do be sure to pack your thick socks, warm boots, and a good set of hat and gloves. Everyone in the city is pretty bundled, so you won't stick out as a tourist too much of you're used to warmer weather. (Or better yet, buy a hand-knit hat or pair of gloves at a Christmas markets.)
• It's festive! I'm not much of a Christmas person (there, I said it), but the lights, garland, markets, warm bevvies, and evergreen trees everywhere really got me into the spirit of the season. 
• It's ridiculously dark. I mentioned this several times, but my mindset was mega thrown off on the first day when it was pitch black by 4pm. If/when I go back, I'll be researching museums, bars, or attractions that stay open late to combat feeling like I should be in bed when it's really only 5pm!
• Look into skiing! Apparently you can lug your skis or snowboard onto the T-bane and hop off (almost) directly onto the slopes. 
• Winter is also northern light season. I'm booking that next time fer sher.

And if I have the time, I'll gladly spend another couple of days exploring Oslo!

Day 3 in Oslo: Taking it Slow

My timing has been off today — stayed up too late writing and was a bit slow getting out of the house. This is nothing new, so I've learned plenty well how to roll with it. I'm currently looking over the fjord, having missed a public ferry tour by mere minutes (I saw it pull away from the dock as I sat on the bus!). However, I am quite cozy on a patio at a restaurant, snuggled up in a blanket (provided at every table) and sitting on a fur seat cover, under a heat lamp. Ten points to Oslo!

Also tried lefse, a traditional potato bread:

This morning I woke up to a snowy Oslo, and didn't realize how much I would love seeing a winter landscape again! It wasn't much, but I'm happy to see it. 

Had to grab a latte from the trendiest (and also coziest) coffee/bar:

Then bought some handmade socks at the Christmas market for my favorite niece, and mailed my first round of thank-you postcards: 

(Don't forget you can still get one, too!)

I grabbed the bus over to the Kon-Tiki museum, which was fascinating! I hadn't heard of this journey before, but a Norwegian built a raft out of balsa wood and successfully floated from Peru to a group of pacific islands. Just to prove his theory about who settled there. There's a documentary and I intend to look it up to learn more. But I thought the museum was really well put together: simple, stationary displays but lots of good info and visually interesting. 

The bus ride there drives through a different side of Oslo than where I'd been these last two days, so it doubled as a mini-tour of the mini-countryside.

I catch the train to Rygge in just a few moments to head back to London, where in my absence it has apparently been near 60 degrees. Hopefully that sticks around for just a few more days.