Velkommen

When Hubby heard the date I was coming home, his first reaction wasn’t to jump with joy. Since I had expected a parade of 76 trombones when I told him about my imminent arrival, I very politely asked him what the problem was and waited to hear that the brass section was late but on their way. Instead, Hubby broke the news that he had several business trips lined up that he couldn’t get out of scheduled very close to my return.

Luckily for me, I married not only a brilliant man but also a generous one. His solution to our abruptly interrupted reunion was to invite me along on his trip to Oslo, Norway. Since the hotel and his ticket were already paid for, one extra little plane ticket wasn’t much compared to marital bliss.

The architecture in Oslo is a fantastic blend of the new and the old. We were there for only a handful of days but I am officially ready to move and become Norwegian. I’ve even picked out the location for my future condo right in the waterfront area Aker Brygge. I was so enamored of the bustling area I even begged Hubby to pick up real estate brochures!

Hubby and I walked from one end of the city to the other, ducking into cafes when it rained and bars when we thought it might. Between bevies, we would people watch and I must admit that Norwegians appear to be incredibly fit as a whole and my rather round self stood out.

The only potential downfall to life in Norway is the price of food. We visited both restaurants and supermarkets and came away with two distinct impressions. First, wow food costs a lot here. And, perhaps more importantly, the quality of that food was amazing! Whether it was fresh veggies in the produce section or a pizza along the Aker Brygge, the quality of the (admittedly pricey) food was phenomenal. Oslo is also home of the $11 pint of beer (for the cheap stuff!).

I realize that I’m acting like a teenager dealing with her first crush but Oslo was a great city and I haven’t even mentioned two of my favourite things. One was kitschy and the other was weird yet cool. Check back in tomorrow for more of me gushing on Oslo and I’ll tell you all about the first of my new Norwegian loves.