My host turned his nose up when I said I was going to Oslo. Well, Oslo has some social problems apparently. Actually I'm not staying in Oslo, but in Nesodden, which is on the long peninsula across the harbour along the Oslo fyord. Apparently, this is where the creative types live in their holiday homes along the water. There are beaches, nature trails, so I can take advantage of this long hot Northern summer.
The plan after that is to take the train from Oslo to Bergen, on the west coast,which is one of the great railway journeys of the world. This is where all those gorgeous pictures of fyords surrounded by mountains are taken. This is where my host said is the best part of Norway.
There is a trap for young players in catching trains in Stockholm. Now, you would expect trains to leave for other countries from Stockholm Central Station, but not necessarily. In my case the trains to Oslo are running from Flemingsberg, a station out in the suburbs reached by the commuter train. There is a bit of disruption in the commuter network at the moment, and the trains are overcrowded from all the immigration, so the infrastructure is struggling, similar to Sydney's overcrowded infrastructure. In this heat, and with the social problems, you can see people are pissed off. It looks like Swedish exceptionalism is over according to the polls for the September election.
https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-joins-the-club-far-right-democrats-jimmie-akesson-stefan-lofven-general-election/
Personally, I think Finland have the right economic model - focusing on technology, FinnTech, going down the highly skilled/educated workforce route that increases productivity. Productivity after all is everything. The quality of life is better.
I'm impressed with the comfortable seats, free WiFi, and the little side table with garbage bag onboard. It should be a good trip.
Oslo harbour looks great, downtown Oslo not so much. The German travel guide, Dumont, called it, “The crime capital of Scandinavia', and not safe for females. There have been spikes in sexual assault, with immigrants from Africa and the Middle East found by Oslo police to be overrepresented as perpetrators. Who would have thought?
On that point, I did see something I've never seen before at supermarket checkout in Berlin (see above) - a personal alarm, commonly called a, 'rape alarm.'
So, there is definitely fear in Germany, at least, because checkouts are where you stock high selling items.
Anyway, my AirBnB host is a real viking, with red hair! I'm right near the forest, and a five minute walk to the water. I'm going to take advantage of this warm weather and go swimming - get out in this gorgeous nature.
