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Oslo is pleasant enough but not in the same league as Copenhagen or Stockholm, fellow Scandinavian capitals. But we had a pleasant time walking around the city centre for a few days. The highlight for us was the fabulous Viking Ship Museum displaying three 1,200 year old Viking ships discovered buried in mud not far from Oslo a hundred years ago, and now restored near to their former glory. Also impressive was Vigeland Sculpture Park containing hundreds of big sculptures of human forms, the life’s work of famous Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland.
But why does Oslo allow itself to be sullied and parasitized by the obviously well-organized gypsy begging racket going on within its otherwise elegant city? There seemed to be a gypsy or two on every street corner, and many of them around the train station, all asking passers-by for money. It’s a pity the Vikings can’t return for a few days, or at least for the Norwegians to recapture a little of their Viking spirit, and drive this shameful blight off their streets.
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