Day 8 - Kristiansand to Oslo, Norway

It was another early start after our long ship ordeal the night before.  We had stayed at the YESS Hotel in Kristiansand which was perfect because it was more of a hostel than a hotel and it included breakfast...seeing as we were only there for around 6 hours.  It was just a double bed with a single bunk above and a washroom. Very clean and nice.

We had to catch the train at 9:10am to Oslo.  The train station was just across the street it was a beautiful day.  All of us were extremely tired still, but we got up and dressed and fed and strolled over to the train station.  I had booked us into the family car on the Norwegian Train line http://www.nsb.no/.  It was perfect, there was a kids play area which occupied the kids for the 5 hour trip to Oslo. 

Train Kristiansand to Oslo

Upon arrival into Oslo, we headed to the tourist information centre to get directions to our hotel.  Ourinitial impression of the city was perhaps not great, and perhaps not a fair assumption this early on.  The city seemed very dirty, but there was lots under construction near the main train station.  The people also seemed a little rough around the edges....there was an edge to the city and the people for sure.  Our hotel was north of the City by quite a ways at the Radisson Blu Nydalen.  It was a really nice part of town, quiet and easy access to downtown via bus or metro (T).

We arrived at the hotel by 3pm and got settled in and had a nap.  No one really napped on the train up except Dave who has the uncanny ability to sleep anywhere!

We had checked to see if Mom, Bruce and the boys had checked in when we arrived, but they had not.  Just as we were getting up and ready to go for dinner, they gave us a call...they had arrived!

We all headed out for dinner.  We had found a neat restaurant in our Wallpaper Guide and took the metro and then walked quite a ways on the hunt for this neat restaurant.  Unfortunately it was closed, and so we continued walking and walking trying to find someplace that could take all 9 of us.  Finally just off of the pedestrian route we found a restaurant called the Mona Lisa.  It was pasta and pizza etc.  Nothing to exciting...but fine enough.  The food here is extremely expensive...actually the whole trip has been quite expensive. Meals here are between $25-30 per person.  Beer in restaurants is around $10-15 per glass.  So not cheap. 

After dinner we headed back to the hotel.  The boys headed out on the town...and weren't seen again until the wee hours!