Sunrise at 9am.

Sunsets at 330pm.

28-33 degrees F (0-1 C) 

I’m writing this on our train ride from Oslo to Goteburg.  

Plans started about 7-8 months ago for a Christmas Market Trip.  After researching a new place to go, a Scandanavian trip was born with Friends that are Family.

Travel is always exciting and torturous when its far away.  The feeling of expectation mixed with the boring and uncomfortable attempts to get there.  We’ve never taken a vacation that wasn’t a family visit at Christmas; therefore a break in tradition.  As we stuffed all family get togethers in before we left.

Our first stop was Oslo.  Arriving Finally in the Oslo, Norway airport was start of our fun.  We did not have to go through customs as we did that in Munich at the layover.  The train ticket to Oslo City Center was 258KR which is around $25….each.   However it got us where we needed to go.  We had a 15 minute walk through occasionally slick cobblestone streets to get to our hotel where The Johnsons were excitedly waiting on us after their Floating Sauna Dip in the lake.  Temps were in the upper 20s/low 30s.  We arrived at our hotel around 1145 and it was close to the brightest outside it would be.  The Karl Johan hotel was right outside the market.  Actually a perfect location as we could see it from our hotel room.  We were upgraded to a Junior Suite.  Which meant that the room was probably a little bigger.  The boys had their own pull out couch and Conrad and i had a queen bed that felt as big as a King.  No complaints except sharing 1 bathroom with 3 men… but I was likely the most high maintenance of them all…haha.

We immediately took a walk through the stalls of the Christmas market and looked at the trinkets to buy.  Then headed up to the Oslo palace.  It was around a quarter mile away.  

Most grounds were salted.  The sky was blue and there was frost everywhere.  We at times thought there was snow instead.  It was cold enough to lay and stay.  The boat captain that morning had told the Johnson’s that this had been the first non-windy days in days so it was a beautiful day. 

Decked in fleece tights, a long sleeve shirt and furry jacket and my white snow gloves, we spent the day outside with occasional indoor reprieve.  After finding a latte at Joe and Juice and some shopping areas to walk through, we found a restaurant by the docks so that we could go get a sunset picture when it hit right where it needed to. 

I don’t recall the name of the restaurant… but we sat at 245pm and had drinks, French onion soup, and charcuterie.  Jenny and I ran out to the ends of the dock about .5 miles away to get a photo at the end of the docks of the sunset.  We couldn’t stay long.  It was actually what felt to be the coldest because of the wind off the water.  

Being by the coast there weren’t any massive mountains however there were some hills to climb as we trekked the city.  

We started walking back towards the market and our hotel around 4pm in what felt like the dark of night.  We were distracted by a statue and found the fort Conrad wanted to see.  It was on a hill so we had an even better view of the evening and the moon over the water. 

As part of our trip we have 2 fun games.  1 is a sorta-scavenger hunt/activity and the other is a gift exchange.  

Riding the Ferris Wheel at the Christmas Market was my activity for the day.  Other activities included, sitting on Santa’s lap, drinking Glogg or hot chocolate, photo with a reindeer, and several others.  

So Daniel and I hopped on the Ferris wheel for $10 each and got a couple loops and gorgeous views.  

Went inside the seating area, then Split up for Christmas shopping. 

Our dinner was at the Scotsman, which was right beside our hotel.  This was the 2nd dinner here for the Johnsons.  They enjoyed the first one so much they were willing to return.  We walked right in on Trivia night and jumped right in.  The host was hilarious with an English accent.   We had to name our group of the Trivia sheet… I quickly scribbled ‘Cold Christmas Plans’ with no real thought into it.  The host welcomed the Americans right in…lol.  And we were like 3rd or 4th place in the Trivia.  So no prizes but it was entertaining. 

We then finished with our gift exchange in the lobby.  Gift theme was ‘Funny’.  Tim got me Snow from Switzerland!!!  And a snow ornament.  Can we guess what the snow looked like upon delivery?

Sleep was well needed after all that travel leading straight into a full day of exploration. 

The hotel had an amazing breakfast Buffett with almost anything you could want.  

Til next time…I hope you enjoyed our first day of Cold Christmas Plans!