Norway - The Perfect Storm

Norwegian flag. I can get use to seeing this.
(CEB II)

On Saturday, I achieved a first in the Eurotrip in that I was actually going to a country that I had never been to before. Enter, Norway. Even though I knew their big national holiday was coming up, I didn't know what to expect in Oslo. I mean, the only thing I knew that came from Norway was the legendary group a-ha. You know, the "Take on Me" guys? Well, anyway, that was my only factoid of Norwegian history at the time. That, and that the Nancy Kerrigan-Tonya Harding Olympics were held in Lillehammer in '94. My flight there had to have been easily the most festive flight that I had been on in this trip so far, everyone probably buzzed from the celebrations that were to come. After landing in the airport, I got out expecting some sort of Scandinavian Mardi Gras. What I got, was a ghost town.

Who has champagne, a flag, and likes Norway? This guy!
(CEB II)

I got out to what seemed like an evacuation. There were only about less than 10 planes in the airport, and not many establishments seemed to be open. Other than a few family members of some of the passengers and me having a little trouble with one of the automatic doors, there was about as much noise there as a Charlie Chaplin film. We got to our hotel with relative ease, still nobody on the streets. After settling at the hotel, we ended up strolling to the nearest 7-Eleven, or as I like to call, "The Embassy", for there seems to be one everywhere abroad. There, I ended up getting a simple Indian rice combo that cost the equivalent of $15. $15 dollars! I mean, $15 dollars? Let's avoid this for now. But it was here that we were informed of the madness known as Eurovision, in which virtually all the locals were fixated on. Armed with an explanation, and some expensive 7-Eleven food, my friend and I headed back to the hotel to catch the end of the contest. And the winner.........(drum roll)....Alexander Rybak representing the country of.......(louder drums)....NORWAY! Absolute craziness! Norway were the victors, and in world-record fashion. Aside from the fact that the guy was born in Minsk (his last name in Russian literally is "fisherman"), the victory gave the city of Oslo even more of an excuse to paint the town red (literally) with national pride. People now started to flood the streets and bars. The clock struck midnight, meaning it was officially syttende mai, May 17th, or Constitution Day for all you historians out there. I realized that the scene in which I arrived at 4 hours before was just the calm before the storm, a perfect storm. Get excited!

Oslo + May 17th = City of Crunk
(CEB II)

The next 24 hours were exactly what I expected upon arrival. I started off the night at a champagne bar a couple blocks from the hotel. What better way to start off a national holiday/Eurovision victory but with some bubbly. I hung out with a few of the locals, who helped us fathom the significance of the day and the celebrations ahead. After sleeping off the champagne, my friend and I went back into the city. We encountered a city of many locals gathered on a beautiful day, dressed in traditional garb, which I heard was reeeeeeeeeal expensive. And if they're expensive by Norway standards, it's probably something that needs a mortgage included. There were also many of what I call "moving discos" where apparently high-school grads rent out these vans for a month and just go nuts (Now thinking that I went to the wrong high school). I was patriotic in my own way, drinking a few glasses of Ringnes, the local brew, and waving my Norwegian flag down Karl Johans Gate. One can only imagine the deluge of people in every bar, monument, and restaurant in the city. It makes July 4th like a Tuesday night in the library. After going back to nap off the Ringnes buzz, I re-entered a city that wasn't even thinking of stopping the festivities. That night ended up being spent at a fancy club called La Belle Sole, a place where apparently the prince frequents. In there were the trendier, more beautiful young people in the city and of course, more Ringnes (excitement ensues). Nothing like a Norwegian royal cap-off for a couple of Americans to a crazy 24 hours that began with a "Fairytale" from a Belarusian-born violinist (By the way, that song is probably in my head for the rest of my life. I'm serious!).

Oslo. Sure to be back.
(CEB II)

The final day was a 180-degree transformation. Sunny skies were replaced by drizzly breezes and the Norwegian flags that were on every pole on Karl Johans Gate were replaced by pink banners. Kind of made me think I was dreaming this whole thing. Made me think I was in a whole other city. But I don't blame them. Every country should have their post-national holiday hangover day, especially if you party like these guys. Hey, it gave me the opportunity to be more touristy. I sit here on my last day in beautiful Sweden reminiscing about my times of the land out west. The scene made me briefly forget about just missing May Day here in the Swede Land, which apparently is a big deal. Constitution Day in Norway just furthered my love and respect for the Scandinavian charm. It doesn't hurt that a beer lover like me has access of brew from every corner, something only my uncle could only dream of (his birthday coincidentally, May 17th). Even though a Snickers bar cost $3 dollars, this experience was worth the price of admission. Oslo, have room for one more?

Before I Peace Out...

- Shoutout to David Ortiz for finally hitting a HR after almost 150 AB's. Hope this is the beginning of something good.

- AUSTRIA HERE I COME!!!!!!!!