Oslo

The most expensive city in the world certainly lives up to its repuation. To give you some idea of the prices in Oslo, an entrée at any normal sit-down restaurant ranges from 150-250NKK, with prices much higher at fancy places. The conversion rate makes that $25-$42 (€19-€31). Crazy!! Supermarket prices are far more reasonable, but still highly inflated compared to American norms.

The city resembles a modern, brand-obsessed population, with TGI Friday's, McDonald's, and Burger King lining the streets. I stumbled upon an abundance of juice shops and espresso cafes and bars, just as you would expect in a country's capital. And the fearless pigeons were as obnoxious as they are in Manhattan. 

Oslo has the honor of presenting the Nobel Peace Prize each year. Alfred Nobel gave them this responsibility before Norway had independence. Now it's slightly strange that Stockholm presents all the other prizes, while Oslo presents its prize, especially because they're bestowed on the same day: December 12th, when Alfred passed away. The Peace Prize is given in the City Hall, adorned with an astronomical clock:

Henry Ibsen is a native of Oslo, and they honor him with a statue outside his museum:

Oslo also has incredible beaches, and the weather wasn't frigid, as I expected from the North Sea. Some people on the beach said it was 19 degrees (Celsius). I couldn't remember the conversion, so I just went in. It wasn't too bad in the water, but it was far nicer on the sand :)  

Their new opera house has a gradually sloped roof that reaches all the way to the ground!  So locals and tourists alike climb up to the top to watch the sunset and enjoy the peaceful water and the views of the city:

Oslo has many popular pedestrian streets, one of which starts with the guy below. Not sure who he is, but he sits right in the center of the city, across from the parliament building:

 

Oslo is surprisingly small. The total population is less than a million, and tourists aren't attracted in roves, due to the high prices. So it's quiet even in summer. Nonetheless, the locals all flock to enjoy the parks, lounging on blankets and grilling some dinner, soaking up all the rays before the sun disappears for the winter. 

"Put them in fear, Lord, that the nations may know they are but men." ~ Psalm 9