Knock! Knock! The woods are calling! 😉
This is a continuation of our escapade on a summer day right here in the capital. After getting ourselves amazed by the 60 meter tall ski jump and the Norwegians “skiing” in summer, we decided to traverse the woods to hopefully reach the Sognsvann Lake. The lake is a famous spot for locals due to its proximity from the city center and the easy access. Yep, there’s a metro which will take you directly to the said recreational spot! But not from Holmenkollen.
So, into the woods we went..
Who can say no to the call of the Norwegian forests? If there’s one thing I really like about Oslo, it’s the existence of both nature and modern structures. They blend and they co-exist. 😉
You would likely meet joggers and hikers along the way. The Scandinavians have earned a reputation of being cold and serious and intact to their family and circle of friends, but do yourself a favor, smile and greet the people you’ll come across! A simple ‘Hei!’ would do. You would most probably get a smile and a hi back. Spread kindness and good vibes as you walk. 🙂
Seriously, the Norwegians are warm and friendly people! Most of them. And they really appreciate and respect their natural resources. I was even told that they import Christmas pine trees from Germany because they do not want to cut their own tress. haha
Another Norwegian concept I like is the “matpakke” or packed food. Stuff in Norway are horribly expensive! So it would hurt to prepare some food and drinks before you meet up with your friends for a hike or a spasertur.
My Greek friend and I covered a large distance, so after feeling some exhaustion creeping in, we sat down and eat our matpakke.
If you’re worried about getting lost, the trees can help. If you find trees with blue paint markings on it, it means that it is a hiker’s trail. You could also come across some wooden signs. My tip is that you bring your phone and use a GPS system. The Norwegians taught me that if you see or at least sense your destination from a distance or from a map, just find your way to get there. No definite route or path or trail. 😀 Allemansrett is how they do it in Norway! Everybody has the freedom to roam. 😉
We did get lost, but getting lost with a friend is never a problem. We talked about so many stuff that we didn’t even feel like we’re lost. 😉 With the help of some good passersby, we managed to reach the famous lake, Sognsvannet. (Vannet is literally translated as “the water”, so if you see names of places with such, expect a body of water. 😉 )
The place was very crowded! On a typical summer day, it is filled with people barbecuing, having a picnic, sunbathing, playing and drinking with friends, sleeping, reading books, making out, and of course, swimming! But take note, cycling is not allowed in the area! And oh, I’ve heard that there’s a nudist forest lake nearby, but I guess we’re not welcome there, so..
The lake has a 3.3 km circumference and we covered maybe half of it to find a nice spot? haha We did find the perfect spot and spent a couple of hours there gazing at the blue skies and dreaming. 🙂
It was the perfect summer weekend. We left the lake before dark, and took the metro downtown. There are comfort rooms and a food kiosks before the station, but follow my advice and just bring your matpakke to avoid long queues and overcrowded tables. And also, the toilets can be gross and yucky, just to warn you! Do it in the forest! hahaha Just kidding.
But now, it’s autumn and the cold is slowly invading the north. Can’t wait to experience the sun again!
See you next time and thanks for reading! ❤
PinayOdyssey 
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