Tourists to Find Difficulties This Summer in Norway

[Hardrada]

Source: Oslo Aftenposten

Tourists face challenges in Oslo this summer
Not only does it seem like most of Oslo is one big construction zone this summer, tourists also have been met by closed cafés at one of the capital's major museums, where many come to spend a full day.
Leena and Thomas Flöter from Germany had to settle for coffee and sandwiches packed in plastic when they visited the Folk Museum last week.

Construction chaos, and drug addicts, greet tourists - 19.05.2008
Tourists long have been shocked by Oslo's high prices. This summer they're having to deal with torn-up streets all over town, and not even a decent lunch at the Norwegian Folk Museum.

The museum's management takes full blame, reports newspaper Aften.. When the previous managers of the museum's cafés resigned last fall, their license to serve food was lost as well. New operators need to apply for a new license, and no one thought about that until this spring.

Then it was too late. When management was ready to re-open cafés with new operators in place, city authorities made it clear they had no license. It takes at least 60 days to get one.

"We made a mistake," admits the chief of the museum's administration, Geir Stensrød, who describes the situation as "very unfortunate." The museum has been forced to keep its popular Kafé Arkadia and Torgkafeen closed, while the scheduled summer re-opening of Kafé Piperviken is in jeopardy.

The authorities are trying to expedite a license, but in the meantime, the museum can only offer kiosk-type snacks and sandwiches. The result is a major loss of revenue and disappointed visitors.

"It's closed everywhere," said Thomas Flöter from Germany. "This is not good. At a big museum like this, you expect a bit more."

Torn-up asphalt and jackhammers
Meanwhile, other visitors to Oslo are having to make their way over torn-up asphalt and jackhammers all around the central train station, along the waterfront and now even on the seaside of City Hall. Crews were out in force this week building makeshift bus lanes over the scenic plaza that's supposed to be closed to all traffic except the tram.

The bus traffic is being rerouted over Rådhusplassen because their main route along Stortingsgate is about to be dug up for resurfacing. A costly attempt to pave it with old-fashioned cobblestones in time for centennial celebrations in 2005 was a disaster, and all the cobblestones are being replaced with asphalt.




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[Adsos Letter]

1. Damn...

...why do the Norwegians hate America? :D

[librarycard]

3. Why does god hate Norwegians? :)

As if anyone in the U.S. could afford a trip to Norway with the current exchange rates. The U.S. has its own tourism problemS, what with trying to keep the country above water and out of fire/tornado danger.

What next? a 7.5? Wouldn't surprise me.

[Spouting Horn]

7. Who says

Norwegians hate Americans?

[DFW]

2. Well, as it turns out, I am going up there for a long weekend in July

The good news is that we are flying directly into Bergen, and
not leaving Bergen until we fly back to Germany.

Oslo will have to wait for another day.

[Tesha]

4. Perhaps there were too many trolls around?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll

[Hardrada]

8. That's a great troll!

Often they lurk under the bridge.

[Carnea]

5. Between the Euro and prices in general Norway can be a sticky wicket.

The drug addict thing is a little exaggerated I'm sure it's no worse than Barcelona or San Francisco. Just stay away from the poor and the train stations.

Here are some crime pics

http://citynoise.org/article/2310

[rodeodance]

6. I was there 2 years ago and left with no money. It is a beatiful country

and all the people we met were friendly.