Oslo, the capital of Norway is a city most famous for its banking, shipping and fishing industries. It is a major shipping center and has some of the largest shipping companies and ship brokers established in the country. Oslo, like most Scandinavian cities, is clean, eco friendly but is also one of the most expensive cities in the world. With a population of 1.4 million, this is the fastest growing city in Europe and nearly 25% of its population are other migrants, chiefly from the eastern block countries.
Oslo means “mouth of the Lo River” referring to the name of the river alna nearby. Oslo has a rich cultural history and all over the country one can see beautiful landmarks from the past. However modernization has caught up with Oslo and most slums have been erased. Oslo is a very modern city with exceptionally beautiful surrounding areas. Oslo has some of the best parks and recreational facilities in all of Europe. However, most of Norway suffers from congestion.
For the tourist, there is a lot to see in Oslo. The city has many museums, monuments and offers great shopping. However, Norway is extremely expensive and does not cater to the budget conscious traveler. Hotels are exorbitantly expensive and so is the food. A cup of coffee in Oslo can cost anywhere from $4-$7. An average 3 star hotel costs more than $300-$400 a night.
President Obama is on a visit to Oslo to accept his Nobel Prize, but his airfare, hotel accommodation and food are provided by the US government. For the rest of us, Norway is best viewed using the Google eye view or surfing images on yahoo.