Wednesday 17th December 2025

Tromso to Oslo

Today was our last day in the Arctic Circle and with a bit of a sad heart we packed up and prepared for our trip to Oslo.

Managed to avoid WW3 which was happening at the Reception Desk, right in middle of Breakfast Room, between 2 insistent young CRA’s who couldn’t accept there was no room to extend their stay in the hotel that evening. The abrupt ‘well what are you going to do about it’ barked at the staff member, received the politest of  replies ‘more importantly what are you going to to do about it’. That soon had them on their heels tails between the legs.

We enjoyed breakfast and the 5 minute bus ride soon had us at the airport.

Everything other than security is self check in over here and the worst fate is getting stuck behind IT illiterate people at the checking in and luggage drop area. 

We managed it and after their umpteenth try and a bit of guidance they finally worked it all out, some 10 minutes later. 

Jane automatically puts her hand up at Security and meekly succumbed  to the handsome young guard asking permission for a full body pat down.

As expected no contraband and a smile was all he found.

Jumped on a full SAS plane and grabbed my window seat which gave a Birds Eye view of the wings being hosed down to remove ice – every plane get the treatment here after the late 90’s ditching when ice formed on a plane’s wings. Thankfully it landed without injuries and started a process that lifts one’s confidence, especially when you see how much washes off.

The two hours passed quickly as we flew over snow covered mountains, then frozen lakes and rivers , before 20 minutes out from Oslo the snow disappeared and the lush green fields forming part of the 3% of farmed land in Norway started to appear.

Navigated the airport quicker than the poor driver navigated the Oslo traffic on the 40 minute  journey to our schmick hotel right near the Palace and Xmas Market.

We passed the Alfred Nobel Museum (famous for developing TNT) and the building where Prizes were awarded last week. Surprisingly, we didn’t see Donald Trump moping around out the front with a ‘What About Me’ sign.

Seems the weird decor theme is being embraced in lots of Scandinavian hotels with colourful walls and abstract paintings in foyers and rooms and this one was no different.

With little daylight left we walked town admiring the beautiful old and new buildings , before getting our bearings right for Fridays train trip to the airport.

Then it was off to the grandest Xmas  Market so far, with its glittering entrance, raft of amusement rides and stalls galore. For the punter there was a huge chocolate wheel where with one lucky spin of the wheel you could win a 2kg pack of a chocolate of your liking. Just as we arrived a fellow marched off with a giant Toblerone box under his arm. At $7 a spin and 80 numbers not sure it was a good bet.

If you had a sweet tooth there were lollies galore and a 100 different flavoured toffee apples  My confectioner Dad would have been in his element.

There were food stores aplenty with traditional hot dogs, cheese ball pasta, doughnuts, corn dogs – you  name it . I must say the most appealing was the Juicy Moosey Burger – we will be back for one of them tomorrow.

Headed back Hotel to dress for our farewell dinner which was held in a restaurant that shared the building with a library. Seemed more diners than readers with lots being turned away for tables whilst we were there.

The decorations both freestanding and incorporated into building facades are beautiful and create a real spirit of Cmad.

Dinner was the best meal on tour and we enjoyed a couple of Italian wines to boot.

The house next door was pretty unique being decorated as an Advent Calendar.

Back on the bus for a 3 minute ride home and said our goodbyes to all those with onwards journeys first thing in the morning. Then off upstairs for a farewell drink in the packed rooftop bar with the Pussycat Dolls ( Nancy and Elina) – our bus mates from the US.

There endeth our Chasing The Northern Lights tour. Next stop Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich and Heidelberg.