Ok, Oslo,  we did not get off on the right foot.  We’ve  taken some time in Bergen to cool off, and now we’re ready to give it another try.

Besides, we all have this half day to spend together, and the best thing to do is try to play nice.  In the brief time between when the night train lets us off and our cruise to Copenhagen starts boarding, we promise to uncover and enjoy some of the pleasure we know must exist somewhere within your downtown area.  And all you have to do is occupy our attention and not take up too much of our money.

Deal?

You must have some kind of attraction that open early.  Our train gets in at 6.  Maybe something outdoors.  How about a nice botanical garden that we can roam around and not bother anyone?

We can look at some flowers, take some pictures, and stretch our legs.  It has to be close enough to the train station so we can walk there.

Can you do that?  Thanks.

And while we’re outside, how about a castle or something from a long time ago that has some grounds we can explore.  We are really getting into Norwegian history.   Sprinkly it with some cannons and ancient-looking rock walls.

Maybe it can be on the water?  We don’t really want to spend much money, so maybe keep it…free?  Is that too much to ask?

I know we’re asking a lot, Norway, but that crummy hotel episode left a bad taste in our mouths.  Oh, speaking of which, we would like a quick place for lunch.

Something we haven’t had on this trip yet.  How about Middle Eastern food?  Some nice felafel and pitas.

And when we get done with that — we know this is a lot to ask —  but we’ve really been hoping to find the time for an escape room this trip.  And, we’ve got some time.

See if you can come up with something not too tricky, but tough enough to keep us occupied for an hour or so.   And put it right on the street we’re walking down.  And make sure there is a free timeslot when we need it.

And that should do it.  We’ll collect our stuff from the lockers and head off for our cruise termnal, which should be within walking distance from the train station.

Given that we’re in Scandinavia during the summer, we know it’s going to rain a little, but can you keep the percipitation to a minium.

We’ll take care of the rest.  Really.

Our cruise is booked.  We have a cabin with a window that will let us watch the coastline pass by.

We’ll be sure wave to all the Norwegians on shore as we sail past, maybe sitting the hot tub, if we’re lucky.

And then, sometime overnight, the Norwegian coastline will turn into the Danish coastline, and we’ll be completely out of your hair, Oslo.  We’ll even say some nice things about you, and maybe wish that we had  few more hours to explore your streets.

Not that we’ll think of you as fondly or as often as we’ll think of Bergen or — and we know this will hurt you — Stockholm.  But we can part as friends and get on with our busy agendas, each enriched, if only slighly, by our time together.

What do you say, Oslo?  Let’s give it a try.