Heathow to Oslo

I left you yesterday in the Lounge at Heathrow Airport. We had a relaxing time here and were well prepared for the off when the time came.

At 9.50am our gate number came up - Gate A18 and it turned out to be just downstairs from the lounge. By the time we went down the escalator check in had opened, as we were travelling SAS plus we were among the first on the plane and we were onboard and seated by 10.05. 

The flight took off at 10.35am right on time, with a hour 50 minutes to Oslo. For aviation fans it was an Airbus A320 plane.

The flight headed for the North Sea and flew in a north-easterly direction before coming to the Norwegian Coast. Lunch was served at 11.15am or at 12.15pm Oslo time. Lunch is free for Plus passengers, though can be ordered in advance (and paid for) by other passengers. 

It was a real tasty snack. Smoked salmon with barley and broccoli salad, pickled butternut pumpkin with a capers and lemon mayo and rye crispbread. Light suitable for a Friday and with lots of flavour.

I also had tasty sparkling water, a brand called Ramlösa, which is based in Sweden, but sells its water across the Scandinavian countries.  

Drew also had a Swedish treat of chocolates after the meal, they were Almond Pralines

We finished the meal with coffee and had a quiet calm flight with both of us reading our kindles for most of the rest of the journey. Finally, as we came below the clouds we could see green fields and small villages, more green and less mountains than I might have expected in Norway!

We arrived in Oslo Airport at 1.33pm and disembarked at 1.40pm, where we were welcomed by an advert for duty-free!!

  

We walked through the quiet airport, it is such a different experience from the busy scenes of a Heathrow or even a Malaga. Still we had to queue at the passport control as only EU and EFTA arrivals could use the electronic passport gates. 

We arrived in the queue at 1.45pm and were through at 2pm, so it wasn't that bad a queue. We walked through to the Baggage area and the bags were already on the belt when we arrived. By 2.05pm we have our bags and are through customs and into the airport.  

We head towards the Flytoget express train. With our tickets bought on the app a few weeks ago, we find the station easily

We get on the train which runs every 20 minutes and we arrive at Oslo Sentralstasjon at 2.52pm. 

The walk from the station to the hotel was amazing. We got off the train and headed through the station concourse in the direction of the hotel, the Thon Hotel Opera where we are staying for the next three nights. We came out of the station and I stopped to take a photo of the station sign (something we'd not seen inside the station) 

As I turned around to begin looking for the hotel, this was my view:

Yep, right next door!

Granted I had selected the hotel (Thon of 9 or so in the city) because of its closeness to the station, making it easy for us to make an early departure on our way to Bergen on Monday morning - but I had no idea it was quite this close!

Thon Hotel Opera

The reception area to the hotel was a floor down from the station level entrance, it had a very grand staircase.

It also had some grand chairs near the lifts. 

On our, seventh floor, it had a highly decorated seat

And the corridors are remarkable 

The room itself is well provided a nice big bed with Scandinavian duvets, i.e. individuals ones, so that Drew for three weeks doesn't get to complain about some clumsy oaf stealing his duvet!!

Finally, having hunted around the station for a sign to photo, we can see the sign we actually photo'd from our hotel bedroom window! The Grand Hotel is the building next to the station. 

Thankfully the double or triple glazing means we don't get any train related sounds in the room. Which is very peaceful.

My next post, which should be later today, will outline how we spent our busy first evening in Oslo, but I think this post is long enough for now, so breaking here - see you again later.