Day 1
We flew into Oslo, stashed our bags at the Oslo Airport Radisson Blu and picked up a waiting package with our SIM card, and then hopped on a five hour train trip to our first night in Norway, a small town called Oppdal. Enjoying great views on our northward, flawlessly executed, idiot-proof, European train journey. Waking after a good night’s sleep ready for our Musk Ox Safari the next day!
Well, that’s what was supposed to happen.
What really happened was that upon arriving to Oslo we were repeatedly told by the NSB train ticket salespeople at the ticket office in the airport that the train and the bus and any available transport to our next destination was sold out.
And then transpired some schlepping to the hotel, and help from their lovely concierge, and jogging back to the airport, and finally successful ticket procurement. Of which the moral of the story is this: don’t always trust the people who are supposed to know everything. Also, the Radisson Blu folks were amazing, although they claimed to not have our package (which should’ve already arrived from Austria with our SIM card in it), they were kind and helpful as we decamped in their entryway, repacked our bags, and checked in one suitcase full of wedding attire for them to hold until the night before we fly out to Austria when we finally stay with them. Honestly, after over a dozen hours of traveling, getting denied for onward train tickets, and being a generally grouchy person when sleep deprived, I’m afraid I wasn’t in the most glamorous mood.
When NSB told us there were no tickets on the train to Oppdal, I nearly believed them. I actually left, found Eric (who’d thankfully had success using the Norwegian ATM), and trudged to the airport hotel to dump our bags. After finding a restroom and washing fourteen hours of travel off of my face, it dawned on me that I had better check the shitty NSB website and see if there were tickets after all. I say their website sucks because after hours of using it over the last four months planning this trip, I feel like a qualified judge. At no point was I able to use any of our credit cards to book a ticket (had to use Paypal, so no earning credit card points). Not from the USA and not while in Norway. Regularly the site will show available trains, but then one leg will be booked up so it won’t sell you the ticket. And apparently it’s so lame their own agents couldn’t even find the last two seats on the train, which Eric finally managed to help the (second) agent locate.
Eric: “Your web app shows two seats in first class available.”
Agent: “No sir, we don’t have first class.”
Eric: “Well then, it must be premier class.”
Agent: “No sir, we don’t have a premier class.”
Eric: “Ah, it’s called Comfort Class, and you’ve got two seats.”
Agent: “Yes, actually, you are correct sir.”
So, after about an hour of trying, we were the stoked couple holding the last two seats on the only afternoon train of the day to Oppdal! And we got these rad cozy bucket chairs facing a giant window together. Right next to the free coffee, tea, and newspapers, of which we availed ourselves to the fullest extent possible.
And we made it to Oppdal and found our hotel, the Oppdal Turisthotell, right next to the train station. And, on another stroke of good luck, there were even restaurants open in Oppdal, so we got to have a hot dinner! Yay! Sleeping didn’t work so well, the cars and trains were very audible from our room, and we, like silly Californians left the blackout curtains open for the fresh air. So, not the best night of sleep, but better than an airplane!
