Oslo - Norway

My resolution to visit all European capitals (make it EU28) or alternatively the more interesting city in the same country, before my 30th birthday is showing some progress. Next stop on the list was Olso, which I also needed to visit because I wanted to meet my dear friends Annika, who started working for the big G together with me and is now based there and Yana.

We had a great weekend, with visits to the Vigelandsparken, the beautiful marina, as well as the Viking Museum and the Munch museum. Only downside is the fact that Oslo completely lives up to the stereotype of being Europe's most expensive city. This is not only due to the alcohol prices (like in Stockholm), but everything in general is really expensive. The Big Mac-index regularly shows Oslo as a crazy expensive place. Still, I can only recommend a visit and we were very lucky because on Sunday everyone received a free Oslo pass which gave us unlimited public transport and saved us the entrance fees for all museums.

See for your self what the city has to offer.

Glencoe, Loch Ness, Highlands

I still owe you a trip report from our trip to the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness. We used our Sunday in Edinburgh to familiarize ourselves with the Scottish countryside - and unfortunately the infamous rain. Our very informative tour guide Barney took us to a place called Calander first where we had pie for breakfast. As usual on the British Isles, pie is not as sweet as it sounds, but rather savoury and filled with the likes of minced beef or even Haggis.

After filling our stomach, we filled our eyes with nice views of the picturesque Loch Lubnaig and afterwards the famous valley of Glencoe - home to one of the worst massacres in Scottish history - but despite it's violent past a really nice place to look at. Driving past the foot of Ben Nevis, we continued our way through the Highlands towards Loch Ness, where unfortunately, no monster sightings were reported that day - but at least we saw some rare sheep breeds.

See for yourself - maybe you spot "Nessie" and I have overlooked her in one of the pictures.

Loch Lubnaig

Boat at Loch Ness

can you spot her here?

Or here?

Not Nessie, but probably hairier

I have been there

As close as it gets to a sighting

Edinburgh- city of fine Craft Beers

Th Easter weekend was spent in the Scottish capital and apart from a beautiful old town, friendly people and rainy weather, I discovered one thing Scotland has to offer that I had no clue about: Delicious beer! Yes they are known for their whiskey (don't get me started on the Irish vs. Scottish spelling thing), but that they put beer in old whiskey-barrels and age it for over seventy days to give it a smooth vanilla and toffee taste is simply genius. Definitely try Innis & Gunn beer when you have the chance.  Even coming from the world record region of German micro brews, I was impressed by their creativity. And it doesn't end here. Brew Dog was founded by two students a few years ago and now has beer bars all over the UK and a huge collection of different craft beers for every taste. Riin especially liked a beer called Hollyrood made by the Stewart brewery, which was just founded in 2004. This was a very welcome change from the Diageo-dominated Irish pub scene and the Carlsbergs and Heinekens of the world. I am a big fan of Scottish beer now!

As to the city itself, it is definitely worth a visit. Have a look at the pictures. I will also post some more from our Sunday-trip to Glencoe and Loch Ness through the Scottish Highlands as soon as I find the time.

Edinburgh Castle by Day

Detail at the Scottish Parliament

Plenary at the Scottish Parliament

Natural History Museum

Edinburgh Castle by Night

Canongate Tolbooth

View from the Regent Gardens

View from the Regent Gardens

Scott Monument

Greyfriar Bobby's Pub