Photos and the City

Category: Travel

  • Hei Oslo!

    I started into April with visiting Norways beautiful capital Oslo, I had booked a workshop there and decided to stay two days longer to get a first introduction to the city. Just a first short glimpse as I didn´t even do a third of all the things I had have planned, all the more reason to come back and start a norwegian roundtrip from there.

    oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel

    There are almost as many cranes in Oslo as in Berlin –  a lot of constructing is going on along the Fjord. The city is opening itself up to “the stunning scenery surrounding the water, making the areas along the shore more accessible and inviting to both residents and visitors” – the Fjord City Project

    I had royal neighbours, my airbnb apartment was right next to the royal palace and the gardens in the middle of the city. The perfect place to start walking around and explore Oslo.

    oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, traveloslo, norway, ursula schmitz, traveloslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travelDet kongelige slott was built in the first half of the 19th century as the norwegian residence for Charles III who reigned as king of  Sweden and of Norway. The royal park was developed at the same time as the palace was built and developed as a “ideal model of natural garden” based on the ideas of the romantic time. And it was open to the public right from the beginning.

    The slottet sits on top of Karl Johans gate, the main street of central Oslo. And full of bars, cafés and shops. If you walk just straight ahead Karl Johans gate you´ll arrive at the central train station and the Norwegian Opera and Ballet House (Operahuset). If you turn right you´ll arivver at Aker Brygge – the area around the Fjord which is full of restaurants, shops and this beautiful boardwalk along the sea.

    oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel

    oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel

    oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel

    Oslo is the perfect mixture of old and new and a lot green – there are so many parks all around the city and even forests are just a short tramride away. And it´s a beautiful ride up to Ekebergpark with a stunning panorama of the city.

    oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel oslo, norway, ursula schmitz, travel

    You might have noticed all those statues and art in public spaces – it is absolutely everywhere! On every street, square, park – just everywhere!

     

  • Portobello Beach

    portobello beach, edinburgh, scotland, uk, beachjust a short bus ride from the city center…

  • Water of Leith

    After visiting the Britannia I decided to walk around the docks of Leith until I reached the “start” (or end) of the “Water of Leith” walkway. It´s like a green corridor running next to the Leith river all the way through Edinburgh up to Balerno, a suburb of Edinburgh – but to be honest I didn´t walk all the almost 20 km. Even if I´d would like had to as it was just a beautiful sunny day and the path crosses many sights of Edinburgh and even runs though the stunning Dean Village, which I visited on the next day, but there was so much more to see! Next time I´m gonna rent a bike and just bike all the way!

    I maybe walked for an hour and left the path near the Royal Botanic Gardens, which were my next stop.

    water of leith path, edinburgh, scotland, leith, uk, walkway water of leith path, edinburgh, scotland, leith, uk, walkway

    The power provided by the rapid flow of the river was harnessed to drive waterwheels in mills at over 70 sites along the river, establishing a string of villages. The mills produced a variety of goods for Edinburgh and further afield including, paper, flour, woollen and linen cloths, spices and snuff.
    The people of Edinburgh have, for centuries, had close links with the Water of Leith. (Water of Leith Trust)

    water of leith path, edinburgh, scotland, leith, uk, walkway

    The idea of a path next to the once so important river first came up in 1949 but it took until 1973 until the construction work started.

    water of leith path, edinburgh, scotland, leith, uk, walkway water of leith path, edinburgh, scotland, leith, uk, walkwayThis is where I left the pathway (or kind of lost it) and continuted my walk to the botanic garden.

    water of leith path, edinburgh, scotland, leith, uk, walkwayWhat a view of the city and all those cute dogs! Almost arrived at the Royal Botanic Garden….

    water of leith path, edinburgh, scotland, leith, uk, walkway water of leith path, edinburgh, scotland, leith, uk, walkway water of leith path, edinburgh, scotland, leith, uk, walkway

    Merken