MICHAEL RAWSON
SPORTS EDITOR

The more times you visit a place, the more you begin to notice the details that contribute to its character and identity.
For me, that place is Oslo, Norway, the city in which my lovely girlfriend and CSUSM alumnus lives. As this trip marked my third time visiting Oslo, I began to see what the locals of this renowned city always call “the real city.”
Although the tourist traps tend to attract most who visit Norway, those locations still have their enchantments. Though Oslo goes unnoticed by many a European traveler, it has become one of the most romantic places in the world. See it with someone you love—or someone you are planning to fall in love with.
Aker Brygge, an area consisting of docks, former warehouses and storage buildings lining the Oslo-fjord, has become the city’s center attraction. Bustling restaurants, businesses and a shopping mall have overtaken the old fishing center. A visit in the summer can land you on a posh, floating bar on the water, but a winter visit might be even more romantic: try ordering a couple of coffees and cake—traditional Norwegian “kaffe og kake”—and have a seat outside at one of the many patios lining the docks. The booths are lined with cozy Norwegian furs and heat lamps are plentiful. Meanwhile, you are treated to a view of the snow-glazed coast and calm Norwegian sea.
Norway has the world’s wealthiest per-capita income, and the scenery reflects those numbers. The “T-bane,” the city’s subway system, features new trains built by Porsche. Sleek, elegant and very fast, the T-bane can take you across the city in no time. Even so, I have found that the Trikk—the older trolley system—can be a much more exciting way to get to your destination.  Magnificent views are always abundant, featuring views of Oslo’s many old buildings and sights like Holmenkollen, the fantastic modern ski jump perched on a mountainside.
If you are riding the T-bane to a restaurant, hopefully it’s authentic Norwegian cuisine! The cold fish, shrimp or Brie cheese sandwiches are delicious, and sliced bread and “brunost”—brown cheese—are a must-try. I still have yet to gather the guts to taste Norwegian reindeer stew, but eating fishballs with steamed potatoes and vegetables covered in white sauce makes me feel like a local. If traditional food isn’t on your menu, Oslo features some of the world’s finest ethnic cuisines. This time around, we agreed that the food at Jaipur, an enchanting Indian place right in the middle of the city served the best Indian food either of us had ever tasted. Another favorite is kabob, a late night Greek/Middle Eastern treat beloved by Norwegians though you can find kabob all across the European continent.
The Norwegian people are especially quiet and reserved, but here’s another detail one might not notice the first time around: They are among the nicest and most hospitable hosts on the planet. My visits to Oslo are always “hyggileg” and “koselig:” warm, pleasant, comfortable and generally lovely.