Text: Tina Lam, web-editor KOTE
My contribution for this series on good places is a trail. The Love Trail, or Kjærlighetsstien, is one of my favorite routes in Oslo to visit and to show others. Sure, the name is wee bit corny, borderline diabetes inducing, but when you are amongst the garden near Telthusbakken, smelling all the flowers and watching the tiny colorful houses all the hate evaporates from your body. The Love Trail is a little green belt hidden in the middle of Oslo, and it has been upgraded to meet safety and access requirements. It can be accessed from several points such as Fredensborgveien, Maridalsveien and Telthusbakken.
What makes this a good place? Firstly, it is user-friendly. This is a great trail to spontaneously visit because you don’t need any gear and it is a rather short walk. The length does not compromise the amount of attractions, au contraire. On this short walk, you will get everything from the burial places of some of the most famous and important Norwegians, to a cacophony of varied architecture.
Here are my top three favorite sightings on the trail.
#3 During the spring the parcel gardens are filled with floral perfume and color. Sure, Oslo got beautiful parks, but nothing beats a hidden garden in a city. A much-needed sighting for those of us in tiny apartments without a lush garden at our vicinity.
#2 The little tree houses. The trail got several sections with old little tree houses in all colors. Telthusbakken, Damstredet and Dopsgate are where you will get your fix, and of course the mandatory “which house would you like to live in?”-game. There is a soothing feeling that comes in over you when walking along these houses on the uneven cobblestones, almost comforting. A simple reminder of how we used to live and who we were.
#1 “The view of Oslo”. I have always felt this is the crescendo of the trail. It is ridiculously simple, you sit on a bench on top of the hill and in front of you is a tableau of Oslo, the north-east direction. In many ways, this trail presents an architectural and landscape snapshot of Oslo. The backdrop is the forests and hilltops, and underneath is a bed of varied architecture ranging from the 19th century to present time.
The purpose with this series is not to provide any precise answer to what makes a good place. It is rather aimed at creating a space for afterthoughts and reflections. Have you ever encountered a good place? Feel free to submit a text and photos to us.