In studying for CBS exams, I have learned the following (and future exchange students would do well to learn from whatever mistakes I may have made):

1. How to speed read. There’s no way I can make this completely clear, because until I got here, even I didn’t fully understand what my predecessors meant by “there’s a lot of reading”. So let me put it this way: for each class a standard reading for a lecture is 30 pages, in addition to at least 1 or 2 scholarly articles (also 30 pages). That means that the smart thing to do is: do your readings throughout the semester, not the day before the exam. Even so, you will quickly learn how to scan repetitive and relatively dry articles for key words and phrases; hence developing your ability to speed read.
2. Don’t look for the meaning of life. While I cannot speak for all the courses offered to exchange students, I must say that my own courses have not proved to be terribly difficult, or terribly informative. What I have learned is that the value of your education on exchange at CBS comes more from seeing how basic business concepts apply to a different perspective (e.g. almost all cases we do in class are based on Scandinavian companies), and less from learning “new things”.
3. Don’t waste time on memorization. Though every class is different, the majority of exams at CBS are open-book. And when I say open book, I mean: textbooks, dictionaries, your laptop, even your mother if you want…everything and anything is admissible, with the exception of Internet usage. As a result, memorization won’t help, because for the most part exam questions will be such that the answer will not come straight out of the book. (Although I have yet to do an exam, so this is just what I’ve been told by various professors and Danish students.)

Now that I have assured my readers that I am still alive and shared my insights into studying for CBS exams, I will reserve the next entry for reflection on the said exams. (The first of which will be this coming Friday, so keep your fingers crossed for me.) For now it’s back to the study of transnational corporations, mergers and acquisitions, and my all time favourite: the European Union’s Lisbon Strategy…

In true opportunistic fashion, two of my fellow exchangers (Vlad and Garima) and I decided to take advantage of this wonderful deal. Therefore, around 9:45 Sunday morning, we hopped on the S-tog, headed for Hillerod. This is were you can find Frederiksborg Slot, the largest Renaissance palace in all of Scandinavia.

Located on three small islands in the middle of Palace Lake, Frederiksborg Slot is definitely worth a visit. Not only is it the largest of the Danish castles, but since it is now the Museum of National History, there’s plenty to keep you occupied from 11 am, when the castle opens, until closing time at 5.

Unfortunately, during our visit the Slotskirken (translation: the Chapel) was closed due to a mass being in progress and therefore we were unable to see it. However, we were not at all disappointed – the palace is made up of over 80 rooms spread over four floors, each more amazing than the next.

Once again, I was left breathless by the intricate decor and beautiful Renaissance architecture. Everything, from the crystal chandeliers to the china, begged to be photographed and for the most part I obliged.

We also had a lot of fun in the area of the castle that now houses the Modern Collection. Some of the art was so entertaining that we could not help but give in to the desire to bring it to life… My favourite painting of the whole set had to be the Danish version of “Liberty Leading the People”, which you can see for yourself in the photo gallery, along with other photographs from the trip.

Upon finishing the upper rooms, we headed down to the cellars into what has now become an area for children, essentially. We tried on feathered hats, armour, crowns and took photos while writing with traditional India ink and goose quills. All in all, we behaved like slightly younger versions of ourselves and had a blast doing so!

Next, we headed into the gardens of the castle, which were quite amazing, despite the fact that they were not yet (as far as I could tell, anyway) in full bloom. This also gave us the opportunity to pose for a few more shots with the castle and nearby park.

Tired from a few hours of walking, the four of us (we met a fellow KK-mate in the castle’s cafeteria-style-room) wondered about Hillerod for a while, looking for a place to eat. Having passed up on Cafe Babylon and The Bagel, we decided to hop back onto the S-tog and head to Norreport in the city centre for what turned out to be a cheap (and ultra-filling) early dinner at Dalle Valle. As a useful note for future exchange students: Dalle Valle currently offers all the items on its menu (excluding drinks – both alcoholic and otherwise) half-price every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after 5 pm. It’s perfect for a night out without breaking the bank.

Stuffed and barely walking, the gang and I got onto the S-tog for a third time and onwards to KK…where we found most of our friends having a BBQ in the backyard. And since it would have been rude not to join in, we sat down for a very early dinner…

S-tog Sundays make for great days, great trips, and great memories. This particular Sunday is definitely going down as one of my favourite moments of exchange…Thanks for the company, Laura, Garima and Vlad!

Two days ago, in honour of my dear friend Garima having turned 21, the three of us girls (myself plus Veronica and Garima) headed downtown to the old opera house to enjoy a ballet performance based on Shakespeare’s well-known play; and what an adventure it was!

First, our metro got stuck in transit and did not move for 10 minutes. Worrisome to say the least, given that we were about to miss the performance. Regardless, just as Garima and I were contemplating getting off the metro a station earlier and trying to run the rest of the way, it started working again…oh, the irony.

Once arrived at Kongens Nytorv, we met with Veronica and proceeded inside, where we made an adventure of trying to find our seats. Let me tell you, it’s quite difficult to distinguish between various balconies, galleries and what-have-you, when you can’t really understand the signage, have never been inside the opera, and only have about 60 seconds until the curtain. But clearly, in the end we managed to find our seats in time and relax.

As a side note, here is a bit about the old Copenhagen Opera House. It was built to resemble a miniature version of the opera house in Paris. Whether this applies to both the exterior architecture as well as the interior decor, I am unclear. However, all I can say is that the building was absolutely beautiful. With its satin-swathed seats and curtains, the intricate gold-leaf detailing of the various balconies and a large crystal chandelier, the opera house exudes an air of old-world charm and by the end of the night, all three of us were feeling highly “cultured”. Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed (although a few people were snapping photos before the performance), so I’m afraid I have no visual take-aways to share…sorry!

Third adventure of the night began before the ballet started, with me noticing that people were standing up out of their chairs. Confused, I looked around the room and only understood when my eyes landed on the royal box – Queen Margarethe II had just walked in, and as per custom, we were required to stand. I don’t think I need to express my utter disbelief that the one day I decide to see a ballet, I get to do so in the company of royalty…

The play itself, which ran a total of 3 hours, was nothing short of amazing. The music direction was excellent, the stage design was also just breathtaking (we had one scene where a silk backdrop was let fall and it came down in ripples – it was the most amazing thing ever) and the costumes were so detailed and extravagant that all three of us were hanging off the ledge, trying to take in the lead ballerina’s 10-foot long  train.

The night was an absolute thrill and as soon as I find another ballet that catches my eye, I will definitely be returning to the opera house. And hopefully, this is one little piece of exchange I can bring back home with me – an evening out at the ballet in the company of good friends feels like a tradition in the making…

Post script: I had to add this, because dad was kind enough to remind me that I forgot to mention the encores. So…we had 4 of them. Which means we were sitting there clapping continuously for a good 10 minutes or so. The reason for this is that the majority of people don’t stop clapping until the Queen does, and she seemed to really, REALLY like the play. My friends and I kept asking each other: “Do you think this is the last one? Oop, no, wait…she’s still clapping. Keep going…”. It was quite amusing actually, but I feel this might turn out to be one of those ‘you-had-to-be-there’ recollections…

As my fellow KK-mates and I made our way out of the metro station at Kongens Nytorv, it quickly became apparent just how much the Danes love Margarethe II. To say that the entire square was covered in Danish flags would be a major understatement that would significantly overshadow the fact that the Dannebrog (the official name of the Danish flag, in case you were wondering) was everywhere – hung from windows, attached to cars, being whipped around by 3-year-olds, just literally…everywhere.

Kongens Nytorv, as well as other key squares and streets on the royal procession path were clogged with people: tourists toting cameras, Danes waving paper flags, and not least of all, representatives from various functions of the Danish military.

From what I am told, the entire celebration starts at Amalienborg Slot, where the Queen comes out onto the balcony and waves at the gathered masses. Following this, she and her husband Prince Henrik partake in an hour-long procession through the streets of downtown Copenhagen in their car, preceded by a long succession of the Queen’s guard.

Unfortunately, my friends and I arrived too late to witness the Queen’s wave from the balcony and also failed to see her during the procession due to the large volume of crowds. However, this was definitely a unique experience. I used to find it some what paradoxical that a country which prides itself on being democratic can be so utterly adoring of their royal family; but now, having stood amongst them on such a special occasion, I guess I can understand it. None of us at KK are Danish nor have any real reason to be excited about the Queen’s birthday…but in the midst of it all, you just can’t help giving in to the intoxicating atmosphere of pride in Denmark and all things Danish.

Tillykke, your Majesty!

P.S. As always, there are photos to go along with my insights. Check the gallery!

The SMK (or to be more clear, the National Gallery of Denmark) is located in the heart of the city near Norreport station and just a stone’s throw from Rosenborg Slot. However, my handy city guide originally led me to believe that the gallery is located in the middle of Botanisk Have (the Botanical Gardens), for which reason I could be seen wondering around the gardens for about an hour, wondering where the heck the gallery was hiding. But that is not to say that the walk through the gardens was not an enjoyable adventure in and of itself; the Botanical Garden is beautifully landscaped, with a large lake running across its lenght and scattered with Classical bronze sculptures. I will certainly be returning in a few weeks, by which time I hope the majority of the flora in the park will have started blooming…

After leaving the park and retracing my steps, I finally managed to locate the National Gallery somewhere behind the Botanical Gardens and right next to the Danish National Bank. Despite the rather classical facade of the Gallery, inside the building could not be farther from modern – sure, it’s got Corinthian columns here and there, but the openness and lightness of its design rings with modernity.

While I myself enjoyed the Glyptotek much more (mainly due to the fact that I prefer sculptures over paintings), the SMK is definitely worth a visit, for several reasons. The first being the fact that it allows you to see 700 years of art for free; yes, that is right, admission is free ALL THE TIME. Secondly, the exhibitions range from Renaissance works to cutting-edge contemporary art and display artists from Denmark as well as other parts of the world. Thirdly, the works exhibited come in a variety of forms, including: sculptures, music, paintings and video. Now that’s what I call multi-media!

The on-site gift shop is also of a better variety than the typical “tourist traps” one often finds at museums (my apologies for the bluntness), mostly due to the fact that it sells both SMK-related souvenirs but also art books and supplies; perhaps this is because the SMK assumes that once you’ve seen a Matisse hanging on the wall, you’ll immediately feel the urge to do some painting yourself. And perhaps that’s not too far from the truth…

Selected photos from my day at SMK are now available on the Photos page, so if the fancy strikes you, go check out what piqued my interest.

1. Size: KK is one of the larger residences, with 74 rooms in total, some of which are shared. This is a benefit in terms of being able to make lots of new friends, but it can also become a hassle with respect to things like using the laundry.
2. Amenities: the rooms in KK vary in size from large to small, but let me say that in comparison to other residences, the small rooms here are quite large. This may also be due to the fact that all rooms at KK have an ensuite kitchen and bathroom. Personally, this was my main reason for choosing KK, but if you’re up to sharing your bath or kitchen, the choices are considerably larger and in some cases more affordable. KK also has laundry facilities in the basement and students are provided with a starting balance of 500 DKK (which is a lot, considering one wash is 12 DKK and a half hour on the dryer is 4 DKK). Last but not least, KK has a common room which can be signed out on a contract basis for parties, cooking, etc.
3. Location: KK is conveniently located near a number of shopping stores, including Lidl and Fakta (both of which are discount) as well as the very useful  Dognetto (which is a store that stays open until 10 p.m.). Flintholm metro station is just a 3 minute walk behind the residence and is the departure point not only for the metro, but also several S-tog lines, which does come in VERY handy later in your exchange as you start to explore farther reaches of Copenhagen. The residence is about a 15 minute walk from the main building, Solbjerg Plads, which may be unpleasant on frigid mornings when you have to walk to class…the upside is that if you really don’t want to walk, the metro drops you off right on campus.
4. Social aspect: in speaking with friends from other residences, I have come to realize that KK is really a very social residence. In addition to the fact that students here have access to all floors, it is not unusual to find that people leave their doors cracked open and to walk down the hall and hear music or conversations during the day. That being said, the constant stream of people knocking at your door might actually drive you out of the residence and into the library every once in a while, but overall the environment is extremely welcoming. And you can be sure that if you’re ever thinking of hitting a party downtown or checking out some village in Northern Denmark, there will be at least a few other KK-ers willing to join you…

All things considered, I abolutely love living at KK, because it combines the best of two worlds: privacy and social opportunities. Having my own bathroom and kitchen allowed me a great deal of freedom; at the same time, the common room downstairs and the very nature of the residence still gave me the opportunity to make “oodles and oodles” of friends. I’m definitely going to miss this place when I go home…

The spring weather, combined with the Easter/Passover holidays and the fact that classes have been suspended for a week, means that the large majority of KK has recently headed off to sunnier climates. Thus, I am left with no choice but to conclude that, strange though it may sound, I now live inside a sort of Grand Central Station. It seems that these past few weeks the most I’ve seen of my friends are short glimpses as they pass through KK (sort of like a connector junction) and on to their next adventure.

And while there’s nothing wrong with wanting to explore as much as possible while on exchange, a few words of wisdom for future exchangers would not be amiss here. If you are planning to spend more time travelling than in residence, you might potentially choose a destination that is not only more accessible (flights into and out of CPH are not the most affordable at times) but also one where the rent justifies being away…

As for me, I’ve done my best to get adjusted to life inside this great stop-over point. The recent bout of less-than-pleasant weather and the lack of people knocking on my door every few minutes has certainly left me with time to get cracking on the remaining 300 pages of my export marketing textbook.

Coming up: a tour of KK, complete with my thoughts on the residence. Because I just realized I hadn’t yet done so…

Today was, in the most ironic sense, the perfect day to visit the castle of Kronborg. The rain, cold and general gray-ness of it all seems to fit together with the notion of Hamlet’s castle just as perfectly as the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle. I just hope I haven’t caught some strange bout of “Hamlet depression” while the rain drizzled on my hair…

We arrived in Helsingor around 10:30 a.m. after a short bus ride though the Danish suburbs (on highways that my friend Garima has decided look “just like the ones in Mississauga”) and were slightly disappointed when, rather than heading into the warmth of the castle, our tour guide instead made us climb the ramparts in order to have a better setting for his story about why the castle was built; and now that I have brought it up, I may as well spend a little time elaborating on that story.

Kronborg Slot was built during the middle of the 15^th century as a fortress to control the movement of ships to and from the Baltic Sea via the Oresund. Being an enterprising Dane, the founder of the castle, King Eric of Pomerania had decided that all ships passing through would have to pay a fee to cross the sound; the rationale for this was that Eric would keep the area clear of pirates and thus it was in the ships’ interests to cross at this “safe point” rather than elsewhere. Is it just me, or does this sound like a very early version of the toll road? However, like many historical sights in Denmark, the castle was burned to the ground in 1692, and thus had to be rebuilt. In the late 16^th century the castle was rebuilt by Frederick II and became one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe.

Once inside the fortifications we began our tour in the chapel, which is the only portion of the original castle to have survived the fire of 1692. Though not large by any standard, the chapel is quite a sight, thanks to an amazing amount of detailed craftsmanship. Each pew is adorned with a unique carving and labelled with the crest of a particular royal family; similarly, the walls and the crown moulding are inscribed with verses from the Bible and embossed in gold leaf.

Following the chapel, we headed down into the basement where we mostly succeeded in frightening and bumping into each other in the dark. Here, I made acquaintance with the hero of Denmark, Holger Danske. As the story of Ogier (as he is called from time to time) goes, he will wake up to defend Denmark if the country ever finds itself attacked. And though he looked very much made of stone, the fact that he’s about two heads taller than any normal human being makes me pity whatever poor soul wakes him up… While in the basement we were also given the opportunity to experience the dank dimness of a prison cell and heard about the history of Kronborg as a prison.

Back above ground, we began the last leg of our tour in the King’s and Queen’s receiving rooms. Even without being assured by our tour guide that the rooms were significantly less decorated following the rebuilding of the castle, one could still get the distinct feeling that the Danes, like most royalties, liked to flaunt their wealth. A clear reflection of this is the many rich tapestries, large paintings and crystal chandeliers which litter the castle. Despite being smaller in size than I would have guessed, Kronborg does have some rather amazing rooms. My favourite was the ballroom, which spans a few hundred metres of black-and-white marble floors and is lit (although not while we were there) by a dozen chandeliers. Also note-worthy was the room of tapestries, which depicted some famous figures in Danish history and their contributions.

Having finished exploring the home of Holger Danske, we headed back to the bus and into the nearby town of Elsinore to quickly explore some of the architecture there. The first stop along the way was a monastery (I forget what it was called), that was at one point also used as a stable. Though it used to be the largest monastery in Scandinavia, this aesthetically-pleasing building is still relatively small by today’s standards and as a result, we were in and out within 10 minutes…just as soon as we finished taking the standard touristy photos, that is. Following this we headed to a last stop, which turned out to be a vintage store that once upon a time had been the restocking house for the ships which made berth in Elsinore; the shop-keeper was a very nice lady who shared the story of what the life of a sailor was like back in those days.

Overall, I find that the trip was certainly worth the 185 kroner, if not more. The weather could have been better (and I can’t help thinking I could have taken some MUCH better pictures had it been sunny), but I suppose that’s one element beyond anyone’s control, so I shouldn’t really focus on it. Moreover, while Kronborg is much smaller than I anticipated, it is absolutely worth the visit. Not only is it rich in stories (as an ancient toll house, the home of Holger Danske, the setting of Hamlet, etc.), but it is also a welcome change from the usual architectural and decorative excess that tourists are likely to find in other castles throughout Europe. And let’s be honest: if you had the chance to visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site, why would you ever pass it up?

P.S. Photos are going up as soon as possible, so check the gallery often!

Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is an absolutely striking place, not least because it’s hard to put a label on just exactly what it is. Is it a museum? A gallery? A garden? Although the tourist guides will call it a gallery, the truth is that once you step inside, you quickly come to realize that the Glyptotek is a strange (positively so) amalgamation of the three.

A the centre of it all, the Glyptotek seems to be a garden. Take a few steps into the building and you will find yourself inside the Winter Garden, an indoor collection of ponds, palm trees and statues, scattered with benches. From here, the building splits into several “wings”, each housing a different type of exhibit.

On one side of the building, visitors can admire busts and sculptures ranging from Ancient Egypt to pre-fall Rome. One of my favourite exhibits was a nasothek, which is essentially a collection of noses and ears that had originally been designed to replace the various missing pieces of sculptures, but were later removed under the pretense that these obscured the authenticity of the sculptures.

Another wing, which more closely resembles a gallery than a museum, houses more modern sculptures, including well-known pieces such as The Kiss (by August Rodin) and The Three Graces (by Antonio Casanova). I was also very impressed by the bronze-cast sculptures of Edgar Degas, including his very famous Little Dancer of Fourteen Years; the ability of his sculptures to capture the essence of movement is definitely something to admire.

A third wing of the Glyptotek boasts a series of French paintings, including well-known works by Monet, Manet, Renoir and Degas, among many others; this area of the building is a must-see for any student or admirer of Impressionism. And while the French exhibit is truly a gem, there are also several other nationalities and artistic periods represented in this area of the Glyptotek.

The final wing (which I was unable to see due to time constraints) is what gives the Glyptotek its “museum edge”. From what brief glances I was afforded of this section, I would highly recommend it to those who prefer history over art.

All in all, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is definitely worth a visit, simply by virtue of the fact that it is not quite a museum, not quite a gallery and not quite a botanical garden. And the fact that admission is free on Sundays makes it an attractive and peaceful venue to hang out after a late brunch.

And since art cannot be described, I have uploaded a selection of photos from the visit to the photo gallery. Unfortunately, I did not keep track of what I was photographing, so I would ask that you excuse the lack of labels at this time. Enjoy!

Day 1:

The girls and I arrived at the departure point rather late, due to some delays in preparations. As a result, I had the pleasure (though I rather that I did not) of receiving the last “check-in bracelet”. It’s never nice to hear that you’re the last one there…

The cruise then kicked off with a company presentation of DFDS Seaways (the cruise operator), which was informative, if slightly boring. The presentation was accompanied by a host of very pink drinks in martini glasses, which I was forced to avoid due to the fact that I was unsure whether they contained any alcohol that could possibly interact with my penicillin to create unpleasant effects…

Following the information session we were able to drop off our bags in our cabin and head to the dinner buffet in the main restaurant. Our cabin was shared between four people, so at times it got quite crowded, but since we hardly spent any time in the cabin (apart from sleeping a few hours each night) it was more than fine, in my opinion. Dinner was very enjoyable that night – we had access to a full buffet and were tempted by various finger-licking offerings. Among my favourite were: Swedish meatballs, egg salad, pavlova (a very sweet dessert believed to have originated in New Zealand) and ice cream. Awesome food…and perhaps too much so, since I just kept eating and eating; and coming from me, that’s saying something.

Following dinner we split into groups of seven for a treasure hunt around the ship. This proved to be the perfect opportunity to meet some new people and have a few laughs as a team. I am also very proud to say that the Undercover Pirates (so dubbed because we all had ignored the order to dress up as pirates for this part of the cruise) won one of the three champagne-and-chocolate prizes that were given out at the end.

Naturally, we then took these prizes over to Baresso (which is a coffee chain similar to Starbucks) and celebrated our amazing powers of deduction until the early morning hours, alongside a rowdy bunch of pirate-clad exchange students.

Day 2:

The second day of the cruise once again started off in “dangerous territory”: an unlimited breakfast buffet. Despite the fact that the food choices were considerably reduced from the previous night’s buffet and that certain items appeared to be leftovers, the buffet was a good way to soothe my rumbling stomach while watching the breathtaking Norwegian vistas pass by…

Once arrived in Oslo, the exchange students divided up in group according to their preferred activity. About half had chosen a guided tour around Oslo, while the other had gone instead with sledding down an old Olympic bobsled track. Given my aversion to sports and desire not to use my health insurance in Norway, I had stayed away from the sledding activity; a decision which appears to have paid off, because apparently, several of the students had gotten injured due to lack of proper instruction on how to operate the sleds.

The Oslo tour began with a walk around Akershus Festning (translation: Aksershus Fortress), which dates back to the late 13^th century. The fortress was originally built to protect the city of Oslo, but later was also used as a prison by both the Norwegians and the invading Germans back in WWII. Nowadays it remains open, serving as a tourist attraction but also as the home of certain administrative braches of the Norwegian military. It was interesting to be told that the king’s boat (which is currently docked right next to the castle) must be moved to a different location in the summer to make room for the cruise ships in the harbour – I saw this as a very hilarious example of globalization…

After Akershus Fortress, our tour guide walked us over the Opera House, which is a striking building to behold. Both the interior and exterior are extremely modern, but the allure of the building lies in that it is without doubt a work of art first and a building second. Inside, we were led on a tour to see the various stages, as well as back-of-house areas that are normally closed to the public. It was a very enlightening experience to learn about how the entire building was designed to balance functionality with adaptability. For instance, in the main stage (stage one), the acoustics can be modified for various performances through the use of curtains and the stage can be lowered some few feet to accommodate an orchestra when necessary. Moreover, this building serves as a case study in good project management, since according to our guide, despite the innovative nature of the building, it was finished under budget and ahead of schedule. All in all, the building is amazing from every perspective – should you ever be in Oslo, the Opera is worth a trip!

With another hour on our hand before boarding, a few of us decided to double back to Oslo City Hall, which is located right near Akershus Fortress. I was personally not very impressed with the building. Although it does house some nice murals, décor and artwork, I find that the primary attraction of the building lies in the knowledge that this is where the Nobel Prizes are handed out.

Back on the boat, we enjoyed a coffee and a nap before the much-awaited Formal Dinner.  The dinner was held in one of the main restaurants, Blue Riband (there is no spelling mistake) and consisted of three courses. The first course consisted of cod pate in some form of sauce and was paired with a rather sweet white wine. The second course was made up of beef stuffed with spinach and mushrooms, with a side of steamed vegetables and accompanied by red wine. Finally, the dessert was an Italian concoction (though the exact name eludes me at the moment) that resembled lime mousse, paired with whipped cream, fruits and drizzled chocolate. The dinner was certainly an enjoyable way to spend some more time with new friends, although I will admit that the rather severe rocking of the boat during dinnertime did make the task of eating cod pate just THAT much more difficult…

Overall thoughts and reflections:

The Oslo Cruise was a ton of fun and I sincerely recommend it to all incoming exchange students. While some students decided not to partake due to the fact that they felt the price was too steep for what was being offered, I found it to be a worthwhile experience and would definitely say that I “got my money’s worth” out of it.

Oslo is also an interesting city (and we barely scratched the surface in the six or so hours that we were there) because it is such a strange mix of the old an new. I expected to find areas where the houses dated back to the 16^th century and areas filled with modern office buildings, but instead found that these two co-exist throughout the city. The Opera House, and to a lesser extent the City Hall were also good landmarks to visit. The Opera House in particular was a highlight because as it was explained to us, the building is at the centre of a greater revitalization of the area, including the removal of the highway (traffic will go through underground tunnels in a few years), the development of green areas and the conversion of portions of the harbour into residential areas.

All in all, I highly recommend the cruise, not only as a way to enjoy Oslo without the hassles associated with planning your own trip, but also as a way to meet new CBS exchange students and have a fun time sailing!