#tigerstaden

[dame-de-pique]

Asbjørn Mortensen - Tigerstadens laguner, 1924

[roviellworld]

The tiger in front of Oslo Central Station is one of Oslo's most photographed "inhabitants" and one of the first things that meet a visitor arriving at Oslo Central Station. Roviell Cablao travel to Oslo Norway.

When Oslo celebrated its 1000-year anniversary in 2000, Eiendomsspar wanted to give the city a gift. Oslo wanted a tiger, and that's what they got: a 4.5-metre bronze tiger made by Elena Engelsen.

The reason Oslo wanted a tiger, is the city's nickname Tigerstaden ("The Tiger City"), which most Norwegians are familiar with. The name was probably first used by Norwegian poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. His poem "Sidste Sang" from 1870 describes a fight between a horse and a tiger; the tiger representing the dangerous city and the horse the safe countryside.

[ikuspace]

The Tiger

Hey there, fellow explorer! Welcome to Oslo, and you're in for a treat because I'm about to introduce you to one of our city's most beloved landmarks - the Tiger statue right outside Oslo Central Station. Trust me, you can't miss it!

This magnificent bronze beast has been guarding our main railway station since 1994, and it's become quite the celebrity. Standing proud at 4.5 meters tall, our tiger is a sight to behold. There's a whole story behind why we've got a tiger in a city that's, well, not exactly known for its wild feline characters!

The Tiger City: Oslo's Quirky Nickname

Well, it all goes back to a nickname our city picked up in the 1870s. Back then, a popular poet named Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson referred to Oslo (then called Christiania) as "Tigerstaden" or "The Tiger City." It wasn't a compliment, though - he was criticizing the city for being a cold, dangerous place.

But you know what? We Oslovians have a great sense of humor. Instead of getting offended, we embraced the nickname! Over time, "Tigerstaden" became a term of endearment, symbolizing Oslo's spirit - confident, proud, and a bit wild at heart.

The Tiger Statue: A Modern Icon

Fast forward to 1994, and our city decided to make this nickname concrete (or bronze, in this case). The tiger statue, created by Elena Engelsen, was placed right in front of the central station. It's become the perfect meeting spot and a fantastic photo stop for tourists and locals alike.

Fun Facts About Our Feline Friend

The tiger weighs a whopping 4.5 tons - that's like 4-5 cars!

It's hollow inside, which is why you might hear it "roar" on windy days as the air whistles through it.

Local kids love to climb on it (though we don't officially encourage this for safety reasons).

During holidays, you might spot the tiger wearing a scarf or a hat - we Oslovians love dressing it up!

Your Gateway to Oslo Adventures

Now, here's a pro tip from your friendly local: the tiger is more than just a cool statue. It's the perfect starting point for your Oslo adventure! From here, you can:

Hop on a guided tour of the city - many start right here.

Take a short walk to Karl Johans gate, our main shopping street.

Head to the nearby Opera House for some stunning architecture.

Explore the vibrant Grünerløkka neighborhood, just a tram ride away.

So, whether you're here for sightseeing, shopping, or just soaking in the Oslo vibe, make sure to say hi to our tiger. It's not just a statue - it's a symbol of Oslo's spirit, and now you're part of its story too! Enjoy your time in our Tiger City!

[ourtriptoswedenandnorway]

Walking the Streets of Oslo

Sunday - 6/16/24

For the next seven days we are staying at the Christian Teeter Hotel. It is located one block from the National Theater and across the street from a park. The location of the hotel was great, but if we were ever to stay here again, I would look into the Hotel Continental. It is about a block away and looks more modern. The people at the front desk at Christian Teeter were nice, but did not provide us any real value when we asked them questions (e.g. restaurant recommendations).

The picture below of our hotel was taken from the park.

Our first stop today was the "Visit Oslo" tourist office at the Central Train Station. There we obtained a detailed map of Oslo and purchased a 7-day transit card, which allows us to ride any bus, tram, subway, or train within Oslo. From the tourist office we started Rick Steves' self-guided walking tour.

Oslo is a pretty compact city and we determined that our walking tour was going to cover most of the stops of Oslo’s Hop On, Hop Off bus. So we did not purchase tickets for the Hop On, Hop Off bus in Oslo.

The picture below shows a statue of a tiger prowling in front of the Central Train Station. This statue represents Oslo's nickname, Tigerstaden ("Tiger Town"). Oslo earned this nickname in the 1800s, as it was seen as an "urban tiger" by the simple country folk who visited what was considered the wild and crazy "New York City of Norway."

Below is a picture of Karl Johans Gate, a pedestrian boulevard that stretches from the train station to the Royal Palace. Normally, there are street musicians and artists along this street, but we didn’t see any today. This could be because it is Sunday, it is drizzling, or it is not the high season (July and August).

Karl Johans Gate, along with most of the downtown pedestrian streets, are heated during the winter to eliminate any snow build up,

On July 22, 2011, an act of terrorism killed 77 people in Norway. In an act of solidarity, thousands of Norwegian laid roses down in front of Oslo Cathedral. Iron Roses, the art work shown below in front of the Oslo Cathedral, serves as a memorial for those who lost their lives during that tragic event.

Karl Johans Gate with the Royal Palace in the distance.

The Oslo National Theatre.

About 30 tents have been set up in the park in front of Norway’s Parliament Building by Palestinian protesters who are demonstrating against the war by living there.

Oslo University.

In the morning, the weather was cloudy, then it would drizzle for a bit before the sun came out. This cycle repeated numerous times. However, the afternoon and evening were sunny for most of the time. :-).

For lunch we went to Amundsen Bryggeri & Spiseri restaurant.

The day continues in the next post.

[nordic-language-love]

Liten tur til Tigerstaden. Jeg klarte meg godt på norsk og forsto alt uten problem. Muntlig språk er fortsatt min svakeste ferdighet, men det er vanskelig å utvikle uten å kunne jobbe med og få tilbakemelding om det hver dag. Jeg er sikker på at, hvis jeg noen gang flytta til Norge, ville jeg bli mye flinkere til å snakke i en fei. Dessverre må jeg nøye meg med to norsktimer på italki i uke. Skulle ønsket jeg hadde råd til en time hver dag! #oslonorway #tigerstaden https://www.instagram.com/p/CWA4wpQIDIb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nidarosing]

🌺

[ Sindre has always had somewhat conflicting feelings about Ola - wanting to prove himself, wanting to be good enough for him, wanting him, being jealous, wanting his attention and at the same time wishing he cared less. Above all, Ola is Sindre’s best friend bar none, and while he’ll happily fistfight him over football if need be and rib on him mercilessly when a harmless weak point appears, he’d never want to actually risk their friendship, because he’d never quite forgive himself if Ola was genuinely and rightfully mad at him. ] 

[karskeladden]

@tigerstaden So about that last position...

[mortenrene]

En tiger i Tigerstaden #tigerstaden #tigerenpåjernbanetorget #jernbanetorget #tiger #tigercity #oslo #norway #visitoslo #visitnorway #oslove❤️ (ved Jernbanetorget) https://www.instagram.com/p/COBVtptA4-v/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[valkyrien-allstars]

why are you passionate about oslo, norway

BECAUSE when Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson wrote a poem about how dangerous cities are he compared them to tigers and oslo folks went YEAH and now a nickname for oslo is the Tiger City

and now there’s this thing in the city centre

[bucketlisttourguide]

The Oslo tiger in front of Oslo Central Station is one of the first things that meets a visitor arriving in Oslo. Oslo celebrated its 1000-year anniversary in 2000, by erecting the 15 foot bronze tiger made by Elena Engelsen. Oslo is known amongst #norwegians as the #tigercity . (Pic from a 2016 #tour) #tigerstaden #tiger #oslo #norway #bucketlist #bucketlistnorway #oslobucketlist #oslotour #travel (at Oslo Central Railway Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKKKGw3D40K/?igshid=8yrpx6ee35pl

[boklysten]

Tisdagspaket vecka 35 #bokpost #bokpaket #nyttiläsahögen #nyttibokhyllan #tigerstaden #tomgrip #philipbirk #historiskamedia #övergivenheten #elisabethåsbrink #bokförlagetpolaris #boklysten #boklystenpirjo https://www.instagram.com/p/CEUjvPQJiYj/?igshid=s889ule68ktn

[arguing-with-thermometers4]

Jeg sender disse sange hen

på venners bøn til kvinner, mænd

i Nordens trenne lande.

(At Finlands folk blant dem er med

på sangen under Nørreled

må jeg med tak jo sanne.)

Jeg sender dem - og ser det nu:

de fleste har ej, hvad min hu

har stærkest følt og båret;

lidt er for flygtigt, lidt for kort,

lidt har på lagret dampet bort,

lidt er for ungt af året.

Jeg levde mere end jeg sang;

jog tanker, harm og jubel slang

omkring mig, hvor jeg gæsted;

at være, hvor det netop galdt,

det var mig næsten mer end alt,

som ved min pen blev fæstet.

Alt sant og stærkt har vokse-sted

og kanske også evighed,

om sværten ej det fanger,

og han, som tænker mindst derpå,

men tør i livets slingring stå,

blir bedste folke-sanger. -

Jeg h��rte engang om en fest

i Spanien; en landsens hest

blev sluppen ind i ringen;

dernæst en tiger af sit bur; -

den gik en stund omkring på lur,

så la' den sig på bringen.

Og folket klapped, jubled, lo,

da tigern sprang og hesten slog,

men fik dog ej se blodet;

ti tigern tumled att og bag

for hestens landlig-plumpe slag

og lå en stund på hodet.

Da hujed, hidsed alle mand

og kvinner med; balkonens rand

de heldte sig udover.

De skreg, de tirred tigerns mod,

de vilde alle have blod, -

og atter frem den vover.

- Og folket jubled, klapped, lo,

da tigern sprang og hesten slog;

- men blod de fik ej skue;

ti lykken havde hesten kær,

og tigern kom den ikke nær,

men spæntes i en bue. -

Hvem vant tilslut, det ved jeg ej;

ti denne landsens hest er jeg,

og kampen har ej ende; -

men byen, hvor den foregår,

og dette klap og jubel får,

den tør du kanske kenne! -

Jeg kæmper helt foruden had;

det, som jeg elsker, gør mig glad,

skønt varm og vred tillige.

Det er mit blod, min sjæl, der går

i hver en linje, som jeg slår,

og derfor går den lige.

Men som jeg står her nu idag,

jeg har ej hævn, jeg har ej nag

mod nogen mand på jorden, -

giv så igen lidt hjærtelag

til den, som bare mente sag

og elsker hele Norden! -

Selv går jeg på min sanger-vej

med ærefrygt først ind til dig,

du største ånd i Norden,

som vred, profetisk varsled gry

bag Nordens tunge morgen-sky,

der skalv i lyn og torden; -

men siden blid bag hav og held

af sagas og af troens væld

på bondens sæd har spillet; -

nu sne-fjæld-hvid på nitti år

af tidens strøm tilbage får

dit eget høje billed.

Til dig så, i hvis sanger-vår

"de tusen sjøers" Finland står

og vemods-mægtig toner.

Vor stammes ånd i evig sus

går grænse-vagt i sangens brus

mod Østens millioner.

Men står jeg i vor egen gård,

et stjærne-billed øjet slår

med alt sit rige under.

Det lyser: Henrik Vergeland

ud over Norges blege land

i minnets klare stunder.

-------

For Nordens unge nutids-folk

er disse tre den største tolk,

som alt mit liv skal prise;

ti under deres tanke-kreds

jeg nynner modig og tilfreds

på Nordens fremtids-vise.

- Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, 1879, Oslo

[correpe]

#AWESOMENESS 👉 @nrwy_. Finisher! Beat last years time with 1h9mim, improved my PB on Marathon with 24mim. So happy with sub 5! #finisher #newpb @oslomaraton #oslomaraton #beardedrunner #improvment #sohappy #antiquit #gohard #oatmeal #lovethepain_official #altrarunning #suunto #42km #marathon #fitlife #beardedfitness #tigerstaden #oslo #sunnydays #beardlife #beardedviking #norwegianaussie #runhappy #correpe (at Oslo Maraton) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2t9d5dH-pH/?igshid=j4tgdm26gq1h

[russell-crowe]

@janoveottesen: Bånn gass med nytt album! Ny promorunde i Tigerstaden😎 Fullmånehymner kommer ut i morgen, fredag 2.sept. 📷 Agnete Brun

[simple-persica]

The Nordic capitols have joined the fray!! From left to right meet: Reykjavik, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Helsinki! 

My ramblings about them under the cut. I apologize for the length, I tried to cut out as mush as I could.

I’ve decided that from now on if and when I design capitols they’re gonna be gender-bent. And this is solely because DC was based off of Nyo!America

So all of their designs are loosely based on the Nyo!Nordics in one way or another

And their designs are up in the air still. I like where they are now, but I know they can improve.

Oslo (Ida)

Much like Nor, she’s very quiet and quite reserved, but she’s a little more playful and mischievous 

She gets hyper focused on tasks and chooses to expend most of her energy on political matters and business. She’s a very busy girl

Nor calls her “Tigerstaden” as a nickname but not often. It’s probably her name in his phone or something similar

Wasn’t very strong when she was younger having gone through many fires that lasted days on end

Denmark helped back on her feet

She’s friends with DC and sends her Christmas trees every year

Get’s along great with Copenhagen and Reykjyavik. 

Her and Copenhagen like to go cycling together

She does poses magical powers but not as strong as Nor’s

The little orbs hanging off her hair bow are both an homage to Norway’s hair curl and the several islands surrounding her

Copenhagen (Thora)

Wow she’s just a pleasant gal to hang out with

She’s very sporty. swimming, cycling, fisticuffs, running, you name it

Her and Den like to play handball together and she can be found hanging out in parks most of the time

Got super powerful in the 15th century when she was the capitol of both Norway and Sweden, then Sve dipped

That followed with several fires AND the plague left her kinda sick in the early 1700′s

Beat up both Britain and Sweden in various fights and sieges

Gets along great with the other capitols and tries to get them together as much as possible, seeing as they’re not as busy compared to the countries

Egg chair, no I will not elaborate

She’s an amazing story teller and likes jazz music

Stockholm (Hjördis)

She’s BUILT, like she’s very strong.

When she was younger she had a great relationship with Denmark, but seriously distrusted him right before and after Sweden left

She’s very very smart. Enjoys playing chess with Reyktavik

She hasn’t won yet

Used to vist the ABBA museum as a joke, but it’s just a part of her routine at this point

She’s very artistic. Her house is flooded with her paintings and sculptures throughout the years

Her and Sve have a little joke where he gives her a random piece of IKEA furniture as a present and she sends him a painting of said furniture for his birthday

He keeps all of them and she keeps all the furniture 

Stoic just like Sve, but tends to be pretty harsh. This leads to her being ready to throw down

Helsinki (Matilda)

Nicknamed “Hesa” by Fin and the other nordics, but Sve calls her “Stadi”

Avid coffee drinker

The Finnish war hit her like a truck because of both fires and war

was under direct Russian control for a bit and it was a rough time all around. 

Referred to as “Daughter of the Baltic” not really important but I thought it was cute

maybe the Baltic states just enjoy her company and is just doted on? I can’t imagine she’d be a fan of this though

Much like Fin, she really enjoys saunas. She also is an avid coffee drinker

Learned how to go from :3 to >:3 from Fin. Idk how else to explain it

The choker she wears is in reference to the possibility that “Helsinki” is derived from a Swedish word “helsing” which is a shoot off from the word “hals” which means “neck”

this in turn could be referencing the narrower parts of a nearby river

She dresses kind of casually because sis is just tired. She chooses to be comfortable over anything else

Reykjavik (Hekla)

Her name is shortened to “Rey” most of the time

She acts kind of spoiled

this is because Reykjavik was the only city in Iceland for a good long while

During WWII Britain, America, and Canada hung out there for a bit

Consequence of this: She really likes hot dogs now

She’s super good at chess, almost scarily good. She likes to play against Stockholm and they get IN to it

Watching their chess matches is peak entertainment for the other capitols

Has a little kitten as a pet! She takes him everywhere, but has a lot of strays she just feeds back home

doesn’t have too much experience with dogs so she’s hesitant toward them

Has never heard of McDonalds or Starbucks

She just...sleeps outside...in random places...without warning

she’s partial to a Swedish White-beam tree that was planted in the city by a Danish king (?)