I’ve been putting off this post on our Oslo trip because I’ve had Post-Vacation Funk.

You know what I’m talking about.

The funk you get in when you get back from an awesome vacation, bank account depleted, and have to go back to 1) work, and 2) real life where you have to clean and cook and do chores. Ugh. Real life stinks.

Vacation forever!

Moving on.

My simple tip for falling in love with Oslo is just to visit. If you love chilly, grey weather, make sure you visit in early October. I also recommend taking someone you love with you, because it really does enhance the experience.

I love traveling alone. You don’t have anyone to answer to, you can plan your trip however you want, visit everything you want to see without having to argue with anyone, and you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want. Traveling alone is the friggin’ best.

But, as I have learned over the last few months, I’m grateful to have a traveling partner that makes me go outside my comfort zone, pushes me to go that extra mile (or two), and can help me find my way when I’m lost. It was better to have someone in Oslo with me.

While I didn’t tackle everything on my map, I did visit things I hadn’t considered at his suggestion. We cultivated lists together, and when I got frustrated at not being able to get everything done, I had someone to tell me to calm down and help me prioritize. I had someone to talk to at meals, or to totally ignore while we both decompressed by staring at our phones.

I had someone to watch TV with at the end of the day.

I won’t say it was all perfect. We definitely got frustrated with each other, I spent a fair amount of time being hangry as hell, and we ate pasta almost every. single. night. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Having a travel companion isn’t important.

Having the right travel companion is vital.

Here’s all the places we went:

Here are some of my favorite shots from the trip