One aspect of our travels that I haven't written about much is the friends with whom we share our time. The places we go and the things we see and do fill our days; but the people we share the journey with bring it to life and give it meaning. Our brief time in Oslo was highlighted by one evening spent in the very best of company: Sjane's old uni pal Eline and her husband Gaute.

Our evening began with bring picked up at our Hostel and heading for the hills. The lush green forests north of Oslo (called Nordmarka) were to play host to us. As it was technically now Summer, the daylight lingered for hours and we knew we'd have time for some adventures. After parking up, we hiked around 3km and gradually ascended further and deeper into the forest. We shared the trail with no-one: the unseasonably cold weather seemed to ward the locals off and the only noises surrounding us were the occasional trickle of running water or a songbird chirping away happily in the distance. We chatted; Sjane and Eline catching up after years apart, Gaute and I getting to know one another as we'd never met before. God knows what the girls talked about; for us the topics ranged from work to climbing mountains to marathons to travelling and settling down. Out of nowhere we came across our dinner destination for the night: a lake high in the hills that epitomised words like serenity and the sheer beauty of Mother Nature.

Settling down for dinner we chowed down on some typical Norwegian fare (sausages, veg skewers, potato salads and potato-based flat breads called lomper) before making the hike back to the car. Unwilling for the night to end just yet, we then headed for the iconic Holmenkollbakken ski jump for views over Oslo city.

The thing I love most about Oslo is its close proximity to nature. After conquering the billion or so stairs up to reach the top of the jump, it was easy to admire just what a beautiful city Oslo is. It's relatively small and from on high you can appreciate the trees and parks generously strewn throughout. The modern highrises all have enough character to draw the eye individually, but they don't detract from the overall grandeur of a place so steeped in history and the beauty of nature. What really sets it apart though, is the location. It's settled at the edge of a fjord: a handful of small islands are scattered throughout the waterway, while dramatic, forested hills rise up on all sides as if to protect the city from the outside world. It's an image that belongs on the front of a postcard, and one that I will remember fondly.

I am certain we would never have seen the lake or that view over Oslo if not for Eline and Gaute taking us there. Thank you both for taking us out and about, showing us around and feeding us. We enjoyed every minute of it and look forward to the next time we meet.