This former blue collar neighbourhood at one point turned into the most happening area in Oslo. So much that these days the original district boundaries have been pushed aside, to accommodate everybody who wants to call it home, and the realtorslooking to sell their clients apartments 🙂 When I lived there in the mid 90’s, it was far from what it is today, and I must admit I somewhat miss the old days. Now glossy has replaced grimy 🙂 The two main streets of the neighbourhood east of Akerselva have since then filled up with shops, including small boutiques you won’t find anywhere else in the city, bars, restaurants, cafes, and tons of people who love hanging out. During the summer it is especially busy with packed parks and vacant outdoor seating few and far between.
Grünerløkka, or Løkka as it is also referred too, is a bit off the city centre, but no more than a fairly short walk from the main street of Oslo.
Fashionable areas come and go. I think it’s all part of the economic cycle (one area gets too crowded and expensive so another one pops up to get in on the action and, sometimes, becomes even more popular than the original place). I like the mix of the new and the old.
Yes, that’s how the world turns. Walking around there spotting survivors from when I lived there, is so fun, bringing back memories 🙂
I think that this reinventing of blue collar neighbourhoods is an urban phenomenon these days – it seems to be happening everywhere. Nevertheless, this sounds like a place that I’d really love to visit, it sounds like it has a great vibe.
Yes, I know! It’s nice, but sometimes I feel like it’s just too “to see and to be seen”, if you know what I mean.