Bergen Prices

Bergen is a Place of beauty ... of culture .. of arts ... of Education and tourists and of Fjords.

.....And of shelling out 98kr for a Mai Tai!!

and if I'm thinking about Relaxing my hair , I have to save up over 2000Kr! ... Ok doesn't sound too bad? How about a 5000Kr Speeding ticket .... (yes speeding tickets will be another blog .. driving in essence! .. But I actually have to be driving to really blog about that! - .... gorsh.. that should be frightening!)

Yup .... Watching prices here in Norway are equivalent to watching prices in Jamaica .. the only disheartening thing is that the exchange rate is not nearly as favourable ... not NEARLY. How does 1 Kr = aprox 1 TTD sound??? Just joobie just joobie I tell you?... or 1 USD = 6.38 Kr. It certainly does not seem that shopping is such a bargain .. when you are look at a pair of boots ..lovely boots and see a price of 5000kr!!!

According to UK Mirror, The minimum wage is 10 Pounds compared with 5.73 Pounds in the UK. ... Its the best pay in Europe.

However as a tourist, be prepared to be totally shocked at the prices of somethings. Norway in general has a VERY high standard of living... This means that the salaries start at a very high level.

There are a few things that are at a generally "normal" level .. like Corn Flakes and some clothes. Hotel rates are over 1000Kr in general, Alcohol is taxed heavily .. so anything that has alcohol in it is eye-poppingly expensive ... being a cheap drunk in Norway is a VERY good thing!

Maybe that will explain why it so hard for me to go shopping here ...even though while we are here in Oslo .. it is my "little" passtime. It just seems to be NOT bargain shopping .. of which I am such a sucker! .. Isn't that the whole joy of trini shopping ? head to Chaguanas and get tops for a great price .. (just make sure to hand wash them and no dryers!) ... and Lots of Sales Everywhere ... especially at the infamous Francis Fashion and Westport sale times.... ooo ..and how about Radical Designs Boxing day sales??? ...

well a sale or Salg in Norway ... brings prices down to a "normal" price according to Trinidad prices ... so shopping till you dropping in Norway is not reeehheeehheeeheeeeellly a great idea ... at least not if you want to eat anything for the rest of the month!

Ok ... as I stretch and head out again in the big OSLO world .. the sky is a gorgeous blue and Its supposed to be warm today ... (oh yuh know... airconditioned warm)...
I suppose that eventually I will get accustomed to the prices and be able to tell a "real" bargain from another ... and where are the best places to shop etc .. but for now ... my jaw keeps dropping when I see the prices and thinking .... geeezzz and ages!!! ... 598Kr to fill your gas TANK???? I thought Norway had its own oil???

Well the only good thing I can see really is walking around with 5000kr does not entail having your wallet packed to capacity .... you only have 5 bills in your pocket!

Whey yuh say???