Breathtaking Norway
“Our home villages with the hills, mountains and forests, the lakes and ponds, rivers and streams, waterfall and fjords. The smell of new hay in summer, of birches in spring, of the sea, and the big forest, and even the biting winter cold. Everything . . . Norwegian songs and music and so much, much more.” - Neal Bascomb
I don’t remember crossing over from Sweden into Norway. I wasn’t really napping, but just like that we were in Norway before I really knew it.
Surrounded by green majestic mountains with silver runnels of melting snow running down the hillsides, snowcapped peaks, lakes, rivers, fjords sometimes blue, sometimes green sparkling and gurgling next to the road; I couldn’t wait for our first stop so I could breathe in this glorious beauty and enrich my soul. I was enchanted, with my nose pressed against the window as I feasted my eyes on the splendor and wove fantastical tales of dragons and other mythical creatures. This countryside that was immortalized by the adventures of Peer Gynt and set to music by Ibsen was spell binding.
Our first scenic photo stop was here in Vaga. The morning was coolish, but the sun was out and sparkling as we all piled out of the coach to try to capture this view through the lens of our cameras.
One of the bonuses of the unusual weather patterns in Europe this year was the gorgeous sunshine and warm weather we enjoyed during this entire trip. Rain was really very little and very far between.
Picture post card town of Byrkjelo. Is Switzerland still the most beautiful country in the world? I don’t know. In my book Norway really gives it a run for its money.
So many beautiful waterfalls. We stopped here in the town of Lom to visit one of the 28 surviving Stave Churches in Norway. The sun was sparkling as we grabbed lunch and admired this beauty gushing along the side of the bakery where we got the most delicious sandwiches.
We were to stay the night at the beautiful Geiranger Fjord but stopped at the ice covered peak of the Dalsnibba mountain for the highest possible fjord view and a scary sky walk.
As I walked in the freezing cold of the afternoon, definitely not dressed for the temperature I was fascinated with this view of the sky and lake which would have been one except for the mountains creating a natural break.
People were enjoying the snow and yet others were walking around and enjoying the views from all angles. I guess most people had the same idea we did about making sure we caught this gorgeous summit while the sun was still shining.
Gieranger Fjord with a cruise ship at anchor. This was the same view though much closer that I had from my hotel window here in Gieranger.
The Norwegians are passionate about their environment and use tunnels and ferries to preserve the pristine beauty of these fjords. I don’t know how they time it, but you drive up and the ferry boat is pulling in. No waiting and no fuss, no muss just using the ferry as a road where you need to.
Even if one had to wait, this breathtaking beauty and clean air would make it all so worth it.
Above the tree line driving on the Eagles Road. The road is a winding marvel that really takes skills to drive. Thank God for our expert driver.
Then the road opens up and you have a wonderful view of glacier melt lakes and soaring mountains.
Even the mighty waterfalls start from trickles coming down the mountains.
Picnic and swim anyone? Nah!
Definitely too cold for a swim for the likes of me from sunny California, though we did see people with swimming and hiking equipment from time to time along our way.
Valldal, where there is a scenic lookout and a walking path built across the top of the waterfall to allow visitors to enjoy the power and majesty of some of these mighty waterfalls.
Local farmers leave little baskets of local berries and other finger fruits for visitors to enjoy on the honor system. For a couple of euro, we got to enjoy the tasty fruit as we boarded our coach. What a fabulous flourish.
We took the ferry from Gieranger to take us towards Flam and a ride on the Flam railroad. More waterfalls along the way. There are so many beautiful and varied waterfalls, a few of which we could climb behind and view the town through the lens of the falling water.
Innfjorden.
From small trickles to might roaring falls we saw them all. I’m trying to refrain from being obnoxious and inundating people with +++ pictures that they’ll curse me for.
The Flam Railway train actually makes a short stop here for passengers to disembark and take a picture. Unfortunately, the sun was right in our eyes and in the camera lens for that perfect picture, but I hope this picture gives you at least a flavor for the magnificent sight that a whole train stops for a photo stop.
The Boya Glacier which does not have too much ice from this view though we would shortly visit the national Glacier Museum at the foot of Jostedalsbreen, to see a film that really shows you why this area is the largest icecap in continental Europe.
Besides the natural beauty of course we caught some wonderful glimpses of the culture and people but one of the most universal and intriguing warnings that I saw here at a little coffee shop struck with me.
“WARNING WE DO NOT HAVE WIFI. TALK TO EACH OTHER…. PRETEND ITS 1995”. A reminder of a happier time when 4 people sitting at a table together did not all have their heads buried in their own cell phones with nary a conversation between them. Needless to say, much of the group had a nice conversation over coffee and cake.
Beautiful Fjaerland! A picture that speaks 1000 words.
Heading towards the final stop on our wonderful Norwegian itinerary we crossed the Hardanger Plateau, an extremely cold barren prairie like area, definitely above the tree line.
The wind was whistling, and we watched in disbelief as the temperatures plummeted down to 4 degrees centigrade. I who am not a soup person was grateful for the hot hearty soup that was offered at lunchtime.
Not too many people live this area. It consists mostly of ski resorts and weekend homes. This drive was also a sad reminder that our trip to beautiful Scandanavia was winding down.