Norway

Norway in a nutshell...


What's expensive: Absolutely everything - worst of all a 25% sales tax on beer.
What's strange: Discovering that the blackened meat at the fish market is in fact whale.
What's long: Everything, including 200km fjords (that prevent travelling anywhere in a straight line), 25km tunnels and massive fillets of salmon sold in the supermarkets.
What's hot: Blonde's in Lycra (That seem to travel in packs!).
What modes of transport does a holiday there involve: Plane, taxi, cable car, walking, train, bicycle, ferry, bus, kayak.
What's the price of a Big Mac: NOK40 (£4)
What's the best chocolate bar (and we are certainly qualified to know): Daim (technically Swedish but who cares) or Hobby's (a delicate mix of caramel, marshmallow, biscuit and chocolate).


Stop #1 - Bergen

Highlights of our two days in Bergen included walking in the endless trails in the hills overlooking the town and the surrounding fjords, being well looked after by Hanna - our eccentric landlady at Hanna's place and buying fresh salmon at the fish markets to cook for dinner.





Stop #2 - Finse

We departed Bergen on the much hyped train to Oslo. Hyped due to the picturesque scenery along the way. We were not disappointed and jumped off a couple of hours into the journey at the highest point of the trip - Finse at 1,222m above Sea level. We stayed in a great hostel where we were fully catered for by super friendly staff and dined with all the other hikers who were staying there. The next day, we pulled on all our clothes (including socks on our hands - now termed "sottens") and braved the snow and rain at the altitude to cycle 5 hours / 60km over some fairly rugged terrain down to Flam at the head of Sognefjord. The ride was pretty spectacular and, given we seemed to be the only ones foolish enough to do it that day, was quite eerie.

Views of Finse on arrival at sunset:




Stop #3 - Sogndal


Our accommodation at Sogndal was fantastic with a porch that was in sun most of the day (and it was sunny) and a view over the fjord to the town - it was tough to get out and do anything. But we did climb a couple of hills - in doing so ticked off one of Gabrielle's 30 things to do before she turns 30 when we ascended the 640m to overlook the fjord.









Stop #4 Geiranger

Last stop was Geiranger and, after a bit of a palaver to get there (a 4km walk with our packs on, 3 separate buses, a ferry and then another 3km walk in the rain) we were well and truly broken. But, fuelled on 2 minute noodles and cheese buns we managed a couple of good outings to investigate the waterfalls and views of the area both on foot and in a double kayak.

Kayaking on the fjord. Just us, the ferry's and the waterfalls.

I thought I'd done well by letting my hygiene standards slip and not taking a razor for the week - but this was balanced out by having to endure a mud mask. Not impressed!