2009 - Scandinavia - Day 3 - Bergen, Norway

This morning after breakfast we walked to the train station about a mile away. From there we started our “Norway in a nutshell” tour. We took the Bergen railway up to the City of Voss. It was a high speed train, only took about an hour. We spent much of the time in tunnels under the mountains, which was neat, but disappointing in a way because I wanted to see the countryside more. But we were able to see a lot still, and I have really been impressed with how gorgeous Norway is. It’s not what I expected. It’s all granite mountains and tall trees and water and ocean and great rivers and waterfalls with pretty wooden houses on the sides of the mountains and small grassy valleys. Once we arrived in Voss, we got on buses. Voss is a big skiing city in the winter. In the summer it is know for its extreme sports like cliff jumping and parasailing. On the bus we drove for about an hour to Gudvangen. Along the way we drove down a steep and narrow raid in a town called Stalheimskleiva. It had 13 really steep bends and 2 gorgeous waterfalls. I would have loved to have walked down that road. Once in Gudvangen, we got on a boat that took us through the fjords of Naeroyfjord, which is the narrowest fjord in Europe, and Aurlandsfjord, and ended in Flam. It was a 2 hour boat ride and it was spectacular. The mountains were gorgeous and had so many beautiful waterfalls! I loved it so much! It was pretty cold with light sprinkles of rain off and on, so I was pretty cold after an hour being out on the top deck. So mom and I went inside for some hot chocolate to get warmed up, then we went back out for the last 30 minutes. By then, the rain was coming down harder, and there was even more of a wind-chill, so we went to the middle deck, that had a covering and was more protected from the wind and rain. Our boat arrived in Flam, a beautiful town at the end of the fjord and we had a bit of free time. We looked through the souvenir shops, mom bought a troll and piggy bank and I was looking at some gorgeous sweaters. The one I wanted was $157. Oh well. In Flam, we got on the Flam railway. It wasn’t a high-speed train like the first one, it was more “old fashioned” and meant for touring. It was an hour long, going from Flam to Mrydal in the mountains. The mountain scenery was beautiful, and we stopped at another breathtaking waterfall. It was so misty from being so close to the waterfall, and it was already cold outside, so we didn’t stay out long. Only long enough to get some pictures. In Myrdal, we got back on the high-speed train, which took us back to Bergen. At the train station, several of us needed to use the restroom. But it had a toll on it for 10 kronen, which is around $1.80, to use the bathroom, and none of us had that exact change to put in the slot. We weren’t very happy. Finally another lady from our group came by and she had the change available and opened the door for us, and we just held the door open so all of us could use it without having to pay again. We walked back towards our hotel, and stopped to eat at a little shop nearby. Mom had fish n chips and I ordered a kebob—thinking it would be meat and veggies on a stick. But it was more like a Yarro, meat inside a flatbread sandwich with lettuce and onions. It was good though. Everything is so expensive in Bergen. That meal cost mom and I over $30, and I saw another sweater I really liked, but this one was $215. I guess I don’t get to take home any Norwegian sweaters. :( Back at the hotel, I was still pretty chilled form our cold day outside, so I thought I would check out the pool, and hopefully get to sit in a hot tub before bed. I went to the pool room, but was disappointed with the shallow cool pool, and no hot tub to be seen, and I was looking around for a steam room or something. There was an open room at the end of the hall and I walked inside and saw a man just wrapping a towel around him. Apparently I had walked into the men’s dressing room! I was so embarrassed; I apologized and ducked out fast. I did not go back, but just soaked for awhile in our tub in the room instead.