Category: Norway
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Norway in a Nutshell Part 6: Oslo
I AM STANDING AT THE EDGE OF OSLO’S WATERFRONT, looking at the construction projects going on behind the Oslo Opera House. Yanyan is a few meters away, taking pictures of the birds that approach humans at a proximity I’m not used to seeing. The opera house is an architectural marvel that has become an icon…
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Norway in a Nutshell Part 5: The Flåmsbana
YANYAN AND I BOARD FLÅMSBANA THE NEXT AFTERNOON to start our journey to Oslo. The Flåmsbana is a 20-kilometer long branch of the Bergen-Oslo railway line that connects Flåm and the station village of Myrdal. Myrdal is located in a mountain pass around 862 meters higher than Flåm, which means the line has a gradient of 1:18. This steep slope, coupled with…
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Norway in a Nutshell Part 4: Stegastein
LOCATED 10KM NORTH OF FLÅM ALONG AURLANDSFJORD, Stegastein is a breathtaking overlook that offers one of the most remarkable panoramic views of the fjord. This viewing platform is not just a prime spot for sightseeing but also a modern architectural wonder that enhances the natural beauty of the Norwegian landscape. It’s a must-see destination for…
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Norway in a Nutshell Part 3: Flåm
FLÅM’S LOCATION AT THE END OF AURLANDSFJORD makes for a pretty spectacular setting. But it also means this town and its 400 residents can get overwhelmed when cruise tours make their stops here and spill their passengers out. Still, outside of this tourist crush (usually in the early morning or late afternoon), the town is blissfully…
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Norway in a Nutshell Part 2: Sognefjorden
WE LEAVE BERGEN BEHIND THE NEXT MORNING and sail for Flåm via Sognefjorden. We originally planned to do the classic Norway in a Nutshell tour, which would take us also to Flåm, but via the towns of Voss and Gudvangen and through Nærøyfjord. But with the help of the guy in the information center, we eventually made a…
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Norway in a Nutshell Part 1: Bergen
ONE SIGNIFICANT DETAIL I FAILED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT when planning a trip to Bergen was that it’s one of the – if not the – rainiest cities in Europe. And to compound matters, fall is usually the wettest. “Man, that’s Bergen for you,” a local at the fish market tells me when I comment about the…
The Tourist Gaze 