Trolls, Tunnels, and Toilets

Street Art

 Norwegians, it appears, love trolls, No not those nasty faceless whiners on the internet but the ones who live under bridges and like to eat goats. Mind you looking at the landscape I can quite imagine trolls, giants, and all things majestic and mystical appearing out of the landscape as it sometimes looks like chocolate brownies with icing sugar sprinkled on top, or slabs of unshaped clay - like loves of homemade bread slapped onto the planet, or stoic, unyielding, hard rock.

This then leads me to tunnels as one whit said, and they were Norwegian, we are a county of tunnels. Something that didn't escape my notice on the way in from the airport. However this understatement became abundant clear in the train on the way to Voss when an "oh that kooks lovely" moment became " God darn tunnels - how am I supposed to get a photo now!" moment. Mind you it did lead to some improved diplomatic relations between Spain and Aotearoa as we commiserated over lost photo opportunities. A relationship that became with your truly saying to said same Spanish contingent, "Yes  - well we hope this Train is going to Voss as well." Something I could assert knowingly as I knew that the dots between stations on the train information indicates other stations, not currently showing, before your final destination, They were a fun group off on the same expedition as ourselves so what a nice Segway. Today was a big day out as we trained, bussed, cruised, vintage train, and then trained again from  Bergan to Flamm and return. This will be a large missive so grab yourselves a cup of tea/coffee/gin or whatever spins you wheels to sit back and enjoy the journey.

Stage 1 Bergen to Voss - modern train. This took roughly an hour and the view along the water, when  not shaded out by the aforementioned tunnels was spectacular, 

Bergen to Voss by Train

A good or otherwise, dead center of town joke,

Stage 2 - Voss to Gudvangen by public bus

So this was a self guided tour with the tickets booked through Fjord Tours "Norway in a Nutshell" with you, dear traveler, deciding which route to take and they then booked the tickets with the various companies, Of course you pay for this which I was quite happy to do. So anyhow this leg was with the local public bus - a rare treat for Neil. And you are not totally left to your own devices as the train conductor did point us in the direction of the bus stop. Here, as there was no assigned seating tension mounted as people jostled for their place in the queue - but there was room for all including one local who perhaps should've taken another bus, or were we his entrainment for the week. Lovely bus, ;lovely road with informed commentary from the driver whose name was David (said with a Norwegian accent so that he sounded and I will say looked a bit like my Lincoln colleague of the same name.) David P - perhaps a history of the Vikings may be the next podcast you listen to and then review your family tree. Anyway a hint for the Otago Peninsula bus service. 

Looking back the way we had come,

Grass Roofs

Stage 3 - Cruising up the Fjord

Next we cruised from Gudvangen to the head of the Fjord at Flamm about 2 hours. Amazing sheer walls of some rock which I will leave to the experts to name, intermittent with settlements on arable land. Hardy people and a rereading of the Sagas is on the to do list. Very quiet and peaceful, once you ignore your fellow travelers as there wasn't a lot of water activity and the boat is electrically powered.

  

Stage 4 - Vintage Train Flam to Myrdal 

This creaked and squealed its way up the valley to Myrdal, a far better option IMHO to the road with its hair pin turns which according to our Birmingham companion is a very thrilling bike ride - her nephew had completed it. 

There was free boarding with its usual angst which is fun to watch, my only requirement was to be in a carriage away from a family from the country who really should sort itself out before telling the rest of the world how to live. A good lesson in queuing would be a great place to start. 

Another group of tourist were getting there photos taken by the engine and when one of them was brave enough to actually put as foot on the steps into the engine cab it was photo shoot time all over again. Well at least they were having fun.

Flam looks quite the activity place but we are still early in the main tourist season.

We stopped on the way up to Myrdal to take a photo of a waterfall which would be resplendent if full of water and/or iced over - however it was neither. The view on the other side of the valley made up for it as  was the trip up the valley,

Monument to the railway workers

The un-resplendent waterfall 

View from the other side of the waterfall.

Last Stage - Myrdal to Bergen 

So a faster canter down the hill where we repeated the Voss to Bergen leg. Snow and picturesque scenery and yes tunnels. Looked like a lot of holiday homes or else people were away for the holidays,