|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 4, 2014 19:34:35 GMT
This is an overdue report of a wonderful trip I took earlier this year. Norway is a stunningly beautiful country. There were gushing waterfalls at every turn. Vøringsfossen, falling 183 meters (597 feet), is one of the most spectacular. We hiked to the top of Hardangerfjord, the third longest fjord in the world. It was tiring but the view was so rewarding. We visited the lovely city of Bergen, founded circa 1070. I spotted a rather stately-looking McDonald's here. The Bryggen (quay) includes about 60 wooden buildings from the Hanseatic period and has been designated a World Heritage site.
We wandered down little passages... ... that opened to charming courtyards. I learned that the Bryggen is not beautifully preserved out of sheer luck. Bergen has been plagued by fires for centuries and painstaking work goes into restoring the buildings. Craftsman carry out repairs using traditional tools, methods, and materials.
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Nov 4, 2014 19:46:37 GMT
Another wonderful report. I had just read Marks effort on Wadi Rum in Jordan and realised from your first few shots that here we have another mountain goat. And the unicorn springing out of the building is certainly well endowed, I think he should be classed as a duocorn.
Thanks for showing us another wonderful place.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Nov 4, 2014 20:36:14 GMT
Lovely pictures, NYCgirl. I must say I'm amazed that anyone would have a convertible in Norway -- can't get much use out of it.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Nov 4, 2014 20:52:47 GMT
The photos of the fjords are especially stunning!
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 5, 2014 2:10:31 GMT
Thanks, everyone! And the unicorn springing out of the building is certainly well endowed, I think he should be classed as a duocorn. Haha, I was wondering who would notice it first. Lovely pictures, NYCgirl. I must say I'm amazed that anyone would have a convertible in Norway -- can't get much use out of it. To my surprise, there was a big group of people driving classic American muscle cars. They looked pretty nice.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 5, 2014 4:41:18 GMT
Stunning landscape pictures, NYCGirl -- just gorgeous. Extremely interesting report. I don't know why, but was very surprised to see so many wooden structures. Are those added-on enclosed staircases suspended over the passageways?
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2014 5:43:12 GMT
Those towns look so much nicer when they aren't buried in snow. As for convertibles, I read once that Scandinavia has the highest percentage of convertibles in Europe. The lowest percentage is in countries like Italy, Greece and Spain where people prefer to stay out of the sun. Those fjord pictures look like they are straight out of Middle Earth New Zealand. Norway supplies all of the hugest Christmas trees to the major cities of Europe. Strasbourg always tries to get the biggest one. I have no idea how they are transported, though. Must be tricky!
|
|
|
Post by fumobici on Nov 5, 2014 6:37:19 GMT
My primary reaction is that i want to see more, the photos are so alluring. The fjord is spectacular and not altogether that different from some local places here. I've long wanted to visit. Kind of similar to Iceland but frankly looks more picturesque. In an ideal world, Bergen looks like a great base for exploring that part of Norway for two weeks or a month. Is English understood at all once you get out of the urban areas? I'm always game to dip my toe into a new language--I'm uncomfortable being somewhere and not knowing at least a few dozen phrases--but I've never seriously considered trying to learn a Scandinavian one. All the cosmopolitan Scandinavians I've known of course spoke good English. I assume in the villages that wouldn't be the case.
|
|
|
Post by fumobici on Nov 5, 2014 6:39:20 GMT
Those towns look so much nicer when they aren't buried in snow. As for convertibles, I read once that Scandinavia has the highest percentage of convertibles in Europe. The lowest percentage is in countries like Italy, Greece and Spain where people prefer to stay out of the sun. Probably similar to how Seattle has the highest sunglass sales in the US--or so I've read--in spite of its gloomy weather. We get out when the sun shines!
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 7, 2014 23:05:28 GMT
Bixa, yep, those staircases seem to hang right over the passages. And all those wooden buildings and tight spaces spelled trouble during a fire.
Fumo, parts of Washington definitely reminded me of Norway and apparently the Scandinavian immigrants who flocked to there in the 19th century felt the same. They wrote letters back home gushing about how beautiful it was and urging family members to join them. That Scandinavian community has been dying out over the years, though.
I never ran into anyone who didn't speak English, not even the small towns (although the towns I visited catered to tourists). I learned a couple of phrases but for the life of me, I didn't get a chance to use them.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 7, 2014 23:14:47 GMT
I'll have to dig up some info on this stave church. Will update later. Update: this is Hopperstad stave church, built circa 1130. 700 years later, it fell into severe disrepair, but in the 1880s it underwent a laborious restoration project and was given a stone foundation. Today it retains some of its former glory (though the interior is mostly gutted). There were once hundreds of stave churches all over Norway. Today, only about two dozen originals remain. Stave churches are decorated with a mix of Christian icons and pre-Christian Viking symbols, such as dragons. The portal surrounding the main entrance is an excellent example of Medieval wood carving, with a motif of twisting plants and monster heads.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 8, 2014 0:00:41 GMT
Gorgeous pictures! What a great eye! Picking out the spiderweb within the lace-like woodwork made for a wonderful photo.
Looking forward to hearing more about that church, which is so very Norwegian.
|
|
|
Post by fumobici on Nov 8, 2014 0:47:16 GMT
I love that church! When I first moved to Washington one could still sometimes hear Swedish or Norwegian being spoken in places like Poulsbo or Ballard, but after a couple of generations that seems to become lost.
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Nov 8, 2014 14:32:42 GMT
Beautiful photos nycgirl! The craftsmanship detail in your photos of the church is incredible. This must have been an amazing holiday, how long were you there? Did you drive or travel by train? Looking forward to additional photos!
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Nov 8, 2014 15:25:47 GMT
I love that church, one can see the prows of the Viking boats sticking out all over.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 9, 2014 2:54:02 GMT
Thanks, everyone! I did some research and edited my previous post.
Mich, we were there for about nine days. We drove and took the occasional ferry. I hear the train rides are spectacular. Very expensive, though.
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Nov 9, 2014 3:25:10 GMT
Will they finish the renovation on the interior of the church nycgirl?
I have researched Norway, my husband is very interested in visiting. Was the food as expensive as the guide books and internet sites state? Was Norway your destination or did you visit anywhere else this trip?
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Nov 9, 2014 7:14:40 GMT
Just found your wonderful report Nycgirl! What incredible scenery - must have taken your breath away. It is certainly a place that is so totally different to the usual tourist paths people take! Thanks for showing us. Is there more please??
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2014 7:26:10 GMT
I haven't been to Norway since 1971.
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Nov 9, 2014 12:53:28 GMT
I love that old church. However, I doubt I'd ever actually travel there, as it is very expensive and I can see similar scenery closer by, but no town like Bergen. The farthest north I've been in Europe is Copenhagen, and that was to work at a conference (I was in Amsterdam) in December. Of course it was dark all the time.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 9, 2014 15:18:31 GMT
Mich, I don't think they will do any further work like add seats and pews since it's no longer used as a church. Apparently there is a small altar and the ceiling painting, but I didn't see it because it wasn't open. But I was fine with gazing on the outside. I don't think it can be exaggerated how expensive it is there. We saved money by buying groceries and cooking at the apartment, but even that was costly. The group (excluding me) also ate a lot of gas station hot dogs for 50 kronor (over $8) and were happy to get them. I rarely dined in restaurants, and when I did I paid the same for a very humble meal as I would for a good, midrange-priced Paris meal. Having said that, I highly recommend a trip to Norway. The scenery is indeed breathtaking. Just don't expect to feast like a king. Thanks for reading, everyone. More to come.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 9, 2014 23:57:01 GMT
While en route from one destination to another, we were treated to a series of gorgeous roadside vistas, ranging from stark and wintry... ... to verdant and spring-like. We stayed in a small village called Aurland and from there took a ferry through the magnificent Aurlandsfjord, a branch of Sognefjorden, Norway's largest fjord. The fjord is surrounded by steep mountains rising 1,800 meters (about 6,000 feet). It was a beautiful, tranquil ride. I saw a couple of seals sunning themselves. Some brazen seagulls flew pretty close, probably looking for handouts. Melting snow feeds the cascading waterfalls. Nestled in the valleys along the fjord are tiny villages such as Undredal, population 100. It's known for its goat cheese, made using traditional methods. That wee white building in the center with the red steeple is the smallest stave church in use in Northern Europe. The fjord connects to Nærøyfjord, the world's narrowest fjord, measuring only 250 meters at its narrowest point. I thought at first that the name simply meant "narrow fjord," but it actually comes from Njord, the Norse god of sailors and the sea. This picturesque landscape served as inspiration for the fictional kingdom of Arendelle in the hit Disney film Frozen.
|
|
|
Post by lagatta on Nov 10, 2014 1:23:44 GMT
Did you get some of the Undredal cheese?
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 10, 2014 4:07:05 GMT
I'm afraid not.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2014 6:40:19 GMT
The seagulls are as photogenic as the scenery. What a shame they are such nasty raucous birds!
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 10, 2014 13:12:56 GMT
They are pesky things. I have a better bird coming soon.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Nov 10, 2014 13:16:19 GMT
Wonderful photography girl! I too particularly loved the seagull - the one flying over the lake. You can just see a reflection of sun on his wings at the back. The scenery is breathtaking!
|
|
|
Post by anshjain97 on Nov 10, 2014 14:04:14 GMT
Sorry, I saw this quite late. Really stunning pictures, and clearly lots to see.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Nov 10, 2014 20:27:58 GMT
Magnificent scenery, glorious photos, & fascinating narrative! Looking forward to more, more, more. And you managed to reference one of the 4 - 5 Norwegian words I know. "ost" is the Norwegian word for cheese.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Nov 12, 2014 0:47:08 GMT
|
|