BEAUTIFUL TRIP THROUGH FJORDS, GLACIERS AND STOCKFISH

http://utenti.lycos.it/norwayontheroad/

When you organize a summer holiday in Norway, the first thing that comes to mind is the Nordic climate, with rain, wind, often cold and chi più ne ha più ne metta. In this case alternating days of good weather to other gray with rain. The August 2002, while in the center of Europe, the storm raged with floods (Dresden and Prague) has given us, talking about weather, a welcome exception, with sunshine and warm temperatures, helping to make us appreciate the extraordinary beauty of Norway.
The travel plan included a period of 16 days, certainly a few to see the beauty of Norway.

 

The trip started Saturday August 10 from Fiumicino airport: flight LX1727 (loading at 9.05) in Zurich and the flight LX1300 (14.05 hours) in Oslo. The long stopover in Zurich has allowed us to define the last details of the program, not without some discussion on the schedule, the road ahead, goals to be left for others. In Zurich, it was decided that goals would be compelling: Bergen-Ålesund, the Glacier Jostedalsbreen and my desire, the Lofoten Islands!.
Arrived at the Oslo Gardermoen, in perfect time, we head to the Avis, but not without having admired the new airport, all windows and parquet. We had booked via the Internet a Class C car, so after crawling paper is part of credit for the capital, destination hotel chain First ever booked via the Internet. 1072 marks the Contakilometri Before Km surprise, so to speak, on the E6 to Oslo to join you pay tolls 15.00 NK (NK = Norwegian krone). During summer weekends the rates of hotels in Oslo are also discounted by 50%. Given the host's resolve to book the last two nights under the travel plan in the same hotel. Extraordinary breakfast buffet.

Sunday, August 11. It starts at 10.10 Bergen destination. Take the E18 towards Drammen. We decided the way to cross the county of Telemark, with bristly woodland, high plateaus and innumerable lakes. To 10.48, therefore we decide to take the E134 direction Notodden read the guidance that we are near the wooden church (stavkirke) of Heddal. We arrive at 12.30, it is rather cloudy and cool 17 ° C. After leaving the office tourist Kafé NK-souvenirshop 30 for entry and 15 for the NK-souvenir guide, we enter into the wooden church. The sharp smell of pine and the humidity makes me come to mind to be a Troll. The first drops of rain are forcing us to share while we are walking and striking adjacent cemetery. To start around 13.00. Along the way I realize that I forgot to address the Roma's booked for Bergen. After a slight discussion on the responsibilities, I note that along the road near Vinje is a refreshment bar with an Internet Service. We decide to stop (the 14.40) to print the e-mail sent by the operator of Bergen. Cost of Internet service NK 20 (10 for connecting 10 + to use 5 minutes). Coffee (American) to wake up 14 NK. At 15.40 we arrive at Haukeligrend: Here begins the beautiful road Haukeli, one of the most beautiful mountain routes in Norway, up to 1133, between the glaciers, gorges and tunnels. After a series of hairpin bends around Steinagerg Bru leave the E134 and take the E13 towards Odda. In a narrow valley between waterfalls come at the end of the long Sorfjord.

We follow the east bank of the beautiful fjord in a green landscape, enhanced by fruit orchards. Along the road can not miss the stalls selling Moreller and Fructo. E 'visible to the expansion of the fiord glacier Folgefonn. 16.10 to take the car ferry transportation linking Brimnes with Bruravik (duration 15 minutes: 79 NK). We thought of doing more row for boarding, as the guidance we announced that this section of navigation is one of the most popular. On the ferry I bought 2 bottles of water Imsdal and a packet of sweets for 42 Toffe NK. From Bruravik continue along the E16 to Bergen. Since we were the last to embark presegue travel in single file with the other cars at maximum speed of 80 per hour. You try the emotion of the safety-car F1!. We arrive in Bergen at about 20.30. The hotel that we had contacted via the Internet was the Crowded House to 1.5 kilometers from the center of Bergen (www.crowded-house.com). The young and pretty girl reception tells us that there are no rooms, we show the e-mail sent two days before with the credit card number and regret of what we found after several phone calls a room for two nights at the 'Hordaheimen Hotel Chain Best Western at the center of Bergen. The toll for entry into the city is probably because free Sunday; the tournament were 20 NK. The hotel has no parking available, leaves us some hope for tomorrow morning. Since the maximum duration of parking downtown is two hours we can ensure the car in the blue zone from 8.00 am to 10.00 tomorrow, price 10 NK.

Monday, August 12. Bergen. After breakfast, we park the car in the parking area and there is organized to see the fresh fish in the famous market square Torget, to visit and the Bryggen Hanseatic Museum (40 NK) and go up on the funicular (50 NK ). Do not miss the ice cream Prince near the fish market (NK 29). The room has a kitchenette dell'albergo therefore organize the dinner at supermarkets (beer 1.25 lt. Fatol Hansa, water Fyresdal, Norwegian cheese, reindeer sausage, bread half full pack of sausage and chocolate cake) for 250 NK about.
Tuesday, August 13. Departure from Bergen at 10.00. A Bergsdalen we supply gas for 400 NK, equal to 43.72 liters of gasoline Blyfri98. 1806 marks the odometer Km At 12.40 we arrive at Flam. Book a room at Furukroa and 14.00 to take the boat to cruise mini-Flam-Gudvangen A / R to 210 NK. The Naeroyfjord offers a dramatic landscape with towering cliffs on which they are clinging small farms and waterfalls that are thrown in the deep blue of the fjord. Let us return to Flam at 18.00 and 18.15 to take the train to the railway line sensational Flambanen up to Myrdal, A / R to 205 NK. Dinner in the structure of Flam: Norwegian balls with black currant sauce (NK 97). Flam at night is a desert. In the balcony with a view of a fjord consumption green tea with lemon prepared with the kettle. War on mosquitoes before going to sleep.

Wednesday, August 14. The alarm is ruined by the arrival of a cruise ship. Breakfast is a buffet. The usual breakfast consumption, based on American cup of coffee, bowl of yogurt Drikke Tine fruit with muesli, a slice of bread with orange marmalade, admiring six brothers to have breakfast with their parents in Germany who are moving forward and backward in order to prepare victuals (two of the six had twins a year and a half!). We start at about 10.00, the 1315 meter mark Km and marks the temperature 18 degrees C, direct Glacier Jostedalsbreen. Come to Aurland and follow the signs for Laerdal we face the longest road tunnel in the world (24 Km). We decide to go back to take the Snovegen road (of snow) very spectacular though tortuous, which winds up with its hairpin bends up and down the plateau with views very impressive (!). Laerdal to arrive at 11.10 with a stop to buy water. 11.22 to take the car ferry transportation linking Fodness with Mannheller (duration 25 minutes: 140 NK). Sogndal pass directly to Gaupne. After the Jostedalen coastal, river arctic color overtime, to arrive at 14.30 natural Nigardsbreen Park (entrance NK 25). Nigardsbreen is probably the most impressive language of the glacier Jostedalsbreen. We decide to go and see up close the glacier, so at the tourist office we take tickets for a trip that tells us to be a walk-Family (NK 285) and complete travel by boat on a frozen lake. We are after an hour under the glacier with two guides who give us the information and technical equipment for a special walk. All harness and connected to each other with the feet of crampons and a pickaxe in hand we begin the trip of two hours. It 'very impressive with a pair of jeans to walk together with other foreign suits equipped with model no-limits and organized termos and chocolate (the Dutch were the most ridiculous). Let Spent 18.30 at the glacier. Return to Sogndal to 19.20 after meeting on the streets of the sheep in the wild.

We decide to sleep around Fjaerland. We arrive at around 20.00 after having passed through a tunnel with a heavy toll (NK 150). We sleep in a residence along the fjord found by chance: Fjaerland Fjordstue Hotell. From the Register of us alone to sleep there that night. The lady who welcomes us seem happy to see someone, and kind: it offers the most panoramic room and says we can pay the day after morning. Arises a question: where are we going to dine?. On a short walk along the fjord, we realize that it capitati in a ghost. We note that the road we passed a campsite. Therefore, we take the machine direction Boyum camp. In the grocery store was the ham Guilds Farepolse (24.60 NK), holey cheese type of cheese Tine (NK 18), a bottle 1.5 lt. Coke (30 NK), a packet of biscuits (17 NK) and bread (20 NK). On-site consumption of fried potatoes with paprika (NK 22). Dinner at the hotel room. The house is all wood and the room is furnished with taste and aristocratic with beds built into the wall of wood, as we had seen in the Hanseatic Museum in Bergen.

Thursday, August 15. Woke up with a hunger to wolves, do so with the usual breakfast buffet. Come to us in the music room with two other people arrived in the night. We start at 9.40, the 2187 meter mark. Byrkielo arrive at 10.30 to take the junction for E60. Stryn to arrive at 12.00 with 23 degrees C. We make a stop for petrol (NK 350). Coop of Stryn to purchase a bottle of water Olden, 2 bananas and a box of Wasa Riskakor Lattsaltade for NK 38. I remain amazed cost of Marlboro Light, 59.50 NK. Fortunately that does not smoke!. We continue to Geiranger. A 5 km from Geiranger we stop at a point-wise: this is where it was taken the photo that is on all the leaflets in Norway, which portrays a rock jutting out above with a figure who looks from the cruise ships of Geirangerfjord. Geiranger to arrive at 14.00. 14.37 to take the car ferry transport connecting with Eisdal Linge (duration 10 minutes: 79 NK). We head towards Andalsnes to travel the famous Trollstigen (the way the Troll). The fate helps us because the path of Trollstigen is all downhill. Are 16.15 and make a stop at the home of the Troll (coffee NK 13). E 'a way to thrill with a slope turns and breathtaking. We stop at the midway point to take a photo at the roboante cascade of Stigfossen, and to admire the entire valley below. At 16.40 we arrive at Andalsnes and take the junction for E136 Alesund. Walk several kilometers along the Romsdalsfjorden. Alesund to arrive at 19.00. Take two nights at the Scandic Hotel and 20.00 am sitting by Peppe's Pizza dvanti an American pizza.

Friday August 16. Alesund. Breakfast Buffet unforgettable. Around town with Art Nouveau architecture. E 'a sunny day with the people who take the sun in costume sitting outside the home with a book in hand or drinking or with the radio on. Il Corriere della Sera 16 NK coast. In the afternoon we make a trip to the islands of Valderoy, Vigra, Godoy, and Giske around Alesund. The islands are connected by an underwater tunnel (89 NK and 89 to go back to NK). We reach the lighthouse on the island of Alnes Godoy, because the tourist girls had reported that there were the sweet kind. Arrived at the lighthouse is only two Italians who have just left the lighthouse eating pastries. We think that the owner of the coffee is the girl tourist. We take some pictures with the lighthouse at sunset and return on our steps without having tasted the sweets to Godoy.

Saturday August 17. Once breakfast from thrill. We start at 10.15 on the road already done to same to Vestnesi. 11.30 to take the car ferry transportation linking Vestenes with Molde (duration 20 minutes: 134 NK). The coastal landscape of Molde is very particular. We follow the signs to Vevang to take the Atlanterhavsveien. With amazement at the immense toll of the toll there is none. Perhaps we will be back the cost of the work. The road consists of a series of bridges that connect a series of islands. The weather is sunny. While the way we imagine what could happen here during a storm. Overcome even a lighthouse. We arrive at Bremsnes. 13.44 to take the car ferry transportation linking Bremsnes with Kristiansund (duration 20 minutes: 91 NK). As soon as we arrived full of gasoline to It: 37.18 liters (8.65 to 335.61 NK NK / liter). 2844 marks the odometer Km decide to go with the car in front of the Kirke Kirkelandet and continue the journey to Trondheim. Kristiansund i just walk the tunnel sottofiordo of Krifast (NK 107). 15.10 to take the car ferry transportation linking Kanestraum with Hals (duration 15 minutes: 98 NK). At 18.00 we arrive at Trondheim. Given the host of the Scandic Hotel we decide to go and try to sleep in the same chain. The town is a university town, it appears full of young people. The shops are all closed and young people are at home to watch the games of football. We visit the picturesque Gamle Bybro (bridge of the old town) and walk in Bryggen consisting of warehouses on the river that recall those of Bergen. Are 20.00 and the city is deserted. We decide to try a bit of life from Mc Donald: BigMcmenù 69.50 NK. Visit the castle in the evening, some boys have organized a barbecue outside. The night is hell. All the boys go to live Trondheim at 3.00 am.

Sunday, August 18. After breakfast, compared with that undertone of Alesund, at 10.20 we go to visit the Nidaros Domkirke (cathedral) and after reading some information on driving, we start to sigh Lofoten. Take the E6 towards Narvik. At 10.47 we pay a toll to cross a tunnel. (NK 10) Steinkjer After we take the E17 direction Namsos, is 12.10. E 'a sunny day, the temperature is 26 degrees C. We decided to do Kystriksveien (Coast Road) to go to Bodo and take the road back to Artica E6 towards Oslo. Every street corner along the coast offers the opportunity to take a photo. Behind every corner there is something magical, but you have enough money for ferries. Holm to arrive shortly after the departure of the ferry. The next is after ventiminuti. Advantage of the stop to eat bananas and wafers of rice that I have been in the backpack. 16.00 to take the car ferry transport connecting with Holm Vennesund (duration 20 minutes: 98 NK). We are the first to leave and spare us the safety-car. Of race, even going beyond the limit of 80 km, we head to Horn. A petrol we Berg (350.00 NK). 3436 marks the odometer Km Horn to arrive at 17.20: we missed the 17.00 ferry. The next is at 18.40! We read in the guide that if you go to the permitted speed limit can make all the connections of the ferries. Bales. The pier is a desert, perhaps because it is Sunday. I take this occasion to take note of the ending of the ferry from Bodo to Lofoten, I realize that is a real chaos. Every day there are different times for different departures. Refer the problem to date to be decided. We embark (NK 91), and after twenty minutes we are at Annddalsvag. Forvik to arrive at 19.20 in time for the car ferry transportation linking Forvik with Tjotta (duration 1 hour: NK 160).

Tjotta to arrive at 20.40. We find a single hotel chain Rica Hotels. We note that some boys met in Flam had found good to Alesund Rica. Encounter the usual problem of finding a place that is not desert. We decide to eat the bag.

Monday, August 19. Lack of breakfast yogurt. We start at 8.50 and out Sandnesson pay a toll to cross a bridge (82 NK). We complain because we saved a ferry. On receipt of payment is written: Helgel.bru-> Bomavgift. At 9.20 we arrive at Levang. The car ferry transport for part Nesna to 9.40 (duration 20 minutes: 109 NK). Kilboghamm to arrive at 11.20. 11.50 to take the car ferry transportation linking Kilboghamm with Jektvik (duration 1 hour: 184NK). Is announced by the captain of the ferry that we are moving beyond the Arctic Circle. At 13.00 we arrive at Agskardet and shortly after we board the ferry to transport cars Føroya (duration 10 minutes: 79 NK). 3694 marks the odometer Km At 15.40 we leave for the E17 to E80 Bodo. We arrive in Bodø to 18.00. We note that the ferry to the Lofoten is at 21.00. We decide to leave the car in a row on the platform and walk to the office of tourism to book two nights of sleep to Lofoten.

Accepted a Rorbur at A. Reminds us of the fact that the sheets are to be rent!. Dinner bag. 21.00 to take the car ferry transport connecting with Bodo Moskenes. (duration 4 hours: 685 NK). We arrive at one o'clock in the morning. Total darkness. We head towards A. It is not easy to find and see the signs left of the tourism industry. Every street corner is a rorbur. We have other machines to run around a pitch, until it comes out a guy who was waiting there. After you have paid and collected the sheets we head to seek the rorbur named Anna. This is a mini apartment with a sitting room with kitchenette, three bedrooms and a small bathroom. I go to sleep around 3 am, and know that soon there will be the dawn. I am thinking of days spent to get here. The snow, the mountains and the trees that are reflected in the sea along the coastal road, low traffic, the groups of sheep that we observed, in a typical alpine landscape, and the strange effect of color at sunset took the sky. The aurora made the sky a color almost fumé and consequently, the sea flat, it seemed a mirror where it is reflected in a dark colored rocks in the sea. A strange feeling, almost as if I were on a different planet!.

Tuesday, August 20. We just woken up to be a Hollywood set. It looks like a living museum, a village of fishermen remained intact, with a long row of red rorbur along coastlines, palisades for drying cod and postcard landscapes anywhere gaze. Breakfast remedied with supplies left in a backpack (Nescafe, tea and biscuits). Day trips to the Lofoten. The quote is worth a long crescent of white sand that runs alongside a sparkling bay from verdeazzurra all against a backdrop of peaks Arctic. All the islands of Lofoten are breathtaking! I do not want to say any more, because the words are not enough ... Lofoten exits to the underwater tunnel Nappstraumen Tunnel (65 NK x2 A / R). On the way back we pass two routard Lyon. The girl, luckily speaks English, and then exchange some experience on the trip. We decide to make gasoline at Lofoten (410.45 NK 42.49 per liter, equal to 9.76 NK / liter). We make expenditure of local products at the supermarket RIMI (NK 242) for dinner at home. I take a ride to the port of A to enjoy the color of the sunset at 23.00.

Wednesday, August 21. Departure from Lofoten scheduled for 12.15. The cost of the return journey is 563 NK because the conductor did not saw a person in the car (saved NK 122). We arrive in Bodø to 15.50. He quite warm: 27 degrees C. 4265 marks the odometer km take the road 80 up to Fauske. Then take the E6 towards Trondheim. Jam 16.50. It passes through a forest of pines up to the glacier where there is a plain green. We reach the Polasirkelsenteret 66 ° 33 'just after 18.00: closed. 19.20 to make a stop at Mo-i-rana. We decide to go shopping by Rema 1000. Let us go to 20,00 to Mosjøen. Unfortunately, a tunnel has not yet been finalized. We have to climb the mountain another machine. Bends. Bends. View of a glacier (Svartisen), there is more effect!. Bends. Sheep along the road. You go down again. Lago Vista It comes to a city and go to sleep at the Norlandia Hotell Lyngengarden, Daniela suite.

Thursday, August 22. Breakfast Buffet. Leaving from Mosjøen (but you write like this city) to 9.40. We make a stop at the Coffee-Laksforsen Turist to see if you actually see the salmon as the guide. It 'true. You see guizzanti of salmon up the roaring waterfall Laksforsen. E 'a spectacle of nature!. We see that we have no more gasoline. Perhaps we have a range of few tens of kilometers. Avis on driving, there are no on this section of the gas it. We continue with a single hope.
Suddenly there appears distributor bensin Max. We are a Tomasvatn. The gas is un po 'cara: NK 10.09 per liter. After the fear we fully with 50.50 liters (509.50 NK). After so many pine trees there is a fjord to 13.00. We meet the junction for E17 Namsa taken to same. Jam 13.37. Come to Trondheim to 15.15 and we pay the toll for a tunnel of 10 NK. 15.35 meet at the junction for Alesund taken to same, we continue on the E6 to Oslo. We stop at 16.00 for a stop to Grillkjonnen stasjon Grill Pub in Melhus. A cappuccino NK 20. After 15 minutes start. 16.40 to take the junction for E30 Roros, we follow a road along a river in the dry. It is hot: 27 ° C. We stop to sleep in the hotel at Roros Bergstadens. We discover by reading the guide that a street of the old city was the location of the show Pippicalzelunghe. We try to seek it. Dinner from Papa's Pizza (NK 450). We meet a couple of Italian bassapadana to give us advice on pizza to choose from.

Friday August 23. Breakfast Buffet. After shopping in the busy town, we decide to go and visit the copper mine of Olavsgruva a few kilometers away from Roros (NK 60). After the equipment consists of a helmet make us fall. With just a few meters to start to feel cold. The temperature stood at 5 °. We start to visit the holey cheese remained the copper mine. At 15.00 we start from Oslo Roros destination. Gasoline to do it (270 for NK 29.51 liters). At 15.45 we leave the E30 to get the fork around E3 Tynset. Reach the E6 to Oslo around after Strange Hamar. Jam 18.20. We arrive in Oslo at 19.40. The toll for entrance into the city is 15 NK. He astonished the row of machines that we encounter in the direction of travel out of Oslo. Tens of kilometers. A question we take just passed the junction for the airport: when you should start Sunday if there is a row of this kind?. Dinner from Peppe's Pizza near the railway station. Parking for hours up to 15 hours on Saturday. 12 hours in NK (NK 72). Night already booked at the First.

Saturday August 24. After the breakfast buffet. we are dedicated to visiting the city of Oslo. We undertake a full day, we start from the castle on the fjord (Akershus), then the City Hall (Rådhus), the royal palace (Kongelige Slott). We visit the Norwegian Museum of art, it becomes a game to recognize the views exposed in Norwegian television. Dinner at a restaurant: the legendary cocktail pink shrimp in sauce and salad (NK 380).

Sunday, August 25. By car we are going to visit the Frognerparken, where in a slightly hilly area with pond, fountains and beautiful flower beds, there are sculptures in bronze and granite sculpted by Vigeland. We still have time, then go up the hill to the Holmenkollen ski jump ski from the summit which has a magnificent view of the city and its fjord. Then travel to the airport to return to Rome via Zurich. We do full of gasoline to deliver the car (NK 271). 5699 marks the odometer At Km seek the tax-free for the reimbursement of the latest crowns. Then we board the flight to Zurich LX 1301 (17.10 hours) and flight LX 1734 for Fiumicino.

Conclusions

This is a 'reporting of travel-vacation. Of course I want to thank this site because it allowed me to understand that even with little time Norway proposes to see and discover unknown destinations and open the mind to new horizons, even without reaching milestones such as the forced mythical North Cape. From this experience I can confirm the validity of the safe choice of holiday. The ultimate would be to have at least a month to run the country by adopting a model of itinerant holiday, renting a jeep with trailer, which allows you to camp in places from views very interesting.

I conclude with two notes:
a) in the story I often refer to costs incurred for the ferry (the cost related to the transport of a car with three passengers) for the toll bridges and tunnels, for the supply of gasoline and food as they are more expensive that from us. I do not make explicit reference to the cost of the hotels as it is personal choice about the type of comfort and services recomanats;
b) I hope I have left in the story, as clearly as possible the experience of travel, and have given and some interesting news for all those who love nature and who want to venture in those parts, as did other travelers before me with their useful evidence on this site.