Enchanting Lofoten

Tell of a journey made in 1999 is not likely. The memories often fade, but in this case the time has just faded memoria.La the most beautiful, most exciting live within us. And for this I decided to share it with you. This is a special journey with final destination the Lofoten Islands, Norway.

E 'on 8 August when we start with a Swissair flight (eh si, si ... still so called) direct from Rome to Oslo with a stopover in Zurich. We arrived in the late afternoon and we head into the station to buy a ticket with destination Bodø. Instead of buying a ticket, we suggest buying a Scanrail Pass. E 'a train ticket that allows you to travel freely on Norwegian railways for 4 days on 10th The price (if I remember correctly) is about 220,000 pounds (eh ...). Revenue is in the range of ideas that the Scandinavian countries have enormous costs for transport and beyond.
By taking a supplement and also a berth to the 23 starting with step Trondheim where we arrive the next morning around 7:00 am
I had been in Norway several times and had always been bad ... but this time I see the sun! The temperature is pleasant and left the backpacks to the filing of the station we head for the village. Nothing that pleasant and enjoyable run through the streets of the center. It is not piccolino (by the standards) in Norway this is a real città.E 'famous for the local football team, the Rosenborg that a few years ago was at home 2-2 draw with Real Madrid. Are in different rooms of the city photos and posters of the celebration, and a store devoted entirely to Rosenborg.
Take a 'material to the local tourism and in the evening take the train with destination Bodø.Nel the middle of the night being awakened by the driver of the train that announces the passage of the Arctic Circle. These are the 2 at night and although there is still a lot of August light, so that we can get off the train and then walking ... in fact, the train stops to allow photos of passengers rite.
From the excited (especially my girlfriend who had never been to the north) we fail to sleep more and begin to plan the next day, transfer to the Lofoten Islands. Bodø to arrive early in the morning and the temperature is rather rigid (about 10 ° C). The weather is still pretty good, then let weapons and baggage, and go towards the center cittadino.Se Trondheim is a small town Bodø is a real fishing village. There is a large port and rail. Nothing more. Please note that the Norwegian railways stop Bodø.Per to go over (to Narvik and North Cape), you can only use the bus.
Let's go to the port and do the tickets for the ferry. The Lofoten among other things connected with the rest of Norway from a ferry service running from Bodø to Moskenes. The Lofoten are composed of several islands linked by bridges and tunnels. Austvågøy, Gimsøy, Vestvågøy, Flakstadøy, Moskenesøy, Røst Værøy and the Islands that make up the archipelago and Moskenes is the main port located on the island of Moskenesøy.
The crossing was calm, the sea is rough but not too much. There is a very tense and wind closer to the coast of Lofoten are beginning to see small fishing boats. We are now come to mind that the local economy is based on the fish, and particularly on cod.
We arrive at Moskenes and we head towards the village of Å, where the road ends (only) of the E10 and the Lofoten archipelago where it ends. In this village we have booked a rorbu (house of the Norwegian fishermen) to stay for 9 days! Confess Well, we decided for a completely relaxing holiday, away from traffic and smog. Alone with madrenatura, contemplating the beautiful landscape and meditating. That year was very heavy in terms of stress and therefore the vacancy to Lofoten was chosen precisely to "switch off".
The rorbu we booked on the internet at Hamn RORBUER-Å. 9 days for us rorbu cost 600,000 lire. Inside the rorbu there is any comfort: bathroom, kitchen facilities, beds with sheets and duvet, heating. The rorbu are rented to tourists during the summer while in winter are used by local fishermen. Cod fishing is typically in winter and spring and summer are devoted to the drying phase of the product on special rakes. The air (or rather the wind) of the North Sea, the temperature and salt do the rest ... producing an exquisite stockfish that is exported in packs of wood all over the world and especially in Italy, bank Vicenza (first importer of the Lofoten cod). In the museum's Lofoten Cod with Italian flags and many photos to witness this "twinning." Furthermore, the guide speaks Italian because of its commercial relationships with every day that keeps our country.

Are taking up the story because to arrive at Å from Moskenes there are about 5-6 km ... and do not want them in the backpack. The bus passes and strict schedules do not coincide with the ferry (the Norwegian efficiency here is a little water) and then take a collective taxi with other children who are heading towards Å. Our target us like the dreaming is a village of wooden piles of red, quiet (we hear only the seagulls) and almost at the disabitato.Andiamo-Å Hamn RORBUER and we are greeted by a friendly manager who is amazed by the fact we have decided to spend our vacations in Lofoten coming from Rome ..! Perhaps because he lives there, the dreams of our city! Who has the bread has no teeth! We take possession of our rorbu and do a tour, taking advantage of the presence of a small supermarket to buy basic provisions. A confession is a must: we were students at the university and therefore without a lot of money in your pocket, so in our backpacks from Rome had brought non-perishable food but we thought that could cost you a lot in Norway. And with the benefit of hindsight I have to tell you that we have done very well ... life is dear!

We are familiar with a lady of the local Tourist Office who was coming from Paris and had married a Norwegian Lofoten! We talked long and hard the winter was spent in that house with the neighbors to tell fairy tales and stories to entertain children! One thing that has impressed us deeply and made us reflect on their own kind of life that we conduct daily, hectic, hysterical and not at all deep godibile.Abbiamo lost values, which are important: friendship and unity with people.

In the following days we walk towards Moskenes, Sørvågen and Reine. We are walking distance (several kilometers grinding) and sometimes deal with their schedules and pulmman impossible! Two words about Reine. A small port of fishermen often immortalized in postcards and picture symbol of the Lofoten Islands. Takes away your breath for its raw beauty, almost primitive. He spent long hours admiring the beautiful arrangement of houses and boats moored in the little cabin. plendido encounter between nature and human activity. For a couple of days to give the luxury of a car. Not that we miss the car but as I said on the movements are not simple, the connections are difficult to reconcile.

 

Tour Lofoten

Take a bus from Leknes Å for the island of Vestvågøy. It takes several hours of twists along the E10 but it is the only city where the rent auto.Ovviamente you call it to have the availability and price! With about 200,000 lire rented a Nissan Micra for 3 to Leknes giorni.Arrivati the bus station, the lady of Hertz is taking us and leads us to hire. We sign the papers of the case and we leave the car.

The memory is immediately on the price of gasoline: 2,400 pounds! Today in almost (if not exceed that price) but then I assure you that the difference was striking, considering Norway is a country producer (Statoil is one of the largest producers and distributors in Norway). The streets are narrow and strict limits. Then takes a long time to make small spostamenti.Giriamo the various islands in length and breadth and we see small bays with turquoise sea from the Maldives to envy ... if it were not for the water temperature that discourages everyone to do a refreshing bath! Ramberg deserves a mention in the island of Flakstadøy. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and knock the wind and the seagulls. But the beaches and the sea are beautiful.

We dedicate one day to visit the island of Værøy, accessible by ferry from Moskenes and through the terrible current Moskenesstraumen. It is said to be the strongest currents of the world and judging by the whirlpools that can be seen from the ferry it seems that this is not an exaggeration. Edgar Allan Poe and Jules Verne were inspired in their own stories from these currents.
Værøy is a small island, where the wind blows strong during the year. It 'is famous for Pulcinella di Mare, these cute birds with colorful beaks. Unfortunately they are not present during the month of August if not some copy. If the Lofoten islands are primitive Værøy is a primordial island where time seems to have never passed. There are a lot of homes of fishermen and a small town. Life is slow and everything is marked by fishing and by the wind ...!

This is the brief story of our holiday to the Lofoten Islands. After two days of travel we returned to Rome. Norway leave with many memories, the feeling of having lost something and can not find facilmente.Con un po 'd'invidia envy and unconscious a little' the French lady who will remain on the island to spend another winter in telling stories to his children.