Strong landscapes of the North. From Andenes to Oslo across Norway

content:
photos:
Vote this travel review

Our journey starts in Norway Andenes and ending in Oslo. Andenes is the main city in north of the island of Andoy, Vesteralen of the archipelago, from here down to the south with different means of transport, first by car then by train, ferry and even on foot.
In the feverish days before the departure we reassured, another on the destination.
"We will find nice time?" "Suffered the cold? We repeated until the boredom these and other questions. As in all journeys we wanted a little 'luck and fate in their hoped - I had pushed more than others, to go in Norway - and so reassure the group that we would even avoided the rain in Bergen, the most rainy city in the world. ... But
The three-day stay in Bergen will be afflicted by 72 hours of continuous rain, well above estimates at any worse, not to mention the fog of the north, as they are to those of the Po Valley, but which and how many senses awakens the powerful nature Norwegian landscape with his strength.
Arrived at home, who more or less, we were all thrilled to the experience of travel experience. Personally, Norway was the country that gave birth to me in a small passenger.
Landscapes, but not limited to, surprisingly, even people. The Norwegians have an unexpected heart warm despite temperatures and what you think. Yes, perhaps, difficult to approach, suspicious towards the tourist, but only the beginning. In this regard I have kicks the memory of an entire afternoon spent in a pub in Andenes with the moral ground for the adverse weather conditions. We had set sail from the port for an excursion into the sea to observe closely the whales, but the fog prevented and, what is worse, the weather forecast for the week are bruttissime. We request information in several places, hoping that someone, at least someone, we do not recommend that you start toward the goal of our trip: "North Cape", the enchantment of the sun never drops below the horizon, the so-called "sun midnight. " The tourist office, police station, the captain of the port, the head of the pub, a travel agency, we all have to be identical and a single bitter answer: do not go you'll find bad weather.

Mist the objective of the trip, we spend the whole afternoon in a pub in ristudiare route. We are just below the 70th parallel north is cold, there is Drizzle and fog, but endless and inconclusive discussions know some young men of the place. Sympathy us' forget the bad weather and head north. Thus, for Andenes, began our journey.
In the days following enjoy their company to explore the islands of Vesterålen and Lofoten and in the end prove to be of incomparable guide. In these islands seems to be in a country of fairy tales, will be for the fog, it will be for Tell stories from our companions, who knows ... but jobs created seem to dream, fabulous places.

When we leave the island travel reservation, last, beautiful days of sunshine. We follow that part of the landscape that most of all identified with Norway, which means the fjords. There are hundreds, large and small, es'insinuano thousands of meters from the open sea to the mountains. If an image remains indelible visit Norway: the snow-capped peaks contrasting with the blue of the sea, just as certainly will not forget the freshness and purity of air. Roads that we are a succession of curves and abrupt changes of slopes, landings and go up continuously by slow ferry, which means you can not do less to cross the fjords, and shortening journey times. By the vision of ferry fjords is also better than on the road. Mighty waterfalls accompany us throughout the journey. We are in the train when we see a white line running along the green meadows. It is colored with white stones laid in a row, one after the other, suitably placed to indicate the 66 ° 33 'north latitude, the Arctic circle. We are told that the train coming from the opposite that is from south to north is also a certificate attesting to the passage of the Polar Circle. Between a fjord and another mile after mile we reach Bergen.

After days of good weather we expect three days of continuous rain and dense, but the city is the same exciting. E 'curious to see how all people, adults and children, without tadpole umbrella despite the pouring rain, wearing tarpaulins or simply k-way and rubber boots of all colors make it particularly ridiculous that some women and businessmen. Do not miss the fish market on the pier, the wooden houses and narrow alleys of the center.
Before arriving in Oslo is a must stop at "Preikestolen", in other words the pulpit. From its 604 meters it has a magnificent view on the narrow fjord Lysefjord. We are lucky, your day is wonderful and clear so that we can even see the open sea. Along the walk, two hours or so needed to reach the top open views. As I have already observed, this is what one expects from the land of Vikings, a kind lady and absolute!

But it is another aspect that struck me in Norway. People who have been able to transmit the feeling to be part of their land to be part of that kind of exception. Visit Norway also meet a people proud and proud of its history, its land. We could argue: and who is not? The main difference and that the people of Norway, their land is their home, respect for nature is total. No Norwegian ever not throwing rubbish on the floor because the nature is their home. We Italians we respect our home and we never dream of throwing dell'immondizia on the floor, and we behave differently, so that, on the beach or mountains. If the card thrown on the ground in Norway will be as if the buttaste in the house of a Norwegian. You are warned.
The Norwegian people wrongly believe is cold and inhospitable. People are, however, affable. I am sharing un'inconfutabile test and felt true to the bad weather experienced in the archipelagos, the friends of Andenes, hospitality received by a family and the whole village where we were guests.

In a village on the fjord Boknafjorden, immersed in nature, blinded by the bright green, we found the unexpected warmth of the people of Norway. The penetrating gaze of a humanity that lives in the middle of a hostile nature, but loves. Here we were not only guests, but an integral part of the small community of fishermen. Those unforgettable flash: the sweet faces of children, the beautiful girls who were selling the fish, young and old, engaged to fish, people who always carry in our memories.

Finally, Oslo. The journey is drawing to a close. The Norwegian capital Oslo is both a metropolis and a wild landscape: skyscrapers, night clubs, shops of all kinds, but also forests, clean air and a beach life that has nothing to envy to the Mediterranean. I did not believe to find immaculate sandy beaches, to see people swimming and sunbathing in Oslo, in the North Sea.
Norway, landscapes strong, therefore, steep mountain sides along the beautiful fjords, waterfalls and powerful noise, majestic glaciers, vast plateaus, green valleys, fresh air, open and kind people ...