Fjords & Waterfalls!!

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We have had a couple of really early days BUT well worth our while!! Our tour guide, Ørvind, has been FANTASTIC! The knowledge that he has of Norway is incredible - I guess he should, considering he's Norwegian. We have decided that we need to bring him home with us to teach us Norwegian and other things.......hmmmmm........

We left Loen and made our way to the Stalheim Hotel - which is at the very top of a mountain on a road full of switch backs. We have an amazing bus driver, to say the least. The Hotel over looks Sugar Mountain and the gorgeous valley below. It is nestled between two waterfalls and is full of antiques. Dinner was a buffet - AGAIN! (God, if I thought I was going to lose weight, I was mistaken) and coffee and tea had to be taken outside the dinning room while listening to the piano and gazing at the moutains. We fell asleep listening to the waterfall.

On the way to Stalheim, we have had two ferry cruises on the fjords and tons of tunnels. The longest tunnel in the world at 24.5 kms which took us under the biggest glacier in Europe. (Don't ask me the name!!??)

Trolls, trees and waterfalls!! Unbelievable scenery. We also took in the Flåm railway up into the mountains and back down.

The Norwegians have this really funny sense of humour or maybe they are just crazy - they have farms on the side of mountains/hills - some are waaaaayyyyy at the top of a plateau looking over the fjords. How the hell did they get up there??? Never mind building a farm. All the cows and sheep have two legs shorter then the other as they are always grazing on a hill/slant.

Went through Voss today and very close to Fresvik where my family are from. Apparently, the road from Voss to Vik and onwards to Fresvik is closed. The roads and weather is very unpredictable here. So, it is good that we have already decided to take the Express Boat from Bergen to Vik on the 27th and Gyda will pick us up in Vik then.

I have finally been able to put some pictures on a cd and will attach to this blog entry.

Skøl!!

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Photos

Darlene & Arild at Holmenkollen
Checking out Oslo's ski jump

Stave Church
Open air museum at Maihaugen

Olympic Ski Jump at Lillehammer
Travelling down the ski lift

Olymipic Site
Over looking Lillehammer

Overlooking Geirangerfjord
Unbelievable drive up there and what a view!!!

At Glacier lookout
Darlene and I happy we made it to the top.

On the Geirangerfjord
Cruising!

Trollish Valley
They say when the clouds hang in the valley like this, it's 'Trollish out'. The reflection was perfect in the water.

Our Tour Guide
Øvind, our tour guide. Way too cool for words!

Farming on the hillside
Can you imagine hiking all the way up there!!! Crazy!!!

Just another day in paradise
Farming in Norway.

Yet another waterfall!
These pictures just don't do justice to the scenery.

Huldre
Norwegian Fairytale says she leads the young men into the forest - never to be seen again!!

Colorful houses
The most common color for a Norwegian home is yellow or mustard yellow and white.

Hotel Stalheim View
UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Our Tour Group
Happy Travellers!!

My new boyfriend
You know what they say about the size of their nose......!!!

Bergen
Darlene at our hotel in Bergen

Bergen
UNESCO

Comments

[Dwight]

Forbause fotoer ! !
Wow... amazing photos aka forbause fotoer . The lakes and fjords look picture perfect. Everything is so colorful. Keep them coming.

[Lana62]

I could live here!!
yes...it's very colorful and everyone keeps their homes and properties so neat and tidy!! How's the golfing? have you and Shawna been out yet?

[Nancy]

Incredible
I had no idea how beautiful it is over there.... makes BC look kinda lame. Just looks SOOO fresh!

[Chris]

Your a big suck
I am so jealous! It looks beautifull there. Hope you are having a good time. Play safe.

[jim t]

envious
wish I was there. Looks wonderful. miss you. see you when you get home

[Lonnie]

What do they say about the size of your nose?
Yes...big glasses?

[Lana62]

Having a GREAT time! You would love it here!! The food is incredible. TONS of fish and seafood. Beer is super expensive - 15.00 to 20.00 a glass. We'd have to brew our own. Love ya!!