http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Norway en-us Thu, 12 Nov 09 16:05:41 +0000 Thu, 12 Nov 09 16:05:41 +0000 The conductor blows her whistle and the train starts mowing from Oslo Centralstation toward Bergen. This train journey passes through a beautiful mountain pass and reaches on its highest point 1222 Meters above sea level. this train stretch is one of the most beautiful train stretches in the world. A friend have written a train story on MyBesJourneys httpwww.mybestjourneys.comstory2009091 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Ostlandet/Oslo/blog-450220.html Have had two sleeps in Oslo at the Perminalen Hostel. Liked it so much that I have booked myself in for January.Arrived at 0625 by train from Bergen.Hostel open but room not accessible. Have coffee and eat the sandwich i had made on ship ... yesterday.Walked past fortifications to Pier 3 and paid the fare to go on a cruise around Oslo.Big deal cruise ... sailed by motor saw the fortifications http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Ostlandet/Oslo/blog-449267.html Originally named Nidaros because it lay at the mouth of the Nid RiverTrondheim is the 3rd largest city in Norway established by the Viking King Olav in 997. He brought Christianity to Norway in 1024.. Apparently he was buried and on being exhumed after a certain number of years his body showed no signs of deterioration. He was canonized in 1164. The Nidaros Cathedral built on his grave was beg http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Trondelag/Trondheim/blog-449245.html The ship takes six days to go from Bergen to Kirkenes. Along the way it crosses the Arctic Circle at 67degrees N and passes Nordkapp or North Cape a point in past days known equally as the end of the Earth or the beginning thereof and a part of the territory occupied by the only indigenous peoples left in Europe.MS Nordkapp stopped at Honningsvaag. From here the tour bus travelled north in latit http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Nord-Norge/Nordkapp/blog-448974.html 15th February '09It is 86km to the next truckstop or ldquoautohofrdquo as they say in Germany. Our maximum speed is a snaillike 84kmh and we have less than an hour of driving time on the tachograph. 'We should make it' says Namibian. Hersquoll probably poison my next flask of cappuccino now that I've reported that. Ooh I assume everybody knows what a tachograph is Very briefly it is http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/blog-448330.html It's now Monday and my Sunday went by so quick just like my trip to Trondheim. I can't believe it's almost November Anyways my trip to Trondheim was absolutely amazing even if it was a little quiet as I was by myself. I was a little nervous as I was packing on Thursday night. I love traveling and don't mind going alone but heading out at night by myself has always intimidated me a little. But http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Trondelag/Trondheim/blog-448097.html October 16 to October 27 2009 Bergen to Kirkenes ....6206km ... And Backtwelve days and eleven nights on the MS Nordcapp built in 1996 holding 691 passengers 464 berths 45 cars 123.3m long travelling at a service speed of 15 knots and owned by HurtigrutenASA.have crossed the Arctic Circle seen three rainbows in one day been to the northern most point in Europe been to the point where http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Nord-Norge/Kirkenes/blog-448076.html Martin drove through Denmark and caught a ferry from the tip of Denmark to Kristiansand Norway. Leaving home at 8am he arrived in Norway about midnight. He then drove around the southern fjord area of Norway for the next week passing through Mandal on the fegnya Stavinger Bergen Voss Song Fjord. He checked out the glacier near Jostedal and then onto Oslo. Heading home he drove down th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/blog-447012.html It's Sunday one of my used to be favorite days of the week and I am back to the comforts on my little humble home in Hoglimyra. A part of me really wishes I was still out traveling out occupying my mind moving doing stuff seeing new things taking pictures wearing myself out walking all over a city and just out doing. Instead I'm being a bum now and writing this blog before I tackle my hom http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Nord-Norge/Bodo/blog-446628.html the short of itWeather ... sunny with some wind ... nippy by late afternoonBlog entry ... successfulLeper Museum ...closedBergen School ...closed Bryggen Museum ... a little disappointingA wander through Bergen's history on Bryggen'Fisheries Museum ... GreatPicture taking ... goodWindow shopping ... exciting ... bought nothing ...tempted but was able to resist.Walking ... not too too far and wi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Vestlandet/Bergen/blog-446588.html Salhus Tricotagefabrik ... the sardine version of a very wet and interesting day went with girl from Prague to buy batteries in the Galleriamarched to the bus stop to catch the 280 bus at 1211 to Stalhus Tricotagefabrik.changed buses at Asan ... Ikeatook the circuitous route to StahlhusRolls Royce plantmuseum clearly markedwatched a twentyfive minute film with English subtitles ...had a priv http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Vestlandet/Bergen/blog-445468.html When speaking to the girl at the desk we realized I had made an appointment at the wrong hairdresser. She kindly agreed to phone the place an cancel the Thursday appointment. After a breakfast of the night befores leftovers I walk to the proper hairdresser. She gave me a 1230 appointment. This left some time to scout around the old wharf. First Oleandar Knits a shop with traditional and new loo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Vestlandet/Bergen/blog-445420.html Bergen and Marken GjestehusThe day began at 0530 because I was most anxious about reaching the 0930 bus in good time. Had packed and needed only to put away my toothbrush and the laundry hanging from the curtain rail over the heater. The Tillys underwear ARE drying overnight.At breakfast I saw the men who work all night at refurbishing the tunnel. The tunnel is closed from 2100 till 0700 ever http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Vestlandet/Bryne/blog-445415.html I walked along the fjord on a footbicycle pathfor about 4km to get to the sign and the farm ...Otternes 0.5. The half Kilometer to the ancient site was almost straight up. Well not quite... Once on the site I met a man who worked the farm but lived further down the mountain. He said his ancestors had lived on the farm in the 1700. Now he rents from his brother. He did not go into details. She http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Vestlandet/Flam/blog-445020.html Bergen OneThe story in a peanut shell 159km from Flaam by bus walk to the hostel from the bus terminal get organized in room go out to dfind hairdresser and food return to eat and go on Skype go out to the movies find my way back at the night time find room mate sleep well in Ikea bunk bed. Here's the whole papayaThe day began at 0530 because I was most anxious about reaching the 0 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Vestlandet/Bergen/blog-444873.html As I walked to class this morning after a brisk night that covered the layer of ice with a nice layer of powdery fresh snow I kind of zoned out while Libby and Brad talked about fishing. Now I love fishing but these two...they live to fish. And they have so many fish in their freezer that their apartment now smells like fish. So as they talked about it and I remembered the fact that I left home http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Nord-Norge/Bodo/blog-444633.html Spent quite some time at the Info Centre using the internet. At the souvenir shop it costs 60nok for 60 min. The Italian Davide who works in the Info Centre is extremely helpful and kind. His computer even had Open Office. Downloading pics was a problem because I did not have them on my USP. He offered coffee and cookies. He even phoned Stalheim ... that hotel so high up in the fjord ...no answ http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Vestlandet/Flam/blog-444471.html According to Trudethe post office lady and a sign in the Info Centre 30km from Flaam by busin Laerdal there is a shop for the hobbyist. I am off to Laerdal. Pay my senior fare of 41NOK and take a seat in the front ready for more spectacular scenery. And then we enter a tunnel. And then a second one. Of the 30km to Laerdal almost 27km are inside a tunnel. The one tunnel is 24.5 km long the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Vestlandet/Flam/blog-444101.html At 0930 in the morning took the bus to Gudvangen .. On arrival walked down the road to the wharf and there waited for the ferry .. wandered about to a soon to be completed when they get money replica of a Viking village. Crossed a wooden bridge to get there. Because it was early in the morning there was a less than tissue paper thin layer of ice on the wooden planks. Was careful on the w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Vestlandet/Flam/blog-444077.html From Oslo to Myrdal to Flaam 0705 1320 October 8 2009 I had picked up my train ticket after clearing customs the day before. Knew the trian was a level below Departures at the airport ... and of course went to the wrong track. Climbed back up ... I am carrying all I will own for the next three months on my back ... asked and was informed that there were two railway companies operating tr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Norway/Vestlandet/Flam/blog-443789.html