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Published: June 26th 2017
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Geo: 60.3962, 5.32246
0545 Time check: up and at em! Bags remained on "lock down mode" from last night to save time. Only a change of basic smalls permitted!
The Park Inn redeems itself with a slap up breakfast. Nordic smoked fish ...Lapland Cheese....little Norwegen Sausages..and am impressive range of Arctic Salami. ....we dive in, as a "bony and anxious" couple nearby nibble nervously on grapes......we spot them later at the station looking "pinched and cold".
Mission: Train No 61 from Oslo to Bergen departing 0825 arriving 1459....crossing spectacular central Norway! We are heading off on a 6 hour journey to the scenic West Coast for 2 nights before catching the Hurtegruten Working Boat north through the rugged Fiords to Tromso which is located above the Arctic Circle.
Time Check: 0740...mild panic as our train is not showing on the departure board!!! Cathy sidles up to some official looking types who point us to Platform 3. To be frank, if we were at the wrong station it would have spelt disaster! We are as ever......."over luggaged"!!!! We now have 5 pieces between us and a new addition since leaving Copenhagen.........
Enter stage left "The Wilko Shopping Trolley": with wheels like a cheap kids toy......wobbly and spindly........this
bit of kit is our supplies truck. It's little wheels rattle over the snow and ice full of tonic water, Toblerone and crisps!!!
Recap: Yesterday was a massive travelling day with two 4 hour train journeys and over 750 miles covered from Copenhagen to Oslo via Gothenburg.
We arrived into Oslo Central Station last night and immediately had a row with a dusky looking cab driver who wanted to charge us 250 kronor (£25) to drive a very short distance to the Raddison Blue Hotel. Admittedly, this was only two blocks away but we were tired and didn't fancy trundling our luggage through the snow!
WRONG Hotel! A quick voucher check revealed that we were actually staying at the Park Inn by Raddison!!! This was much further away so we had no choice and crept back to the cab rank trying not to be noticed!!!
Oslo is cold and shut........the Park Inn is more "techno trouser" than necessary. Spartan wood floors and minimalist.........polished chrome and too bright. The worst News! No Restaurant!!! arggh!!!. After a 8 hour train journey from Copenhagen we are tired and grumpy but summon enough energy for an excellent meal in a nearby Norwegian restaurant.......
TIME CHECK SATURDAY 27th
It's
9am and only an erie half light illuminates the wooded valleys, lakes and hills of the Oslo suburbs as our train heads West towards the mountainous interior. More passengers join us clothed in bobble hats and clutching winter sports kit.....
0951: The train has stopped due to a problem with the "engineering"!!!!!! we are on a snowy single track and it looks remote!!!
0953: Moving! Scenery is stunning! Honefoss Station 6 minutes time...only 5 hours to go! It's -9C outside. So you can follow our progress we are close to Nokleby.......apparently we have or had a technical problem with the engine so we are 15 mins behind schedule????.....Getting colder -12C!
Scenery Meter 8/10 "brrrr" -14C! Passing through steep sided ravines, tunnels, snowy valleys with glimpses of mountain ranges in the distance.
1147: pull into Al Station about 1/2 way.....scenery getting better by the minute!! still -14C
1157 Ascending to 1400m above sea level and the views are staggering. Frozen lakes, mountains, little houses almost covered in snow!
1350 Voss - a balmy -8C! We are some 100km from Bergen. More people pile into the buffet car where we have been perched looking out of the windows at the winter wonderland. This is the domain of "Nordic
Heidi" a strapping lass who cheerfully serves cheese on toast and strong coffee.......to a little Nordic chap wearing wooly plus fours..........
1450: We pull into Bergen Station. Only 3 platforms and a queue for taxis that takes 1/2 to clear! It's snowy and very picturesque. The Hotel First Marine is located right on the harbour and we have a great room overlooking the Harbour and Fish Market .......off for a Norwegian Christmas dinner consisting of a pile of lamb bones and mushed up parships..........hmmmmmmm ...
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