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Published: August 9th 2016
On top of the world
On the Hurtigruten trip.NORWAY - the coastline from Bergen to Kirkenes was absorbing and everchanging. From the majestic, towering cliffs and fiords to the rolling hills and small towns in the north and the many islands and inlets passed each day- the scenery was unforgetable. The Hurtigruten experience worked so well for us-the weather was fine, seas calm and the 24 hour day gave us dramatic skies and total confusion as to the time.
SWEDEN AND THE INLANDSBANAN- After leaving the Polarlys at Harstad, we crossed over the mountains via the Arctic Railway on the major iron ore transpot line and joined Inslandbanan - a single carriage tourist train ambling through the countryside of Swedish Lapland! What a change of pace and scenery. Water was everywhere as it ran from the mountains across Sweden to the Baltic. Rivers fed the lakes and marshes and we crossed hundreds of bridges and skirted around and between dozens of lakes of many sizes.
COPENHAGEN- busy, bustling, manageable size city with a proud history that proved easy to get around if we remembered to get out of the way of cyclists. The integrated network of bus, metro and ferry helped us explore, as did the Red
Lake reflections
The view from Vilhelmina motel bus tour we took. The claim to an easy going society was stretched a bit by the pickpocket who relieved Col of his change purse (only that thankfully), but realistically that can happen anywhere. I wanted to bring the Design Museum home, and the bread, which kept fresh for days. If not the bread then a baker and recipes. Also wanted to put the waiter in our suitcase from a French restaurant in Vesterbro..he would go well at the Bowral Brasserie.
BIG TICKS for all the following experiences:
The Flam Railway- from go to wo ut especially the waterfall and the bike carriages on the train..
Bergen.Great city with lots to do and see ...
Geirangerfyord. This first side trip was unforgettable- to see the fiord from above it and to continue to the high and desolate alpine areas before coming down scary winding and very steep roads. Travellers have written thousands of WORDS on this so I'll let the photos say it for us.
Birdwatching from a small boat up near the North Cape. Wasn't expecting to see many birds but Stoppen Island is where the cold and warm currents meet and the sea
Flam
The magnitude of this waterfall was spectacular is rich in nutrients apparently. It's then you wish you had that big camera and long lens!
The riverboat ride to the Russian Border. Col packed his Russian hat with ear flaps and warm gloves especially with this trip in mind. Instead it was 25 ยบ and we got sunburnt!
The midnight sun where it dipped to the horizon and hovered before rising again for another 24 hours of daylight..
Deer on the train tracks.. especially in the northern areas of Sweden. They just didn't want ro move.
The Arctic Circle with the usual fuss on the boat. However on the Inlandsbanan train we came to the circle marked by white stones on either side of the rail lines with a couple of signs. We made a brief photo stop.
Jokkmokk -an isolzted little town in Sweden with the National Sami museum As well as the internal exhibitions they have a garden along the lake full of Sami plants and herbs. It was just a beautiful little town which felt as if it was loved and cared for by the residents.
Vilhelmina, was another stopover on the Inlandsbanan tourist trip where in response to
our question about what there was to see in town, one of hotel staff said " Trees, water and fish". But we f ound a great museum, lovely old shops and a lovely Sami lady who played a traditional drum for us and talked about the changes to Sami life after the settlers both before and in her own lifetime.
Trees and more trees in the north of Sweden as opposed to the vqst agricultural swathes of the south.
Copenhagens Royal Opera House. All funding to build it was donated by one man! It has 5 separate side stages that can be set uo completley for different operas and moved by rotation into the centre stage in 10 minutes. They each can have diffeent levels and they can be displayed one behind the other to make very deep spaces. The orchestra pit holds 120 musicians and one wall in a foyer is made of tiles each of which plays a different note! How envious we were of the space, the donation and the flexibility.
Our boat tour of Copenhagen canals and low bridges; the Design Museum's display of Danish furniture; the many churches we explored and the
Norway
Bikes lined up to go by train or to be ridden down the mountain wonderful choral service we attended at Trinitatas Kirke with organ, solisits, choir and small, orchestra. Also my day of rest which allowed this blog to be written whilst Col went to tour the Carlsberg Brewery.
Finally on our last day in Copenhagen we escaped town and the tourists and rode buses out into the suburbs to Lyngby where the tiny Baadfarten (means lake steamers) boats have criss crossed the lakes and canals sincethe 1890's. we went back and forth and talked to people...it was great fun.
Next Stockholm, then Vilnius, Riga and Tallin before Helsinki and then home.
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Hal Thomas
non-member comment
Thanks for sharing your holiday photos!
Looks like you're having a great time. Looking forward to hearing your travel tales on your return.