EuroTrip ‘24 Part II: Norway

When the Norse gods created Norway, they did not hold back on molding the majestic views, landscapes and charming cities that the country is known for. Norway is another worldly experience that one must partake before your time on Earth is up. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to witness the Fjords. Though it took a while for the experience to sink in mentally, the journey was nothing short of amazing. The fjords were as beautiful as how the films showcased them. Speechless.

Back in Blue Lagoon, we stumbled on a group of Canadians who just got off the same cruise itinerary that we were to embark on. They mentioned we must wake up early to witness the views while the ship navigates its way to the port. Luckily, we arrived at noon, the schedule allowed everybody on board to prepare prior to witnessing the spectacle. It is by far the most rewarding destination out of all the entire trip. Doing the cruise was a wise choice. Granted, you can drive your way to this remote area, but it would be difficult to do so. 

Im thankful we did.

The Town of Geiranger & The Fjords

What was astounding is as the ship was steering its way to Geiranger, we were exposed to a 360 panoramic view of everything. I wasn’t ready for the scene slowly unfolding as the ship sailed sluggishly. Mountains and mountains constantly unfolding while the captain navigates the ship throughout the twists and turns of the isolated landscape. The words, “I’m here now, it was just a dream before.” came out of my mouth unconsciously. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

What’s funny is that ANY photo that you might have taken, any angle that you might have set your camera in, would have produced the perfect photo. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I didn’t photoshop anything just to let you know. 

The mountains that towered upon you, watchfully gazing and guiding the ship, felt so near yet so far. You will also notice that the sky feels lower than usual, for the clouds were covering the top of the mountains, like covering their eyes. The water was so tranquil, so pure and omitted an emerald green hue, reflecting virgin waters untouched by men. Such a phenomenal moment to see another ship sailing beside us, with the sierra backdrop, it felt like a commercial being film for Norwegian tourism. You can only hear the sound of birds, the water and people’s breaths, hinting that they were all blown away.

Geiranger is a town that is tucked away from the world.It is a UNESCO heritage site and strict laws are enforced to ensure that this town doesn’t fade into memory. It rewards those who are adventurous with its strange beauty and location. It’s serene, peaceful and yet busy. You will see a lot of private cottages and homes directly upon disembarking that add to the natural beauty and facade. Behind all the buildings is the perfect mountainous backdrop.

Geiranger has a distinct tradition of using plants and grass as roof insulation to fight the harshness of winter. This custom has been kept to maintain the heritage or culture of the town. It reminds me of Lord of the Rings. Interestingly, we were told by our tour guide that the sheep were meant to graze on the padding, thus relieving the stress of trimming down the grass roof from the residents. How smart is that? That’s why I didn’t see any landscaping services company or an F150 with all the cutting equipment parked anywhere.

From the port, my FIL and I decided to fly the drone and we were able to get some good footage of the surrounding area (soon to come!). We were standing in this area below.

We hiked up to get to the waterfall, pretty exhilarating experience that got our hearts pumping. It was our punishment for eating too much on the ship. Late night chicken wings, unlimited gin & tonics, old fashions and ice cream got me a little…. slow. I reminded myself that while I still can travel and walk, I must take every opportunity presented! You’ll never know when you’ll discover a wonderful view.

Dalsnibba View

In the afternoon, we embarked on our prepaid excursion that took us to the highest point in Geiranger at 4,200 ft above sea level. It was about 30-45 minutes from the town proper to get to the peak. A couple of stops were made just to catch some scenic photos. We took a double decker bus and ’ll spare you the awful zigzag drive that we had to endure. I was so dizzy and dreaded every minute of it. The environment was changing constantly from lush vegetation, to lakes, to complete barren mountains filled with ice caps, the people could not keep up taking photos. There was so much to see and so much unsolicited opinions from old people telling other passengers that they’ve been here and done that before. 

When we got to the very top, it just felt like we were in a different planet. It was not pleasant though, as we were not prepared for the temperature drop and the wind was blowing from all angles, while we were only wearing light jackets. We had to take photos as fast as we could and headed back inside the bus.

Eagle Eye Point

After Dalsnibba, we went to the opposite end of the area of the town to a place called Eagle Eye Point. It is another viewing deck only this time, it captures the front view of the town or from behind the ship. The road heading to this area was even worse than the Dalsnibba. When we reached the destination, the driver dropped us off and had to drive further and make a weird u-turn and come back for us. While he was gone, we took some photos and at this point, by the time we were going back to the bus, somebody threw up. The bus smelled like lavender fields while heading back to the ship. Of course, it didn’t.

The views were spectacular. It felt like the gods were particularly fond of Geiranger more than any other place in Norway and made the town extra special. Definitely a crossed out entry from my bucket list.

__________

Haegesund, Norway

Skipping Haegesund commentary. It was insignificant aside from a good burger joint that we visited for lunch. Photos Below!

Waste of money to even get on one of these

 ___________

Town of Bergen, Norway

Now Bergen… Oh Bergen… What a beauty that I didn’t see coming.

Bergen was one of those unexpected towns that impressed us. It felt like Copenhagen / Germany according to my family members. Lively is a good word to describe the town. The place had full of colors and reminded me of the city that stole my heart (before covid), San Francisco. Yes. It had SF vibes. The hills, the quaint shops and just the liveliness and laziness—both combined, were present in this wonderful town. Population is alive and kickin! There were plenty of kids trying to act like adults and old people trying to defy time.

The moment we docked, the wife and I decided to start our adventure early, the rest catched up much later. We were exploring the vibe of the town and were rewarded with this view.

Upon walking towards the direction where these old and distinct structures were situated, you cannot help but to admire the vivacity of the city! Touristy for sure, but worth the stroll. These buildings are protected and maintained as part of the town’s heritage.

These funny entrances are really learning towards one side, as seen above. It's a signature look, according to the tour guides and locals. Instead of fixing them, they kept them as is, adding to the buildings' character.

View of the Downtown Plaza

The plaza had plenty of sights and shops to see. Big name brands have set shop and it kind of ruins the uniqueness of the city.

Take the Funicular, Thank me later

We took the famous funicular train that transported us to an overlooking spot. We met with some famous goats and just admired the view of the entire city. The wait for the train wasn’t bad. It was operating nonstop and was pretty efficient. You’ll be at the top in no time.

Fløyen Goats

Shops and Humble Homes

After the trip from the heights, we went down and explored some more, finding ourselves walking along a quiet shopping lane.

The famous hotdog stand

There were a lot to choose from. I opted for a regular cheesedog and we also got a lamb sausage. It was good and filling.

The Fish Market and Various Market Stalls

The city is famous for showcasing fresh seafood. Live king crabs and langoustines are so common here. They have a famous fish market where you get to sit down and dine under tents. They cook the seafood in front of you and you just need to savor every flavor of the moment. 

Some historical sites

So there you go. Bergen was fascinating and we can’t wait to visit the capital city of Oslo in the near future and come back here again. We are hopeful that we can explore more cities in this lovely country.