SCANDINAVIAN CHARM: FJORDS
author: Ana Boneva
The name Norway comes from Nordweg, which means “Northern Road”. In the begging of May, however, it looked like we were in the south, where the sun generously scattered its rays and refused to set, making Norway the sunniest places on the planet. Here the sun did not burn the lands, turning them into deserts, but gently caressed the nature, making it green and fresh. All this natural wealth managed to impress me during my trip from Bergen to Oslo.
On the way back, I could take the same scenic train I’ve travelled from Oslo to Bergen, but in Bergen I learned about even more panoramic transportation and I bought a tourist ticket for traveling by ship, train and bus. The train left shortly after 8 o’clock and after 2 hours I got off at Voss station. From there I boarded the tourist bus to Gotevagen, the trip was 1 hour, and in the nicer and more picturesque places, the bus made a 5-minute photo break. I saw amazing waterfalls and crystal clear lakes, in which mountains with snow-capped ridges were looked around.
In Gutevagen we boarded to a ferry, on which during a two-hour ride we enjoyed different fjords. The fjords are bays with steep cliffs and the Kingdom of Norway has them in abundance – over 1,000, some of which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Their tour was the culmination of my trip to Norway. It was incredibly beautiful and definitely one of my best experiences.
From Gotevagen, by ferry, we reached Flam, which is a small charming town with an interesting train museum.
The panoramic adventure continued with the beautiful train from Flam to Myrdal. This only 20 km long line again passes through beautiful places, making stops for photo breaks, along waterfalls and other natural wonders.
At the Myrdal stop, I waited for the train to Oslo, which I reached the evening and very happily returned to my friend’s house. The next day I finally managed to sleep and at noon they drove me back to the airport. The trip with Austrian Airlines went very well again – the flight was sunny and from above I enjoyed Oslo and the fjords. The hospitality, the incredible nature and the cleanest air I have breathed so far will stay in my memory and my hearth. Norway may means North Road, but for my it remains as the sunniest nature road.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT NORWAY:
Location: The Kingdom of Norway is located in Northern Europe, in the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It borders Sweden, Finland and Russia. Norway, together with Sweden and Denmark, forms the so-called Scandinavia. Norway has 20,000 km of coastlines, which is one of the longest in the world and is divided into numerous fjords and over 50,000 islands.
Area: 385 178 sq.km (61st place). An interesting fact is that if Norway turns in length instead of north – to point to the south, its territory will reach Rome.
Capital: Oslo
Population: 5,213,985 people (2016 data)
Official language: Norwegian (an interesting fact is that Norway is the birthplace of skiing, as the word “ski” in Norwegian means “piece of wood”)
Climate: temperate marine, with the northernmost parts of the country having a subpolar climate, and the Svalbard archipelago – a polar climate. The northern location of the country determines the different duration of sunshine during the different months. In places in the north in summer, the sun does not set at all, so Norway is called the “Land of the Midnight Sun”
Time zone: UTC+1
Currency: Norwegian krone (NOK)
Additional information: https://www.visitnorway.com/
TRIP TIPS FOR NORWAY:
Best time to visit: probably June and July are the best months to visit Norway, when it is the white nights and the sun hardly sets and the weather is relatively warm and pleasant for walking. Then it is also the strongest tourist season. If you want to avoid the many tourists then May and September are a good alternative. In winter it is quite cold and the sun appears only for a few hours, but it is then that in the northern parts of the country you can see the natural phenomenon Northern Lights.
Typical foods and drinks: while you are in Norway, be sure to try the local salmon, as well as the other fresh fish. Other traditional dishes are Kjøttkaker (local meatballs), Svinestek (thinly sliced and baked pork fillet) and others. They also have a variety of cheese, and I personally enjoy the cheese with caramel.
Places to visit: Norway is an incredibly beautiful country and one of the best places to live in the world, according to various agencies. However, the high standard here hinders low-cost tourists. Among the 5 places worth visiting is the capital Oslo, located on a beautiful fjord and a wonderful combination of nature and city life. Secondly, it’s Bergen, the second largest city with wonderful architecture and it is a great place to start touring the Norwegian fjords. The third largest city is Trondheim, which is also charming with its colorful houses. Be sure to visit the islands of Lofoten, whose charming fishing villages will touch your heart. Tromso is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights.
TripTips 