Scandinavia - Sunday, August 30, 2015

A traveling kind of day.  Up at 6:30 and down to breakfast at 7:30.  Two important things first in the morning:  1) Howie & Lee exercised the night before after yours truly and significant other were out like lights, and 2) the breakfast bar was amazing! Eggs, lamb sausages, Norwegian meatballs, breads, fruits juices, waffles and more. And great coffee.

Grabbed a taxi at the hotel and schlepped all our belongings to the railway station for the train to Myrdal and then a transfer to the Flam line.  As is usual in Europe, the trains were quiet, modern, clean and always on time. We started the climb upward from sea level in Oslo, and eventually to 1,222 M at Finse, 1,222 M. Then downward to Myrdal at 844 M.  At Myrdal we disembarked to switch to the Flam line - "One of the most beautiful train journeys in the world" in their words - probably accurate.

This old style set of coaches descended to 8 M above sea level in only 18 kilometers.  A steep slope filled with amazing scenery, rushing streams and rivers and hundreds of waterfalls cascading down the rock.  A very absorbing landscape.

We arrived in Flam at the base of the mountains and in a fjord.  Our "Express Boat" to Bergen departed at 3:30.  Not sure what the word express means in the Norwegian language, but I would translate into "milk run."  We stopped at at least seven small villages along the way, mostly to pick up passengers headed back into Bergen.  Some stunning views along the way and alternating sunshine, rain, mist etc. in the way of weather.  It was great entertainment to us to watch the people rush outside to the bow of the boat, take pictures (mostly selfies - I gained a new understanding of the term,) and then rush back in as a squall developed.  The entire voyage took 5 hours - which was longer than we anticipated.

We arrived at 8:45 and phoned hotel for directions.  We then walked our luggage around the end of the fjord, about 8 blocks, to our hotel, the Havenkontoret.  We were too late for the light evening meal included in our room cost, but we did drop bags and beat feet across to the Radisson Blu for  a quick bite and cocktails (in a rain.)

The four of us parted ways in the lobby, Howie and Lee to scout out the gym location and Deb and I to bed down.  Retired at 11:30.  A long and well traveled day in trains, boats, escalators, elevators, taxis - but no planes.