May 31 Day of Changes

Morning on the fjord at our hotel.

Today was a day of changes:  the weather, the terrain and our location.  Our mode of transportation was the same.  We took our bus from Lofthus to Oslo.

We started out driving along the Hardanger Fjord again. 

Each patch of blue or area of sunshine on the mountains gave us hope of sunnier skies.

Before we continue, I should mention tunnels.  There are over 1000 tunnels in Norway, a necessity for improving land travel in the western part of the country with its high mountains dropping into the fjords.  One of the tunnels we have gone through during the past three days actually has a round-about.

 Our first stop was in  Eidford at the Norse Natursenter.  It was two floors with displays showing geological and natural aspects of Norway.  Of particular interest was a panoramic film of the Hardangervidda (Plateau).   It is in a great setting.

Goats work to trim the grass on the sod roof.

When we finished here we learned that we could continue on our planned route.  Emma had learned early this morning that the route crossing Hardangervidda had been closed because of snow.  However, we were lucky that it had been reopened.  This is unusual weather for May 31 even in Norway.

Our next stop was the Vøringfossen.  It was impressive and yet it is ranked 82 in height in Norway.

As the journey continued across Hardangevidda, the land became snowier and, as we moved above the tree, more barren.

Then we reached the highest point where a troll was there to greet us.

As we proceeded we began to understand the road closure.

This driver was not so lucky.  We passed the emergency vehicles coming to help.

Once we hit the highest point, we were descending.

The buildings seen along the way were seasonal - this area is used in the winter for cross-country skiing.  

Eventually we dropped back into the trees.  Things got greener and sunnier.   Many farms along the way.

Now we drove along lakes and rivers.

Finally we were in Oslo - the Opera House on the water's edge is not far from our hotel.

Dinner near the hotel followed by a short walk and some more Oslo sights.

Dinner at Egon

Opera House after dinner

Floating Iceberg Sculpture

The new Munch Museum (opening 2020)

"Norway in a Nutshell"

Before I start the day, I need to include the pictures from our window.  Not quite as picturesque as Geiranger.

The water is at the front of the hotel.  Its raining.

Our guide refers to today's excursion as "Norway in a Nutshell."  We will travel by bus, ferry, and two trains through fjords and mountains.  We will experience all types of weather - rain, snow and sun.   We did.  

First leg - bus from hotel to Gudvangen.  Weather - raining.  Views from bus .....

 We did make a photo stop at Tvinfossen (Twin Waterfall).  No blue sky this morning.

We took the 10:30 am ferry from Godvangen to Flåm.  Unlike the ferry ride we had when we left Geiranger, this trip was ferry crowded and quite noisy inside. Finding a seat was hard.  Because of rain we couldn't just stay outside and take photos of the beautiful scenery.  No matter how hard we tried, the lens would get water on it so we would go inside and dry things out.  The 1.5 to 2 hour ride was on Nærøyfjord.  All of this area is featured on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

 One of the small towns on the fjord.

 The water was a beautiful color.

Coming in to Flåm.

This really sums up the ride.  

We had a very quick stop in Flåm before we boarded the scenic Flåmsbana.    

We started in Flåm and went to Myrdal.  

The journey from Flåm at the innermost part of the Aurlandsfjord, up to the high mountain station at Myrdal on the Bergen Railway, is a railway experience unparalleled in Europe; 20 kilometres long with a descent of 2,838 feet and a gradient of 1 meter in 18! The gradient is unique for this kind of ordinary gauge railway, and to cope with the enormous height difference, the track runs partly through tunnels, which spiral in and out of the mountainside. 

Most photos were shot through the window. 

The train did stop for one photo op at Kjosfossen.

At Myrdal we changed trains to the Vy line for our journey from here to Vossevangen (or Voss).

It was snowing when we arrived at Myrdal but the weather did improve.

Even some blue sky.

Back on the bus for a ride back to the hotel.

Some scenes along the Hardangerfjord.

The sun/clouds gave a different look to the hotel.

Waterside and mountainside.