Day 17 - Oslo, Norway

Today, we went on a guided sightseeing tour today. We passed by the Royal Palace, as well as the spires and ramparts of Akerhus Castle, the 14th century fortress guarding the harbour. At Frogner Park, we viewed the controversial Vigeland Sculptures (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigeland_Sculpture_Park ), before a special Highlight visit to the Viking Long Ship Museum and the Kon-Tiki Museum (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kon-Tiki ). We also went to the Open Air Museum to see Sami culture artifacts (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_people ), regional costumes and another stave church.

The new Opera House of Oslo (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_National_Opera_House_(Oslo ).


A Vigeland Sculpture.



Another Vigeland Sculpture.

Our Oslo tour guide at the Frogner Park.

Our Oslo tour guide at the stave church at the Open Air Museum, Oslo.

The stave church at the Open Air Museum, Oslo, Norway.

Day 16 - Bergen to Oslo, Norway

This morning we travelled east through the rugged landscape of the Hardanger Plateau , (the Hardangervidda, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardangervidda ) over scenic mountains and through ski-resorts on our way to the Norwegian capital Oslo. Hotel: Radisson SAS Scandinavia, Olso.

Somewhere along the way.


The poles on the sides of the Hardanger Plateau road are there so the snowplow will know where the edge of the road is.


The cafe in Haugastol, where we ate our lunch.


We stopped here for a bathroom break and a snack.

Oslo, Norway.

Oslo, Norway.

Day 15 - Bergen, Norway

BERGEN SIGHTSEEING - Bergen still largely looks to the sea for its living, as can be seen from the colorful fish market, the largest in Scandinavia. Today we first had a tour of the city by bus and then to the Edvard Grieg house and museum ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edvard_Grieg ).

We then took the funicular railway to the top of the mountain to view thw city from that vantage point. We were told the funicular was expected to take as many as 7000 people up to the top today - long lineups.

Then we had lunch at McDonald's near the fish market in centre town (this was our second McDonald's lunch in 2 weeks!).

For dinner today, Michelle had some Moose (called Elk in Scandinavia) and I (Ted) had some Reindeer. Both were very tender and lean meats.


Edvard Grieg life-size statue near the house and museum. Apparently he was only about 5 ft. tall in real life.


Edvard Grieg house and museum, Bergen, Norway.


A view of the city of Bergen from the top of the mountain. We went up there on the funicular railway.


A view of the fish market area, Bergen, from the top of the mountain.


Another view of the city of Bergen from the top of the mountain.


The McDonald's near the fish market, Bergen, Norway.

A fruit stand at the fish market, Bergen, Norway.

Another photo at the fish market, Bergen, Norway.

At the waterfront, Bergen, Norway.

A busy area at the waterfront, Bergen, Norway.

Day 14 - Laerdal to Bergen, Norway

The Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, and we cruised upon its majestic waters today.

We then embarked on a spectacular journey on the Flåm Railway (see http://www.flaamsbana.no/eng/Index.html ), ascending from sea level to 3,000 feet, with views of mountain scenery and roaring waterfalls.

Our destination was the historic port of Bergen, Norway's most naturally beautiful city, with its brightly painted houses. We settled in at the Radisson SAS Royal in Bergen. Light rain in the morning while we were on the fjord; heavy rain as we got closer to Bergen. We drove through about 40 mountain tunnels. the longest one being 11 km long.

Leavng Laerdal on our ferry cruise along the Sognefjord to Gudvangen.


Along the Sognefjord, Norway.


Along the Sognefjord, Norway.


Along the Sognefjord, Norway.


Arriving at Gudvangen, Norway.


Flåm, Norway.


93 metre waterfall along the Flåm railway track.


A lady Troll at the waterfall there to lure young men into her spell.


The lady Troll closer up.

Day 13 - Geiranger to Laerdal, Norway

We began our day with a highlight cruise on the mirror-smooth waters of Geirangerfjord, with its towering cliffs and waterfalls. We then continued through glacier country for a scenic drive along the Sognefjord, before our ferry crossing to Laerdal.

The winding Eagle's Road viewed from the Geirangerfjord.


Another ferry on the Geirangerfjord.


A view on the Geirangerfjord, Norway.


The Seven Sisters waterfalls on the Geirangerfjord, Norway. Here the fjord was very narrow with another spectacular waterfall on the other side.

A view of a fjord near Stryn, Norway.

The Bøyabreen arm of the Jostedal Glacier (the Jostedalsbreen), Norway.

Day 12, to the Troll's Road, Norway

Today's trip to the Troll's Road (not the official name - See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trollstigen ) was awesome. Apparently, the weather often bad and the visibility bad also, but today, the weather was perfect, sunny, clear smd warm.

We had a wonderful dinner tonight at the hotel in Geiranger. A fancy smorgasbord with everything! We did not over eat though. We will feel better if we don't, and breakfast is provided for us tomorrow so there is no need to stuff ourselves tonight.

A river on the Eagles Road, near Geiranger, Norway.

Snow on the mountain tops, Norway.

The winding Troll's Road, Norway.

The winding Troll's Road, Norway.

These photos taken in the shade on the Troll's Road had a blueish cast from the blue sky which I tried to remove with post processing. The only illumination was that clear blue sky with no direct sunlight. Anyway, I was not very successful at making them look normal. Maybe I should have left them blue? They do not look right.

The winding Troll's Road, Norway.

The largest bridge on the Troll's Road, Norway.

The winding Troll's Road, Norway.

On the Troll's Road, Norway.

A high waterfall on the Troll's Road, Norway.

The largest bridge on the Troll's Road, Norway.

The Troll's Road, Norway.

In the mountains on the Troll's Road, Norway.

Turf roofed houses in the mountains on the Troll's Road, Norway.

Turf roofed houses in the mountains on the Troll's Road, Norway.

A look-off over the Geiranger Fjord, Norway.

Geiranger, Norway, from the look-off.

Looking west at the Geiranger Fjord from the look-off.

Looking east from the look-off towards Geiranger.

A large troll at Geiranger.

The fancy smorgasbord at our hotel.