1.7.19

NORWAY IN A NUTSHELL

We checked out of our room after another very good breakfast, then dragged our bags through the railway station to Platform 3 to await our train from Oslo to Myrdal. 

We failed to read our ticketing instructions properly, and just grabbed seats in any carriage, then discovered we had someone else's seats - we were in completely the wrong carriage... aaagh!  So, we had to retrieve our very heavy suitcases and drag them 5 CARRIAGES DOWN the train to find our designated seats in carriage 6.  Exhausting, stressful, but at least we were on the right train!


As we travelled along, the scenery changed to vast areas of deep snow, higher mountains, and small towns.  Most of the houses were a pale colour, with the occasional glimpses of colour. 


On arrival at Myrdal we changed trains to travel on the famous Flam railway.  At least this time we knew which carriage to climb into.  And I do mean climb - dragging suitcases up 3 stairs onto the train. They seem to be getting heavier!!!

The journey from Myrdal to Flåm is 20 kilometres long with a ascent of 863 metres with 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.   

Shortly after boarding, we had a short stop to get off the train to see the Kjossfossen waterfall which is supposed to be amazing.  It probably is in summer, but at the tail end of winter it is a spectacular frozen icefall.  Still lovely.

We arrived in the picturesque town of Flam which sits on the Aurlandsfjord and checked
into the Fretheim Hotel which was a very comfortable, high-ceilinged lodge style hotel, with amazing views.


We walked around the tiny town on this spectacular fjord, before returning to our hotel for dinner -  a 3 course set menu featuring dried reindeer, cod in seafood sauce, and dessert.  It was excellent.

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