A Day Exploring Around Eidfjord....
We’re on two back-to-back cruises (28 days in total) on the Viking Sun sailing from Stockholm to Greenwich. We are awake early on this particular day so as to enjoy the unbelievably beautiful view of snow-capped mountains surrounding this fjord whilst taking a light breakfast in our stateroom. We are moored by about 6.30.
Eidfjord, Norway
It’s “early morning” and this small town has not yet awakened so after our breakfast, we decided to do a little exploring of the surrounding shoreline and the little township of Eidfjord (population of 700)….and so for the next hour, it felt like we were the only ones about and the little town belonged to us! The scenery is simply peaceful and lovely. There’s a certain wilderness about it. We walked on little bridges which crossed a couple of small streams, picked up pebbles to take with us and watched the “smooth as glass” surface of the fjord.
Incredible as it may seem when “face-to-face” with the mountains and cliffs around us, the Eidfjord Region is known as the Fruit Garden of Norway because of its fertile and bountiful orchards.
Our tour today started with a bus component at about 9.00. This was a twisting and winding tour of the countryside and cliff-side around this wonderful fjord. The surrounding huge mountains simply humble our Australian mountains….
Eidfjord is the second deepest fjord in Norway…. the deepest is Hardanger which we passed through on the way into Eidfjord. The two fjords aren’t that far apart. Norway has built one of its many hydro power plants INSIDE a mountain at Hardanger and has a footprint equivalent to two football fields!
Large parts around Eidfjord are known for containing many Viking burial mounds, especially in the forests. On this cruise we came across so many Norwegians who rightly revere their nation’s Viking ancestory.
Bus Tour, Eidfjord Region
Our bus is only about a third full which is great as the rest of us we have more room to spread about😊. We cross many bridges and pass by a large number of lakes of different sizes. The scenery is rugged yet majestic. Cliffs are craggy and give credence to the natural history of this land in that Norway was carved out from the last Ice Age.
Many of the mountains are shrouded in mist giving them a mystical look. Numerous waterfalls and streams add to the moving tapestry of this beckoning land. Pines, Spruce and Juniper trees proliferate the landscape. Flowers are blooming in abundance and in a colorful display.
It’s a humbling experience to feel so in awe of these natural surroundings.
We saw major farming (fruit and dairy) along the shoreline of many lakes (Norway is only capable of producing 25% of its fruit and fruit, berry and vegetable consumption….but produces 90% of its beef consumption). The bus tour occasionally stops for photo opportunity for which we’re so grateful.
I particularly enjoyed stopping at a small glacier…. an incredible sight and experience! Touched the flowing water! Freezingggg!
Whilst the roads are all of good quality and the fact that buses have right of way, it was nonetheless hair-raising especially around hairpin bends and some of the roads clinging to the cliff-side. Clearly though, the bus driver is very skillful as he manages the bus with no discomfort to the passengers😊
Vossevangen, Norway
On the way we pass through long mountain tunnels before arriving at Vossevangen where we stopped for a delicious buffet lunch (with a heavy concentration of smoked salmon 😊) at picturesque Fleischer Hotel which was built in 1864 to cater for the tourists flooding this particular snow area.
Over time, this hotel has welcomed many a guest including Kings, Kaisers, Emperors, movie stars and so on. Vossevangen, with a population of about 1,500, is a major hub for the tourist trade.
Fleischer Hotel is a marvelous establishment insofar as Nanna and I are concerned as it reminds us so fondly and romantically of the Hydro Majestic Hotel and Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains (NSW Australia).
After lunch, we caught the scenic train from Vossevangen to Geilo via Ustaoset. This was about a 90-minute train ride and it took us through a number of small towns and villages.
The landscape was spectacular, mostly devoid of forests but we were continuously wiping the condensation from our windows to watch the scenery…. yes, it was cold and wet outside! We saw many instances of Viking burial mounds (only because Nanna pointed these out to me). We did note that whilst the surrounding forests have been decimated, the burial mounds have reverently remained untouched.
Nanna has become well-versed in these historical mounds over the past few weeks😊.
Geilo & Vorings Falls, Norway
On arriving at Geilo, we climbed abroad the bus again for our return to the ship. Along the way back we stopped at the incredible waterfalls of Vorings Falls. What made it really more spectacular for us were the well-constructed, protruding walkways which allowed the visitor to capture on photo, the magnificent cascading water hundreds of meters below…. WOW. Definitely a highlight. Truly exciting and exhilarating.
For a while Nanna and I just stood at the rails and soaked in the natural and incredible power of the cascading waterfalls as they plummeted down and then pummeled the grounds below! The plunging waters roared defiantly daring any other sound or noise to rise above its decibels!….and this entire scenic masterpiece is shrouded in rising mist adding mystique….
Rock Wall Dam, Maurset
Last stop was at the massive Rock Wall Dam at Maurset. It is one of Norway’s largest dams. The wall (or embankment) contains NO CONCRETE whatsoever! Astonishing! It’s an environmental masterpiece as far as I’m concerned.
It’s very impressive especially with the view of the distant glacier.
We walked on the wall, skipped stones, picked up pebbles for the grandchildren and just generally marvelled at it all.
Back at the ship, we indulged in aperitifs and hors d’oeuvres on our stateroom’s balcony whilst enjoying the remaining daylight and together flipping through the numerous photos of this day…. Another incredible memory created….
