Travel Memories #3. Norway (eng)

Norway is the most fabulous of the Scandinavian countries. No photograph can to convey this northern harsh beauty; no lens will cover these fantastic views. If you were lucky enough to set foot on the Norwegian land, you must leave the city boundaries and enjoy the nature of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

The Kingdom of Norway extends like a narrow line of ridge from the North Sea to the boundary of the Arctic Circle. Due to the warm current of the Gulf Stream, there are green places without snow in Norway. Despite this, the forests occupy only a quarter of the country, and the mountains are the main natural landmark of Norway.

The nature of Norway is filled with fairy tales and legends, which originate from pagan times. Each mountain, cave or waterfall has a fairy tale story about mythical creatures and wizards. According to legends, trolls are born from rocks, and turn into stone in sunlight. It turns out that magic can wait for you anywhere.

It's not necessary to go a long way from the south to the north of the country. It's enough to go on a trip from Oslo to Bergen via Lærdal and Flåm, and back to Oslo by Norwegian National Road E7.

In the first road you will discover stunning views of fields, lakes and rocky mountains with many waterfalls. Spring is the best time to travel, but at the end of summer the stream of creeks and waterfalls isn't weakening.

You will be surprised by the tunnels of Norway, passing through the rocks directly and twisting inside the mountains with a screw. But most of all you will be struck by the Lærdalstunnelen - almost 25 km of the E16 road right in the rock. It's half an hour of road in an enclosed space, not everyone can "survive" this stress. Although, I drove it thrice! In order to psychological relaxation of drivers and passengers, there are three light caves inside tunnel for stopping and resting. Each mainsail has its own backlight color.

Don't forget to turn to the city of Flåm on the other side of the tunnel. There are hiking, biking and ski trails for active tourism in the mountains.

The main attraction of Flåm is the old mountain railway. The journey through is recognized as one of the most picturesque in the world. The train rises 900 m to the mountains under a steep slope, passing about 20 tunnels, one of which permeates the mountain through. The fabulous views opened from the windows, landscapes change every moment of the road.

One of the stops is the huge waterfall of Kjosfossen, lucky people can see the forest nymph Huldra on its slopes.

Flåm is located in the sleeve of the deepest and longest fjord - Sognefjorden, so don't forget to take a boat trip along it. Norway is the country of the fjords - its narrow winding sea bays deep-cut into the dry land. These natural attractions are only a few countries in the world, but the most picturesque of them are located in Norway.

Sognefjorden begins off the coast of Bergen, you must certainly get there. Again enjoy the opening views of the valley along the road.

Bergen is the old capital of Norway and the largest city on the West Coast. You can easily recognize it from the pretty old wooden promenade in Bryggen harbor, the ancient Hokons Hall castle and the fish market. The Fløibanen cable car will take you to the mountain, which offers a stunning panorama of the city. Liners to Iceland - another amazing country of Scandinavia - depart from the port of Bergen.

Bergen is also the cultural capital of Norway, lovers of art can always attend the performance of the famous symphony orchestra, a couple of galleries or the house-museum of Edvard Grieg, whose creative and life journey began and ended in this city. Do not forget to include something from his works on the way back to Oslo. He wrote music inspired by the nature of Norway.

Your path will pass through the tundra, along the tops of the mountains, under the very clouds. When the road looks like the surface of the moon, look at the glacier on the horizon. Snow doesn't melt there even in summer.

It is very strange to return to the noisy modern capital after such a journey. But there are their own charms in Oslo...

Going to Norway, don't forget
that nature that makes this Kingdom a fabulous place.
I wish you all an amazing journeys!

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