Looked like many other European cities. Cobblestone streets. Tiny cars. Beautiful buildings.
Even the sewer caps are pretty in Europe :). | I liked the contrast within the tattoo parlor.
This looked like fun. I was too big. Oh well.
These buildings were fake super old. A 1700's replica of a medieval settlement.
The originals were causalities to a fire.
So pretty.
Another typical European trait... lots of churches.
I'm glad to report that this one had a decent crowd of people in it on a Sunday.
Reindeer fur anyone? I refrained. Sorry if this is what you wanted for Christmas.
Lots of beautiful shots on the water (we're still in Bergen).
And fun nautical trappings -- a fish market and a fisherman house ornament.
Goodbye site-seeing. Hello fun activities.
The adventure begins.
Norwegians have a thing for trolls.
Grass-covered roofs weren't an uncommon occurrence. Apparently, they give you environmental street cred due to their ability to insulate. Plus, they're cool looking.
Norway = Pacific NW x 10
Nonstop, amazing sites.
We saw so many waterfalls, we couldn't count them all.
Picture with the Old Man on our first day of hiking. I'm wearing my rain jacket because it drizzled/steadily rained on and off that day. It created quite the slippery conditions. I may or may not have fallen three times. I'm a bastion of gracefulness.
Day 2: Let the kayaking begin! Could we have had a prettier start?!
View from my kayak.
The fjords we traveled (Naeroyfjord, Aurlandsfjord, and Sognefjord) were some of the deeper ones in the country, allowing for lots of ferries, cruise ships, etc.
Meet one of the ferries.
Occasionally, we'd get out of the kayaks for a break. This day we walked to a water fall; I love how pastoral it is!
Time for a stop at the smallest post office in the world. Population served? Two.
Seriously.
In the picture is an old workshed. I wasn't sure which building was the actual P.O., but it's somewhere nearby.
The sides of the fjords are pretty isolated (only access is by water), so people would tag their animals and collectively use the land. Since water was the only way in or out, the animals were trained to get into boats. Kayakers beware. If you get too close, a goat might try to board!
Group lunch!
Bea-utiful.
A couple of nights while kayaking, we stayed in farmhouses because it was that or camping. We'd park our kayaks and hike up to these homes with exceptional views.
Here's one of them:
Inside is exactly what I'd imagine a Norwegian home to look like.
One afternoon after kayaking, we hiked up the backside of a fjord.
The view from that hike.
Getting closer...
Almost there.
She made it!
Day 4 or so. Back on the water...
Me and my kayak.
The group hard at work.
My boots' room with a view.
On our way up to another farmhouse.
Day 6: Scenery change!
Kayaking is behind us. Our goal now is Norway's highest peak. To get there, we cross a glacier.
What what?!
Glacier crossing prep. Tethered to others? Check.
The glacier we'll be crossing. Watch out for crevasses!
Hi ho, hi ho...
Much of hiking in Norway was actually more like rock scrambling.
See Exhibit A. You can see the peak we're hiking towards -- Galdhopiggen.
Dad and me at the top.
Unobstructed view, which according to our guides was a rare treat. They'd each been up a dozen times to this peak and this was the first time they could see for any distance.
Last day: glacier walking. This glacier was ice covered. The other had snow, so we needed different equipment. Crampons and ice pick, anyone?
Safety first. Still too dangerous to do any solo exploration.
The glacier up close:
hehe. I liked my ice pick.
Isn't it amazingly pretty?
So blue!
View from the glacier (we only went part-way up it).
Group shot!
All in all, Norway is probably the most beautiful country I've visited. Simply amazing.
