The summer before our big European adventure, we spent 17 weeks cruising Alaska. Don’t get me wrong: Alaska is beautiful beyond words - but even glaciers, snow-capped mountains, musher sled dog puppies, and bald eagles diving for dinner can get repetitive after 17 weeks. So when we arrived in Norway for the first time after departing Amsterdam - and both the weather and the scenery seemed a little too familiar - the first words out of my mouth were: “Are we in Alaska again??”
We found out very quickly that Norway, though equally endowed in beauty and reindeer sausage, was a completely different kind of beautiful. Our first dock was Eidfjord, a quaint town nestled cozily in a beautiful fjord that housed our favorite cafe serving delicious waffles and jam. A trail led us past a mirror-like lake that made the mountains towering above look like they trickled into infinity. We walked up a hill and past mounds that rose out of the ground like moles - ancient viking graves - and hay rolled up as neatly as swiss rolls. Each house sitting on the hill was small and quaint, but many of them shined with solar panels on their rooftops. As we reached the top of the hill, we saw our beautiful ship sitting below us on that glass ocean; even only having been on it for two days, we felt a fond connection to our new home.
Vøringfossen
We would have stops in Norway throughout the next few months until September 13 at the following places:
Bergen - home of the cutest fish market, brimming with fish that looked both delicious and scary (some of those fish had fangs!) Every time we stopped in Bergen, I’d grab a sample of reindeer, elk, and whale sausage from this fish market. Other gems at this market: very expensive but delicious paella and fish caviar out of a tube!! I wish I had taken a picture of the market, but I was always too busy eating…
Other days were spent riding the tram up to Mount Fløyen where goats and trolls played, museum hopping to appreciate the moody paintings of Scandinavian artists, riding the Hop On Hop Off bus when walking seemed arduous but a tour of the charming Bergen houses still sounded nice, and getting on a free ferry on a whim but then immediately succumbing to panic when I realized it was taking me much further than I had anticipated. Also, a quick shout out to the Bergen seafarers lounge that had free knit beanies for us to take to colder parts of Norway!
Mount Fløyen
Molde - we only went to Molde once, and we spent it doing the grueling Varden panorama hike. When we finally reached the top, we kept saying “It was definitely so worth it!!” Looking back now, I’m not entirely sure it was actually, but the view was beautiful.
Honningsvåg - there was no wind fiercer than the wind in Honningsvåg. We met some of Santa’s reindeer here on our way to the northernmost point in Norway, the North Cape. The textures up here were so breathtaking: how smooth the ocean was as it blends into the sky, and the rough rocks juxtaposing.
Skjolden - the most serene, untouched beauty of Norway in my opinion. My fondest memory of this place is hopping on a kiddie bike and biking my heart out to see one particular waterfall and back in time for sailaway.
Stavanger - not only the home of a beautiful music hall and many hungry, outspoken seagulls, but also of my favorite hike! To get to Pulpit Rock, a ferry ride and bus schedule came into play for time. I wasn’t sure if I could hike to the top and get back down in time to meet the all-aboard time, but I was so happy I took the risk. The view was stunning every step of the way, even when it started misting halfway through.
Flåm - home of the Flåmsbana that took us on a train ride stunning from beginning to end. Part of the ride included a waffle and jam break, before heading back to town; let me tell you, nothing beats a Norwegian waffle!! We were even treated to a traditional Norwegian dance performed by one dancer at the waterfall pictured below.
Oslo - a picture perfect city. We had several stops here and each one was fun and different: renting a BIRD scooter and making my way to the Edvard Munch Museum, climbing the Oslo Opera House (pictured below) with my parents before enjoying some Mövenpick ice cream and playing some piano on the Aker Brygge pier, and riding the subway up to the top of a ski mountain to enjoy smoked salmon smørrebrød with an old friend. I’d never seen so many Teslas in my life than I did in Oslo.
Hellesylt - another gorgeous Norwegian town catered to the natural beauty that surrounds it. The centerpiece of the town was a beautiful waterfall, and here my friend Ravi showed me the magic of an ND filter.
Ålesund - another stunner. I don’t think I ever quite captured the charm of this city through photography, but the architecture was utterly charming, the boardwalk was always filled with stands selling Norwegian treats and cotton candy, and stunning views were ample from the many peaks the city provided - one of them, the Byrampen Viewpoint, exactly 418 up and over the city of Ålesund. The other, Sukkertoppen (Sugar Top!) was a lovely excursion done with my brother and sister-in-law!
Geirangerfjord - last but not least, we had one day to enjoy Geirangerfjord. Despite a rainy start, it was one of the most beautiful, lush places I’d ever laid eyes on. I had to forfeit my white Keds to a hike through mud and llama poop, but getting to experience such untouched and thriving nature in such an intimate way is unforgettable.
