Tuesday, 24th
I think getting up early in the morning, was becoming a habit. More so because the day ahead looked packed with activities, fun stuff and explorations. Along with today's sun shine came the fragrance of wet dew on grass and chirps of birds. It seemed all the birds at Flam had come to greet us. A quick shower and hop to the supermarket later we were ready with our breakfast spread of bread, cheese, ham, yogurt and hot tea, on the stone benches outside, facing the gigantic mountain.
We had made our reservations on the ferry to Gudvangen. The ferry was at about 12 in the afternoon and would take us through the exotic fjords to reach Gudvangen and then a bus to Voss, our next destination.
We had a few hours with us, so armed with our map and information from the counter we walked the other way to the village. We passed smart cottages with apple trees. (ok we plucked few, when no one was looking). There was a clear opening on our left, with about 7 boulders in a semi circular fashion and a huge boulder in the center. Very fascinating little place (looked like a cemetery from the stone age). We walked further, crossing the rail line which brought us here. Further down on our right was a landslide create obstruction in the middle of the river. The locals very neatly built a delicate, yet sturdy wooden rope bridge across it in the 1910's to sit, fish salmons and drink some beer. I could have sat there hanging my legs and not do anything but then we had to move on. Walking further about half a kilometer we were face to face with the Undredal Stave Church. This was built in 1147 and was called the Chapel of St. Nicholas. This was the smallest functional church in Scandinavia and seated about 40. The place was closed but we peeped through the windows and gazed at the carved deer head chandelier. It was beautifully painted from the inside and on the outside was clapboard sidings. The neighbouring looked very relaxed under the large shades of trees with a mountain for effects and a lazy river flowing. The window sills was covered with a basket of lovely pink, red and purple flowers.
We walked back slowly towards the hostel. The only other sound in this little town was I think the ruffle made by my plastic pants. On our way back we met the Spaniards. They were staying the night here (lucky bum) and going for a trek the next day. We waived our goodbyes and reached our hostel. Somewhere along the way, G lost a piece of jewel, we looked around but alas it was not meant to be. We checked out of the place and moved towards the ferry, which was about 3 minutes away.
The ferry to Gudvangen was getting ready and we were ready as ever. We boarded and climbed the deck and took really comfortable positions, after doing a little musical chair, which place would be ideal. But we were not meant to sit. The ferry set sail, with the seagulls leading the way. Everything was perfect. The seagulls, the blue sky, a very blue sea and the fjords- simply breath taking.
The ferry manouvered through really narrow spaces, passing through little hamlets clustered like flowers, churches, waterfall, hamlets on cliffs, which were accessible only by rope ladders once upon a time, when vikings were around. There were the seals basking in the sun along the way. The picturesque journey on the water came to an end at Gudvangen. The sea gulls were welcoming us with their noise. We boarded a waiting bus which would take us to Voss.
The journey to Voss was very scenic again, as we were now going uphill. The view was stunning and seemed we were on the stairway to heaven (literally) amongst clouds and leaving the world behind. The roads carved in the mountains were quite treacherous and few times we did feel, this is it. The angels just seemed inches away.
We stopped for refreshments at a pit stop. Getting our breaths back was a challenge and at an altitude the breathing is difficult. We picked up souvenirs of viking land and proceeded to Voss. The moment we stepped out of the bus, the information center greeted us. The pretty girl with a nice smile at the counter was very helpful and told us about the Youth Hostel about 2 kms away. We walked really slowly to the hostel, not because we were absorbing the beautiful city but because of our heavy backpack and day pack and me going wimp wimp (where is my passport! remember!!)
This hostel, a lovely structure is situated on the river Vosso and I do mean on it. We opted for the cheapest rooms available and they happened to be the huge attic. This place was almost touching the roof and was strewn with mattresses and all unused furniture. The windows also missed a pane or two. When on shoestring budgets, these things happen and we just had to sleep the night here, so it was okay as next day we were leaving for Bergen.
After a hot shower later we walked back to the city (2 kms away) to a neat pizzeria for a really nice ham and cheese pizza with coke. The sun was finally setting at about 9 pm and we walked back to the hostel in a light drizzle and wind. We sat for a while on the logs next to the river watching the moon come up, the twinkling of stars up there and the wispy clouds play in the wind, just like a fairy tale. Finally we made our way up to the penthouse for a peaceful sleep. We woke up a few times alternately as the pane less window was making a whoosh whoosh sound and the smiling moon had gone hiding in the clouds, making it all very eerie. I thought of encounters with ghosts, monsters or thieves, but nothing exciting happened. Maybe they ran away hearing me snore.
I think getting up early in the morning, was becoming a habit. More so because the day ahead looked packed with activities, fun stuff and explorations. Along with today's sun shine came the fragrance of wet dew on grass and chirps of birds. It seemed all the birds at Flam had come to greet us. A quick shower and hop to the supermarket later we were ready with our breakfast spread of bread, cheese, ham, yogurt and hot tea, on the stone benches outside, facing the gigantic mountain.
We had made our reservations on the ferry to Gudvangen. The ferry was at about 12 in the afternoon and would take us through the exotic fjords to reach Gudvangen and then a bus to Voss, our next destination.
We had a few hours with us, so armed with our map and information from the counter we walked the other way to the village. We passed smart cottages with apple trees. (ok we plucked few, when no one was looking). There was a clear opening on our left, with about 7 boulders in a semi circular fashion and a huge boulder in the center. Very fascinating little place (looked like a cemetery from the stone age). We walked further, crossing the rail line which brought us here. Further down on our right was a landslide create obstruction in the middle of the river. The locals very neatly built a delicate, yet sturdy wooden rope bridge across it in the 1910's to sit, fish salmons and drink some beer. I could have sat there hanging my legs and not do anything but then we had to move on. Walking further about half a kilometer we were face to face with the Undredal Stave Church. This was built in 1147 and was called the Chapel of St. Nicholas. This was the smallest functional church in Scandinavia and seated about 40. The place was closed but we peeped through the windows and gazed at the carved deer head chandelier. It was beautifully painted from the inside and on the outside was clapboard sidings. The neighbouring looked very relaxed under the large shades of trees with a mountain for effects and a lazy river flowing. The window sills was covered with a basket of lovely pink, red and purple flowers.
We walked back slowly towards the hostel. The only other sound in this little town was I think the ruffle made by my plastic pants. On our way back we met the Spaniards. They were staying the night here (lucky bum) and going for a trek the next day. We waived our goodbyes and reached our hostel. Somewhere along the way, G lost a piece of jewel, we looked around but alas it was not meant to be. We checked out of the place and moved towards the ferry, which was about 3 minutes away.
The ferry to Gudvangen was getting ready and we were ready as ever. We boarded and climbed the deck and took really comfortable positions, after doing a little musical chair, which place would be ideal. But we were not meant to sit. The ferry set sail, with the seagulls leading the way. Everything was perfect. The seagulls, the blue sky, a very blue sea and the fjords- simply breath taking.
The ferry manouvered through really narrow spaces, passing through little hamlets clustered like flowers, churches, waterfall, hamlets on cliffs, which were accessible only by rope ladders once upon a time, when vikings were around. There were the seals basking in the sun along the way. The picturesque journey on the water came to an end at Gudvangen. The sea gulls were welcoming us with their noise. We boarded a waiting bus which would take us to Voss.
The journey to Voss was very scenic again, as we were now going uphill. The view was stunning and seemed we were on the stairway to heaven (literally) amongst clouds and leaving the world behind. The roads carved in the mountains were quite treacherous and few times we did feel, this is it. The angels just seemed inches away.
We stopped for refreshments at a pit stop. Getting our breaths back was a challenge and at an altitude the breathing is difficult. We picked up souvenirs of viking land and proceeded to Voss. The moment we stepped out of the bus, the information center greeted us. The pretty girl with a nice smile at the counter was very helpful and told us about the Youth Hostel about 2 kms away. We walked really slowly to the hostel, not because we were absorbing the beautiful city but because of our heavy backpack and day pack and me going wimp wimp (where is my passport! remember!!)
This hostel, a lovely structure is situated on the river Vosso and I do mean on it. We opted for the cheapest rooms available and they happened to be the huge attic. This place was almost touching the roof and was strewn with mattresses and all unused furniture. The windows also missed a pane or two. When on shoestring budgets, these things happen and we just had to sleep the night here, so it was okay as next day we were leaving for Bergen.
After a hot shower later we walked back to the city (2 kms away) to a neat pizzeria for a really nice ham and cheese pizza with coke. The sun was finally setting at about 9 pm and we walked back to the hostel in a light drizzle and wind. We sat for a while on the logs next to the river watching the moon come up, the twinkling of stars up there and the wispy clouds play in the wind, just like a fairy tale. Finally we made our way up to the penthouse for a peaceful sleep. We woke up a few times alternately as the pane less window was making a whoosh whoosh sound and the smiling moon had gone hiding in the clouds, making it all very eerie. I thought of encounters with ghosts, monsters or thieves, but nothing exciting happened. Maybe they ran away hearing me snore.
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