Cruising with my RF - Norway

kuvvy

kuvvy

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Well, my wife and I are off on a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords in a couple of weeks time to celebrate our Pearl Wedding anniversary (30 years). We’ll be stopping off at Olden, Molde, Andalsnes, Tromso, Narvik, Geiranger and Bergen. We have booked ourselves on some short excursions, around 2-3 hours duration each, but this will leave us some free time to wander around ourselves. I was wondering what sights and points of interest there were in these towns worth seeing and of course worth photographing. I’m planning on taking my RD1, G11 and GRDIII.
 
When in Olden (a tiny community), the biggest tourist attraction is Briksdalsbreen. Its some 10-15km south of Olden. Its an arm of of Jostedalsbreen, the biggest glacier in Norway (bre=glacier). Scenic, but a lot of traffic in summer.

Molde itself is not much to look at. One of the cities that got bombed during the war, and postwar architecture in these parts leaves a lot to be desired. But the scenes south of the city towards Sunmørsalpene is quite outstanding. Oh, by the way - Molde is called the City of roses. So bring colour film.

Åndalsnes is Ok I guess. Again a bit inland and mighty mountains all around.

Geiranger is the most popular criuse destination in Norway, and as such quite polluted by the ships themselves. But the scenery is outstanding. Rent a horse and buggy and get up as high as you can and look out onto the fjord with all the ships. Nice church too.

Pity you dont´make a stop i Ålesund. Very nice town, Jugend style (Art deco) "old" town. The town is spread out on islands like pearls on a neckless.

Narvik I know little of. Save it got heavily beaten during the start for the war. That´s where the Norwegians held out the longest, with help from the brits. BUT, this is where you really should keep your eyes open, as the boat sails north to Tromsø. Vesterålen and Lofoten are spectacular. If the weather is nice, you can hardly imagine a prettier site. Mountains that rise straight out of the water, narrow fjords. Pretty fishing villages.

Tromsø is the Paris of the north. At least that´s what they themselves claim. Rather nice town. Very nice bridge across the fjord, and not to forget the Cathedral, very iconic (Ishavskatedralen). Try out the local beer (Mackøl) with a couple of seagull´s eggs (måsegg), local snack.

Bergen. The capital of the west. A hansaatic town. Show signs of it today. The quays are the most known site. Called "Bryggen". Old wharehouses along the quay in the city centre. Walk a few hundred yards to the "Fløybanen" and take funicular up to Fløyfjellet. There you´ll see the whole town, the fjord and the neighbouring islands, its very nice. The people of Bergen are an own sort, very confident of themselves, quite unlike Norwegians in general, but nice none the less. Probably the town you´ll get the most pleasant views when just wandering about.
 
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Thanks for all the info Ezzie. Maybe you should get a job with the norwegian tourism office🙂 Seems as though I won't be short of subjects to shoot and the scenery looks superb. In the past I've tended to go to the US for my holidays. This time my wife chose the destination. My only other concern is what the weather is like in that part of the world. Hopefully it's no colder or wetter than the UK. Seems as though we're having to pack for every kind of weather. Good job the luggage allowance is generous.
 
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Trondheim is very very nice and alive in summer, loads of students and backpackers, I loved it there. didn't see much of Narvik as it was late and raining, but I took the bus from there up to the Lofoten, which is indeed one of the most beautiful places I've been too.
and yes, be prepared for all kinds of weather.
 
oh and if you smoke, bring a few packs, you don't want to pay norwegian alcohol & tobacco prices...
same for beer, but the wife might give you quite the look if you pack an extra suitcase with booze.
 
English info sites:

Bergen: http://www.visitbergen.com/en/

Molde: http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Stories/Norway/Fjord-Norway/Molde-Romsdal/

Geiranger: http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Articles/Theme/Fjord-and-mountains/Fjord-guide/The-Geirangerfjord/

Olden (in Nordfjord): http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Articles/Theme/Fjord-and-mountains/Fjord-guide/Nordfjord/ and the Briksdalsbreen: http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Product/?pid=32752

Åndalsnes: http://www.visitandalsnes.com/

Narvik: http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Stories/Norway/North/Narvik/

Lofoten (you´ll be passing by or through it to get to Tromsø): http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Stories/Norway/North/Lofoten/

Tromsø: http://www.visitnorway.com/en/Stories/Norway/North/Tromso/

South of Narvik you´ll be passing the Arctic Circle. Meaning you will be getting Midnight sun at this time of year.
 
I live in Tromsø. The weather here is very varaiable and unpredictable. In mid june to early july you may have nice weather (sunny 20 deg.cel) to not so nice (0 deg.cel rain) and everything in between. It rarely snows during this time, but you never know.

Your 2 hour excursion will cover the major tourist sights in Tromsø (Ishavs-cathedral, mountain cable car and a couple of museums). If you have got only one day exploring Tromsø I would concentrate on seeing more of the city centre. You should stop at "Skarven": http://www.skarven.no/en/ It is a very popular bar/restaurant/pub with lots of lokal color. (Try having dishes made of dried fish, or just the dried fish itself).

Arcitecturally the city is nothing short of a disaster. It was not damaged during the war but has had a rapid development from the 60's and to date. Together with a rather loose policy about the esthetics of new buildings leaves the city with a mixture of 200 year old wooden houses and ugly square office buildings. There are a qouple of exceptions: the already mentioned Ishavskatedralen and Skarven. The library wich is quite unique, and the Skansen restaurant some hundred meters north of the city centre. Ask the lokals where to go.

And finally two pieces of advice: 1: If you are told that the city centre is just a nice walk along the sea shore, just walk in that direction. Don't bother! Don't waste time on what is a 40min-1hr walk along a dusty ugly industrial area. (I see the cruise passengers walking this route every day of summer) Take a cab instead (10-15$).

2: If it is not cloudy; DO NOT GO TO BED! Put on a fair bit of clothes and spend the whole night on the upper deck of the boat. Enjoy the spectacular sun as it never sets.

A rather long post, but I really hope you enjoy your stay here and hope you are lucky with weather. It can be the most beautiful and exotic place you have ever visited.

Audun (and excuse my English)
 
An american woman recently stayed a fortnight in Bergen to attend a conference. Each day it rained all day. On one of her last days, as she was sheltering from the weather she got talking to a couple of small boys. She asked them "Does it always rain in Bergen?" "I don't know," said one of the boys, "I'm only 10."
 
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