Norway
Kristiansand to Bergen to Oslo travel the Norwegian countryside
Travelling across snow-covered mountains and spectacular fjords, a trip across Norway is an unforgettable experience.
Our adventure began when we boarded a very large ferry in Hirtshals, Denmark, and crossed the North Sea to Kristiansand, Norway’s 3rd largest port and the capital of the South Coast. It is accessible by plane from all over Europe, and by car ferries from Denmark, Holland and England. We drove our rental car off the ferry and on to Hwy 12, heading north. The scenery in June was fantastic -- waterfalls gushing literally everywhere you looked with sod-roofed wooden houses dotting the landscape.
The farther we drove north the higher the elevation and the more snow we encountered. The road and countryside was fairly deserted until we came to the Hoveden ski area and found a rustic modern ski lodge, complete with sod-roofed cabins, located beside a wildly running river with snow-covered mountains all around.
The next day we continued on towards Bergen. The beauty of the scenery was such that we were gasping at every turn. A short ferryride took us to Odda and out of the snow. There we had our first view of a Norwegian fjord: the Hardangerfjord. The houses of the picturesque town are built up the mountainside, seemingly on top of each other. Along the fjord, sheer mountains of rock dip down to very calm and still waters.
One could just imagine the Vikings in their longboats gliding smoothly through these waters. We followed the fjord passed Lofthus, where you can see the small studio of the famous pianist, Edvard Greig, who wrote the music for Henrik Ibsen’s “Peer Gynt.”
At Kinsarvik, we took another ferry ride, this time across the Hardangerfjord to Kvannda and Highway E68. Fortunately we never had to wait very long for the ferries as they run frequently and are very well marked. E68, which was narrow and winding, also had very long tunnels. Norway has courteous drivers -- they would pull over and let you pass if they felt they were holding up traffic.
Finally, Bergen appeared before us. Sitting on seven hills, overlooking its fjord, Bergen, founded in 1070, has long been an important centre for shipping and commerce.
Waters of the fjords are warmed by the Gulf Stream and do not freeze. It is very worthwhile to see fjords farther north than Bergen. We took Hwy 13 east and then joined E68 north to Gudvangen. On the way it was ‘white-knuckle time’ travelling on the even-more-narrow-and-winding-than-ever mountain roads with tunnels that were cave-like.
At Gudvangen we boarded the ferry that took us through the awesome Sognefjord. It seemed impossible that people actually farm on the steep slopes of the fjord. For many, the only way in or out is by boat. But, what serenity they must have amidst all that beauty.
Not far after getting off the ferry in Revsnes, driving along E68, there is one of the oldest wooden structures you will see anywhere -- the Fantoft Stave Church, built during the 12th century on the Sognefjord, it was moved to its present spot in 1880. It is a real ‘treasure.’
We made it to Oslo in time for supper, reminiscing about our adventure and the warm and friendly people we encountered in this beautiful country.