Sep 10, 2006 - To the Rescue

Although this had been scheduled to be a non-flying day my passengers called on the evening of the 9th and said that their trip to viist Bergen in western Norway had become the trip from hell. After traveling on boat, bus and multiple trains they arrived in Bergen after 14 hours. To the rescue...flew to Bergen to retrieve our passengers.

Sep 9, 2006 - Bergen - Musical City

Travelling to Bergen by train I imagined these Nordic settlements by the sea. I thought I would encounter a jumble of run down houses dominated by a smelly fishing port full of taciturn and sunkissed Nordic types scowling at the strange foreigner. Not a bit of it! In fact what I discovered at Bergen, Norway's second city, was a vibrant and flourishing city peppered with music venues, art galleries, curio shops, bars and clubs, especially around the University. On my first night I met a bunch of riotous Swedes who drank apple wine and...

Sep 5, 2006 - Bergen

Another sunny morning in Oslo. Slow breakfast, get ready our lunch (with buns from breakfast plus the excellent local cheese and salami bought on our first evening in Oslo), pack our bags and then to the station just a 2 minutes walk away. The train is on time, departing for Bergen at 10:33. Seats are great. Good back and neck support, footrests and recline back to a comfortable seating position. All this in economy class for about $60 for some 7.5 hours of great scenery. There are about 20 stops with passengers getting on and off at most...

Aug 29, 2006 - Bergen, Norway

The Oslo-Bergen train is characterized as a "must-see", a seven-hour journey winding past forests, alpine villages and across the stark Hardangervidda Plateau. I stayed at Bergen's most central hostel, the YMCA. The good thing was that nearly half of those staying were traveling alone, so I met some fun Europeans. Before long small groups form. In traveling circuits, it's like we are all incoming freshman, only more mature and easy-going; less akward. Between rainy sessions I visted the Bergen Art Museum and the Leprosy Museum. The art...

Oct 26, 2005 - Bergen, Norway

October 26- An hour after Scott proposed, we arrived in Bergen, Norway. The town looked beautiful from the ship, many colorful houses on different levels of mountains all surrounded by water. We walked through town to find our hostel and found it to be very nice for a change. The town was very lively and very busy. We checked in and walked around the city some more. We rode a lift to the high top of a mountain where we were able to get a great view of the city. Afterwards, we found a restaurant to celebrate this wonderful day! October...

Oct 3, 2005 - Bergen,Norway

Another overnight train, this time from Stockholm to Bergen Norway....we got in about 6 AM...they need to change these early arrivals to much later!!! But we had a great free breakfast at the train station...hot fresh bread, hard-boiled eggs, lots of yummy fresh tomatoes and more! We headed to the local visitor center, to see if they had info on a good local B&B...we at first just asked for a room with a shared bath but Bill relented :)and we asked for a room with a private bath...the lady at the center had already found one with a shared...

Sep 19, 2005 - J: Bergen

Bergen's claim to fame seems to be that is rains 270 days out of the year. Unfortunately we happened to arrive on one of the rainy days... but that certainly didn't dampen the charm of this city which hosts a whole cluster of gorgeous buldings perched along the side of a mountain. At the foot of the ridge is a lovely fish market and a stretch of multicolored wooden buildings filled with norwegian sweater shops. Behind the striking street-front are narrow cobblestone streets that slowly wind their way to a magnificent view of the sea and...

Aug 15, 2005 - Finse

Start: Bergen End: Finse Weather: Light Rain, which ceased upon leaving Bergen Ride: 35km Although I had felt the cold during the night and thought I had a restless sleep, I actually awoke around 8.30am and felt refreshed. Choosing to sleep in a hammock in the shelter had meant a cold night, however, packing up was easy because I hadn't set up the tent. Rode into the city centre to go to a bike shop to buy a new wheel pin and to go to the library to see if I could access an internet terminal, but arrived before either opened at 10am. Used...

Aug 13, 2005 - Bergen

Start: Bergen End: Bergen Weather: Overcast, but cleared late in the day Ride: 20km Awoke relatively late and lingered over a list of tasks to do. Decided that laundry was a priority and there was the rare opportunity of a laundromat (Normally I would need to stay at a hostel or a campground to have access to a washing machine). Also wanted to seek more information on bike travel in Norway and the availability and cost of internet access. Thereafter I wanted to see the sights of Bergen. Dropped my dirty clothes (practically all my clothes)...

Jul 28, 2005 - Swedish Summer Houses (website feature article by JC)

FOR THOSE READERS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED - A LOOK AT SWEDISH SUMMER HOUSES As this is a feature of Swedish life and as we have been invited to quite a few during our trip I thought I would add a few observations of how important the summer house is where the family can get together in a very relaxed atmosphere and enjoy each others company or just chill out. Also it is important to understand that the summer is rather short particularly by Australian standards and to enjoy warm and long days away from the city is something to look forward to...

Jul 26, 2005 - Norway the last bit!!

Norway the last bit 14th July 2005 So, we awake to the sound of rain on the caravan roof - not what we were hoping for! But we decide to stay anyway and try to use the library internet facilities and perhaps go to the glacier. Well, the library is a great success, really quick upload of the photos, but still it takes an hour!! Then on up the road to the Nigardsbreen Glacier, and it's a biggy, viewed from a distance it's a huge tongue of ice driving down the valley in an "S" shape. The info boards indicate that it has been receding...

Jul 21, 2005 - Bergen - days to go 9

What a stunning train trip from Oslo to Bergen (yes I have stayed 1 night in Oslo - saw nothing of it and left at 8am this morning). Reminded me of both New Zealand and Scotland but of course the architecture is definitely Scandinavian. Wonderful waterfalls, still some snow on the hillsides, large lakes, huge fully flowing rivers etc etc. We climbed to around 1300 metres with a large glacier in the background at 1600 metres I think they said (it was said in English of course - I havent grasped any Norwegian yet). Coming into Oslo was also...