Relaxing in Flåm and an afternoon on Western Norway's Fjords

22 May 2022.

[Lots of fjord photos coming your way so don't hesitate to scroll through.]

The day opened up with sun and blue sky, quite a change from yesterday. The morning began with yet another in a long line of leisurely breakfasts, this one at our hotel in Flåm. Although truth be told we started early in our room with coffee via a Nespresso machine!

A little before 0800 we walked next door to the hotel's cafe and helped ourselves to a buffet breakfast. Not quite up to the Hilton Slussen in Stockholm standards but not bad, either.

entrance to the hotel cafe

Afterwards we dropped by the Flåm Bakery and picked up a couple of local delicacies for later: one solbolle and one skulebolle (the one with coconut), both basically yeast-dough buns with fillings. I'll let Susie explain those pastries but I can tell you they were both deeeeelicious! 

photo courtesy of the French Tarte

We also picked up a pair of their handmade sandwiches to have in our room for supper later this evening after our return from fjord cruising.

the Flåm Bakery

From the bakery we walked 50 feet to the visitor center where we bought our boat tickets for a cruise later that afternoon.  

We returned to the room and while I worked on travel notes and photos Susie went out for a stroll around the town.  After she returned about an hour or so later we took a short walk (they're all short here in Flåm) to the Flåmsbana Railway Museum located next to the train platform we were on just the day before.  In point of fact, the building that is now the museum was once the train station.

off to the museum

We browsed the exhibitions for a short while -- most of the signage was in Norwegian, unfortunately for us -- but they did have plenty of vintage photos and artifacts telling the story of how the railway was built (and why). They also had an old locomotive as well as several other unique bits of railway equipment, including various pedal and motorized bicycle-like contraptions for working on the line. 

Back we went to the room for a lunch of tasty treats from the Flåm Bakery and a bit of relaxing before our boat ride.

Our boat was due to leave at 15:20 and we were at the dock in the queue a little before the hour. The Flåmsbana had just arrived from Myrdal and most of the passengers went straight from the train to our boat. Quite a logistical accomplishment here in Flåm to be sure.

A few minutes later and we were on board. 

The boat is electric and as you can see from the promo photo below is unique in both design as well as propulsion. I should also point out that the interior is very nice, spacious and with large windows allowing even those who don't want to brave the fjord winds to still get a full view of the grandeur (that word again) this place has to offer. Note there are no stairs just a gradual sloping ramp on each side of the craft. Amazing really. Not only infinitely safer but also allowing more folk to stand by the rail to appreciate the views. 

the hi-speed ferry express to Bergen -- about four hours

view looking toward the bakery and our hotel beyond

The scenery never stops!

one of several small villages along the Aurlandsfjord

note the narrowing ahead

Laegdafossen falls, one of the highlights of the Nærøyfjord

(It should be noted that foss actually means falls in Norwegian but in English general practice seems to include the word falls. I know, a redundancy, but just sayin'. . .)

About two-thirds of the way through the journey Susie and I opted to move inside where it was out of the wind and much cozier. We also wanted to sit and enjoy a glass of prosecco. . . 

small group of campers - one wonders how they got there

a village not far from our destination, Gudvangen

At about 17:20 we pulled in to Gudvangen at the head of Nærøyfjord; the cruise lasted about two hours. A bus was waiting to drive us back to Flåm and the return trip took us through two tunnels that covered pretty much the entire route of about 16kms and lasted about 20 minutes. 

Back at the hotel we picked up a couple of locally brewed beers at the reception desk (from the hotel's brewery). Because of fairly strict Norwegian laws on alcohol, they had to open the cans at the desk and we had to consume them in either the lobby or our rooms. No matter since we planned to have our beers with our sandwiches from the Flåm Bakery back in our room. Another fine supper in Norway!

After supper we took one last stroll around the waterfront in Flåm and let the majesty of this place sweep over us one more time. 

Tomorrow its off to Bergen!