Norway in a Nutshell

Norway in a Nutshell is an exercise in transportation. I took a train to a bus to a boat back to a train. I saw lakes turned white with snow, frozen waterfalls, and colorful houses along the banks of the fjord.

This dock is at the foot of the fjord, where we boarded the boat.


Our view from the boat along the fjord.

I was quite chilly on the top deck of the boat. It did start to snow a bit later.

According to NorwayNutshell.com: "The boat sails out the Aurlandsfjord and into the Naeroyfjord, one of the narrowest fjord in Europe. The Naeroyfjord is included on UNESCO's famous World Heritage List." The water was quite choppy where the fjords met.


As if the mountains and fjord weren't enough, the flag should prove I was in Norway.

The wake from the boat leads into the smoked-out mountains.


A small village rests on the fjord as a waterfall spills down from the mountain.

The Flåm Railway took us through tunnels and stopped in front of the Stalheimsfossen waterfall.

The train tracks ran alongside the fjord, parts of which were frozen.

Sitting in the train watching the snow-covered world whiz by.

Snow flakes appear to be enormous as passengers board the train from Myrdal down to Flåm (or maybe it was the other way around).


Houses along the fjord on the way from Flam, Norway.

Bergen: Around Town

I am leaning against the tool shed of The Cathedral cemetery (Domkirkegården) in Bergen. I saw dates from the 1700s, though my pamphlet told me the cemetery dates to the 12th century.


The Cathedral (Domkirkegården), in Bergen, has moss-covered walls and wooden doors all around.

An amazing web of branches at The Cathedral cemetery (Domkirkegården).

Another twisted tree, this one at The Assistant cemetery (Assistentkirkegården). It's behind the train station downtown.


Saint Jacob's cemetery (St. Jacob kirkegård) abuts apartment buildings (behind where I am standing).

A headless tombstone at The Cathedral cemetery (Domkirkegården).


This is a headstone at The Cross Church cemetery (Korskirkegården).

I love the contrast between the bright graffiti and the stones of the cemetery at The Cathedral cemetery (Domkirkegården).


The lake at the Byparken near downtown. Seagulls and mallards would pounce on anyone looking like they had food. It was so windy that the lake, normally flat, would get white caps and light chop. The white building straight ahead is the museum of art.

The playwright Ibsen looks like a blowhard in this statue in front of the theater.

Graffiti on the street, near the theater.


Composer Evard Grieg was born in Norway. They remember him here with this statue.


A store called Amanda.

Give me an "N" for Norway

Road signs in Bergen, Norway, point the way to Oslo, Alesund, Stavenager and Sentrum.


This statue is in the square next to the tourism office. There's a salon nearby, too.


Traditional Norweigan frocks in a shop in Bergen. They also sold sweaters and angora wool for knitting.


View through the glass from the 5th floor of my hotel. Rooftops, waterway, offices and hotel buildings.


My passport now has a stamp from Amsterdam. They didn't stamp me in Norway. The girl with the hat is on the 500 NOK (Kroner) bill, worth about $71.


Me and my awesome scarf. Dig the combover, too!


The building where I work in Bergen, Norway, is right on the water. Houses dot the hills in the background.


Yield means yield! (That means you, Brian!). I'm on lunch break. This is the road I walk to work every day.


A post box is attached to the wall outside my office building. The newspaper shares a space with the fishing museum and other fishing-related businesses. I am told there is an enormous freezer full of fish in it.


A typical lunch for me at work: Soup (cream-based with either fish, asparagus, or cauliflower), bread (awesome, fresh-cut, whole-grain), apple, boiled egg.



Across from a church in Bergen is this garage door with the graffiti: "Jesus var her!!!" It means what you think it does: "Jesus was here."


My feet on the cobblestone.


The sun! The sun! My kingdom for the sun! It had been at least three days since I'd felt the sun on my face. This is the dock area across from my work building.

The king had a castle in Bergen. This was taken about 8 a.m., on my way to work. The castle is about a 5-minute walk from my hotel.


The ads on Norweigan Facebook crack me up. I wonder, are they telling me this man is in my age group?


Finally, here is the sound of the rain on my window. It's like gumballs dropping on a tile floor.