Tag: norway

Are we there yet?

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You know, I rather fancy that we are.

It’s taken a while, but it does seem that the photos from my Bergen/Sheffield trip are up on Flickr. There are a few from the actual concert (mainly taken by Mrs 6000’s S6 because I was was otherwise engrossed), a few more from the trip along the fjords, and one or two additional images of beautiful Bergen.

And then a few of Sheffield as well, perhaps without the drama of Norway, but where spring was springing and there were still decent shots to be had.

This one is one of those best viewed bigger and on black.

There are individual sets for each bit of the trip, but you can have a general look see on the May 2016 trip collection page on Flickr and go from there.

Norway on Flickr

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I find myself pining for the fjords, and so I’ve been working hard to select some appropriate photos for Flickr from the nearly 1000 I took while we were away in Norway.

I’ve found that people get bored quickly when you show them all nearly 1000 (it almost finished my Dad off completely), so I’ve come up with a cunning two point plan.
Firstly, divide the photos into days: we were there for three, so there are now three albums on Flickr to reflect this:

Day One: Arriving in Bergen, going up Mount Floyen on the Floibanen Funicular.
Day Two: Wandering around Bergen before that concert.
Day Three: Sognefjord via Myrdal and Flåm.

And then, secondly, produce a highlights package, in case people only want to look at your (approximately) 50 favourite pics. The pic above didn’t make the cut, I’m afraid. Yes, there are 50 better images than that. 😮

They don’t really do it justice, but they’re still worth a look (in my humble opinion).

Just wow

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Despite having unlimited internet here in the UK, I don’t have unlimited time. That time will probably be better spent doing things other than uploading photos onto Flickr (and than blogging, actually), but that doesn’t mean that you will be forsaken – I have chucked a few pics up there already, and I will continue to write blog posts. Sorry about that.

Norway was amazing, incredible.
I’m lucky enough to live in one of the most dramatically beautiful countries on the planet. This last weekend, I was lucky enough to visit another. Living in Cape Town often gives one a false level of expectation when it comes to seeing other places. There’s not really much that can match it, but the west of Norway did just that. And, dare I say it, possibly more.

Bigger and better on black

If our rail journey from Bergen to Myrdal was breathtaking, then the trip from there to Flåm would have to be described as asphyxiating, and the near six hour fastcraft journey through the fjords back to Bergen would have left us long dead through suffocation.
Sight after utterly incredible sight left us (to continue the pulmonary theme) literally gasping.

There are, as you might expect, several hundred images to wade through, to select the best and discard the rest. And as I said, I’m not doing that just yet. But if there was one image that summed up our visit to Norway better than any other I took, it would be this one. The falu red cottages, built almost into the rocks, the glassy, icy waters of the fjords and – for us at least – the blue sky.

I desperately want to go back, but equally, I desperately don’t: there’s simply no way that a return visit could ever be so perfect.

Could it?

Goodbye Norway

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I’m flying back to the UK today.
I hope it’s been an amazing trip.
(I’m writing this in Cape Town last week.)

At this point, a quote from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy seems appropriate:

“Pity,” said Slartibartfast, “that was one of mine. Won an award you know. Lovely crinkly edges. I was most upset to hear about its destruction.”

Destruction? I promise to leave Norway in exactly the state I found it.

Expect some photos coming when I am safely ensconced at my next destination.

Oh, and (the final) tenuous a-ha link: I’m “left without a reason to stay”, as per their 2010 hit Butterfly, Butterfly.

First day

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First of all: we made it! I’m actually in  Norway and it’s just like you think it would be.

Bergen is busy, touristy, friendly and beautiful. Everything centres around the harbour, and we had amazing fresh  cooked fish, scallops and whale meat there for lunch.

Then it was up the mountain for some stunning views over the city.

There’s Internet in the hotel, meaning that you might get a flickr upload if we have a moment to spare. But that seems unlikely, given that we want to spend every waking hour exploring more of this amazing place.

Yes, I like it here. 🙂