“Leave the beaten track behind occasionally and
dive into the woods.
Every time you do, you will be certain to find
something you have never seen before.”(Bell)
I'm a wanderer by heart. Traveling is a great pasion to me. But sadly it
comes only two or three times a year, that I can...
just wander ...
Combining love for nature, water, hiking, photography and freedom - the decision was made - interrail travelling through Norway and a quick stop in Sweeden :)
Googled Norway and the official travel guide to Norway said
"Find your fjord or arctic destination,
explore the long coast or choose a holiday destination in the mountains
and wilderness." - enough said, there will definately be a thing to do
for me in Norway.
Starting from Oslo up to Bodø and Lofoten
islands, and then back to the south. Wraping our journey with a visit in
Nyhyttan, Sweeden.
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| Langøyene island in the innermost Oslo Fjord where tenting is allowed |
In Oslo we've had to find a place to stay,
and because we knew there is a law in Norway wich allows setting up a
tent almost everywhere, we decided to find a place under the stars :) "allemannsretten"-
means that every one has a right to access to the countryside and it's
based on a respect of nature, countryside, landowners, farmers, others
and of course enviroment. Basicly, you can set up a tent almost every
where for free, if you respect the rules of allemannsretten.
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| Intresting sight at gasstop for our ferry |
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| Storm above Oslo |
Evethough Oslo, as a capital of Norway, is a nice and quite small city, it's known as the fastest growing city in Europe by population. It's also a centre of commerce, industry and shipping, and all together gives you a feeling of crowdedness and nit at all that nature power I was looking for. That's why we decided to leave Oslo and head north, to Bodø, which we used as a starting point for ferry trip to Lofoten.
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| Leaving Bodø and countinuing with a ferry to Moskenes, Lofoten |
Lofoten are located at the 68th and 69th parallels north of the Arctic Circle. The islands are known for fishing, beautiful nature, small villages with restored fishermans cabins and whale watching. As you step on the islands a fishy smell comes into your nostrils and it won't leave, until you leave the Lofoten :)
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| Morning sun in Vesfjorden (Norwegian sea) |
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| Picturesque villages - island of Moskenesøya |
As I slowly realized, people in Norway are very enviromently confidential as a nation, but very
unpunctional and with a flaw of unknowing the distances and times used for it (they're not able to
guess the aprox time needed to get to some place).
So... we've walked a lot :) and missed a lot of means of public transport :)
Lofoten islands are surreal, inspiring, magical, if you want, all you need is to look around!
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| Reinefjord |
From all the activities offered in Lofoten, I chose hiking. Sun was on my side, and the views are breathtaking.
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| Village of Reine |
Staying at one of the "rouber" - fishermans cabin in village called Å and hiking around "small" lake on, again, sunny day - priceless!
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| Fishermans cabins in Å |
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| Lake Ågvatnet |
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| A view from the lake to Å |
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| Drying flake for Stockfish |
After the surreal nature and views in Lofoten, it was time to get back to the mainland and visit the fjords.
A day log train trip and a lot of waiting for public transport, but we did it! :)
Over
Trollstigen mountainroad to Valldal, countinuing to Geirangerfjord. Amazing highland nature, glacier lakes, isolated mountain cabins and rainy weather :)
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| Trollstigen mountain road |
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| Wieving point at Trollstigen |
As we woke up in the morning the sun was waitnig for us to explore the Geirangerfjord listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Filled with tourists, but still... magic :)
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| Geirangerfjord |
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| Rainbow at Seven sisters waterfall |
End of summer and rain kicked us out of the campside in Geiranger. Headed to explore Norway's cliffs of southern fjords, but as usual train had a delay of almost an hour, and we missed the night train. After spending night inside Oslo's train station, we decided it is
time to wrap up our journey around Norway for this year and wander to
Sweeden (interrail one country pass for Norway is also valid for railway
from Oslo to Stockholm!).
From the rain in Norway to the sun in Sweeden, from sleeping in tents on the ground to the cosiest bed and the most important from canned and fishy food to homemade food :) Thanks to our dear friends in Nyhyttan ;)
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| Sunset at the lake in Nyhyttan |
I shall return to this spectacle of nature someday...
The low lands call
I am tempted to answer
They are offering me a free dwelling
Without having to conquer
The massive mountain makes its move
Beckoning me to ascend
A much more difficult path
To get up the slippery bend
I cannot choose both
I have a choice to make
I must be wise
This will determine my fate
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| on the top of Reinebringen |
I choose, I choose the mountain
With all its stress and strain
Because only by climbing
Can I rise above the plane
I choose the mountain
And I will never stop climbing
I choose the mountain
And I shall forever be ascending
I choose the mountain
(H.M)
