old tiger's Blog

The bus trip from Andalsnes to Geiranger..was one of the most beautiful trips I made in my travells..Andalsnes..lies in mountain scenery...the bus took a road just out of Andalsnes..direction Valldal...how can I ever tell you all??the feeling of seeing the Trollstigenvei=a hairpin road..and Stigfossen..sure a waterfall to remember..180m please..the South Koreans in our bus..went...oh..ih..ha...sheer amazement..camera's ready??around here are mountains with names like Kongen,Bispen..damn..I LOVE Norway..it's in my heart..on the top of Trollstigen..there was a restaurant/souvenir shop etc...the descent towards the Norddalsfjord was luvly..we stopped near a place called Gr?nning=beware..
because one can easily miss this..the busdriver knew of course..he stopped there..
it was called Gudbrandsjuvet=it's a mighty gorge with a waterfall force to see..awesome to witness..how the waterforce..can cut through this...
we reached Valldall..this area in Norway is famous for strawberrie culture...
we Belgians know about strawberries anyway...bit further on in Linge..
there was a ferry towards Eidsdall..oh these ferries in Norway..
15 minutes..bit different then Dover-Calais in fact..the bus driver..
oh..was he a skillfull driver..taking these bloody hairpin bends..
going down to the Geiranger fjord..there's a place called Ornesveien..
some damn curves again..but oh well..the view..on the Geirangerfjord..
is a surprise..which is worthwhile..I remember forever..that view..
I will report about our Geiranger adventure..only a day trip..
but hey folks..the best one..I ever made in my bloody life...
http://www.geiranger.no/english.html
Tiger

Train trip from Trondheim towards Andalnes via Dombas..
around Hjerkinn mountain scenery=Dovrefjell National parc..
in Dombas station we had to change for Andalsnes..
I recall a whole group of tourists from South Korea..
very nice folks..bit noisy..and a funny language..
we met the whole bunch again on the bus to Geiranger...
between Dombas-Andalsnes very luvly scenery..lots of waterfalls...
reached Andalsnes safe..tourist office in railway station..
we stayed 2 nights at the local Youth Hostel..
very nice location..we became friendly with the owner..
lovely woman called Gunn..typical Norvegian mentality..
we got our own private room..and let me tell you all..
this Youth hostel is famous in Norway..for its fresh fish breakfast..
it's a very nice place really..we felt very much at home there..
ask for Setnes..it's about 2kms..from the railway station by bus..
we just rested...and next day..trip to Geiranger..by bus..
via the famous Trollstigen mountain road...really something...
will tell more about Geiranger..it's a must..if you like fjord scenery..
link for Andalnes... http://www.visitandalsnes.com/index2.php
Tiger

So..we went again to an open air museum..location Sverresborg..
http://www.norway.com/directories/d_company.asp?id=132
we had to take a bus there..since it was bit out of the town..
it's amazing to see..the interior of farmhouses,barns etc..
I believe we saw over 50 buildings..even a post office..
a doctor's house,a stave church,a grocery shop from olden days etc...
all very interesting..it's amazing to see..how folks lived in these times..
a good restaurant as well..and yes..we saw a Norvegian couple..
on their wedding day...all with family and friends..for a photo session..
after all that walking around..back by bus to town...and to information
railways for a train trip towards Andalsnes..with a change in Dombas..
we booked by phone..2 nights at Andalsnes Youth hostel..
will tell you peeps what happened in Andalsnes+Geiranger fjord..
Tiger

I'm gonna put a link on bunads...and also explain something..
about Norvegian mythology later on...trolls,huldre,deildegast,nisse etc...
troll=not the forum trolls anyway...ahah...go away..forum trolls...
http://www.lailas.net/bunads/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunad

Tiger

We boarded the train..damn..nice trains in Norway...
we reached Trondheim safe...we took a bus to the youth hostel..
about 2kms.from the town center...neighbourhood called Rosenborg..
recall that name from a football team nowadays...nice place..
not to many shops around..we found one at 10 min walk..did some groceries..
went back by bus to the center..hopped in at the tourist office..
we were gonna do 3 things in this city..not possible in 1 day anyway..
first stop was the Nidaros cathedral..then a museum called Ringve..
which was all about musical instruments..it's really worthwhile..
next day we did another open air museum called Trondelag Folkemuseum..
we even saw a Norvegian wedding photograph shoot on the grounds...
everybody smiles at weddings..supposed to be the happiest day of our life..
Norvegians wear*bunads*=local folkloristic dress=very colourful..
so...Nidaros cathedral...impressiv enough..bit dark inside..very luvly stained
glass windows..very rich and ancient history..looked bit like Canterbury..
normally..I'm not very interested in religious buildings..they all look bit same,
so..a bus towards the Ringve museum...now..this was something special...
on the museum ground is a botanical garden as well..ony to be visited with
a guide..we took an English one of course..Norvegians are good in English..
very interesting old musical intruments..well displayed..organs,violins,lutes,
piano's,clavecimbels,harps,even instruments from Arabia and India...
if you do Trondheim..please..visit this museum...the guide=a luvly Norvegian girl..
played some of the instruments..every guide plays instruments..
http://www.ringve.no/English/Our_collections/
to let the tourists feel the vibration..the essence of the instrument..oh...
in one word...a MUST if you are interested in music..luvly surroundings..
I'll try to find some link about this museum...will tell you peeps more about
our visit to the open air museum..lots of old farms in central Norway style..
Tiger