Bob and Joyce
Adventurers in Norway, 2004

Background

In July and August, 2004, Joyce and Bob traveled to Norway for 19 days. Our first entry was Oslo. We spent two nights in the capital city visiting the sights and museums, then took a trip across the country to Bergen in a combination trip called the Norway in a Nutshell. This involved a train ride, followed by another train down a mountain-side to the end of fjord. We then boarded a boat for a two hour water excursion. Next came a bus ride over the hills to connect back to a local train that ended in Bergen. The whole journey took 12.5 hours and allowed us to see a variety of landscapes in a short time.

Then we spent three nights in Bergen, the second largest city in Norway. We saw museums, markets, and many boats and ships. Next we boarded a ship for a Coastal Voyage. We spent 11 nights exploring (from the sea) the western and northern coast leading all the way over the top of mainland Europe almost to Russia - a then returning to Bergen. On this single trip we sailed past the western, northern, and eastern parts of Norway including areas far north of  the Arctic Circle. Because of the nature of the Gulf Stream that flows past the eastern United States, the weather is unexpectedly warm all year in spite of the latitude. The 35 ports we visited are ice-free all winter; in summer the water temperature is 50-60 degrees F. (The similar latitude -71 degrees - in the southern hemisphere runs well onto the mainland of the icy continent of Antarctica.)

After a few hours in Bergen, we boarded an overnight sleeper train to Oslo. We stayed one night in Oslo before returning to the United States. On the way we had a special bonus. The southern tip of Greenland was free of cloud cover, allowing a spectacular 10 minute glimpse (from 39,000 feet through a window) of this land of ice and snow and mountains. 

As usual, we have many photographs. I have selected a sampler that shows a bit of this beautiful country. I have provided links to other photos and stories; these sections will grow in size in time, so stop back if you are interested in more.

Norway Photo Sampler

Click on the map below for a larger version of the cruise Route Map

Visit Bob and Joyce home page for other photos and adventures.