We arrived at the Oslo Gardermoen airport and met up with our driver for the ~40 minute ride from the airport into Oslo. Talking with our driver, we learned various tidbits about Norway, including that barns and storehouses were traditionally painted red, as that was a cheaper color, while residences were painted the more expensive white.
We are staying in the Amerikalinjen hotel for a couple of nights, which is located near the "Oslo sentralstasjon" (Central train station).
After checking in, we set out on foot to explore the city a bit. Walking down Karl Johans gate, we took note of interesting shops and restaurants to visit later. In particular, the Freia chocolate shop!
Getting hungry, we ate at the Royal Gastropub near the sentralstasjon. We returned to the hotel for an early night as we were tired from the long day of travel.
We're looking forward to experiencing more of Oslo tomorrow!
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+Norway 2024 - Day 1 - Geoff Blair
We arrived at the Oslo Gardermoen airport and met up with our driver for the ~40 minute ride from the airport into Oslo. Talking with our driver, we learned various tidbits about Norway, including that barns and storehouses were traditionally painted red, as that was a cheaper color, while residences were painted the more expensive white.
We are staying in the Amerikalinjen hotel for a couple of nights, which is located near the "Oslo sentralstasjon" (Central train station).
After checking in, we set out on foot to explore the city a bit. Walking down Karl Johans gate, we took note of interesting shops and restaurants to visit later. In particular, the Freia chocolate shop!
Getting hungry, we ate at the Royal Gastropub near the sentralstasjon. We returned to the hotel for an early night as we were tired from the long day of travel.
We're looking forward to experiencing more of Oslo tomorrow!
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/blog/norway-2024-day-10/index.html b/blog/norway-2024-day-10/index.html
index 7c701ad..2191612 100644
--- a/blog/norway-2024-day-10/index.html
+++ b/blog/norway-2024-day-10/index.html
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Norway 2024 - Day 10 - Geoff Blair
Today were supposed to head out for wildlife sightseeing by boat in the morning, but due to extreme winds and weather the trip was canceled.
The wind was so strong we had to struggle to walk to the main lodge for breakfast.
In spite of the nasty weather, we had a nice day relaxing in our cozy room after breakfast. I was able to catch up on these blog posts and we had a nice midday nap.
It's tough to tell from the photos, but the wind was absolutely howling and it was raining / hailing on and off.
All in all, it was nice to have some downtime after lots of hiking and outdoor activities in the past week.
In the evening we went down to the restaurant for dinner and then headed back to our room to hang out and watch for the northern lights.
We stayed up late looking towards the north, but the stormy weather and clouds predictably put a damper on our views for tonight. We still have tomorrow night, so we're keeping our fingers crossed for better weather!
\ No newline at end of file
+Norway 2024 - Day 10 - Geoff Blair
Today were supposed to head out for wildlife sightseeing by boat in the morning, but due to extreme winds and weather the trip was canceled.
The wind was so strong we had to struggle to walk to the main lodge for breakfast.
In spite of the nasty weather, we had a nice day relaxing in our cozy room after breakfast. I was able to catch up on these blog posts and we had a nice midday nap.
It's tough to tell from the photos, but the wind was absolutely howling and it was raining / hailing on and off.
All in all, it was nice to have some downtime after lots of hiking and outdoor activities in the past week.
In the evening we went down to the restaurant for dinner and then headed back to our room to hang out and watch for the northern lights.
We stayed up late looking towards the north, but the stormy weather and clouds predictably put a damper on our views for tonight. We still have tomorrow night, so we're keeping our fingers crossed for better weather!
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/blog/norway-2024-day-2/index.html b/blog/norway-2024-day-2/index.html
index c16f315..36c6613 100644
--- a/blog/norway-2024-day-2/index.html
+++ b/blog/norway-2024-day-2/index.html
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Norway 2024 - Day 2 - Geoff Blair
A little jet lagged, we were up early and took a morning walk around Oslo before returning to the Amerikalinjen hotel for a delicious Norwegian breakfast buffet. The sausages were particularly good.
After breakfast we walked to the pier near city hall to catch a ferry over to Bygdøy, appropriately dubbed "museum island" as it hosts several museums.
Next, we hopped back on the ferry for a quick trip over to the Fram Museum which chronicles the polar expeditions of the Fram and other ships. The massive ship itself is housed inside the museum and we were able to walk aboard. The Gjøa, also housed inside the museum, is pictured below.
After spending as much time as we could learning about the polar expeditions, we caught the ferry back to city hall just in time to board our scheduled Silent Oslo Fjord Cruise. The boat was fully electric, making for a quiet and smooth ride around the Oslo Fjord.
We heard stories about many of the surrounding islands (of which there are apparently 240k), including the morbid history of "Deadman's Bay", where boats were quarantined and dumped the bodies of the dead, and "torture island", where prisoners were hung as a deterrent.
We also saw quite a number of lighthouses and fancy homes which lined the coast of the fjord.
During the cruise we also learned that the sodded roofs (pictured above at the Folkemuseum) help keep the buildings warm during the winter and cool during the summer. In addition, they allowed goats to graze while staying relatively safe from predators.
Returning to the pier, we took another walk around the city looking for a good place to eat dinner. We settled on Fjøla, a nice restaurant within the Oslo Sentralstasjon. Iris had their iconic Fiskesuppe (fish soup) which she very much enjoyed, while I had a pulled brisket sandwich.
After dinner, we turned in to get a good night's sleep before we continue our adventures tomorrow with a train ride from Oslo to Flåm.
\ No newline at end of file
+Norway 2024 - Day 2 - Geoff Blair
A little jet lagged, we were up early and took a morning walk around Oslo before returning to the Amerikalinjen hotel for a delicious Norwegian breakfast buffet. The sausages were particularly good.
After breakfast we walked to the pier near city hall to catch a ferry over to Bygdøy, appropriately dubbed "museum island" as it hosts several museums.
Next, we hopped back on the ferry for a quick trip over to the Fram Museum which chronicles the polar expeditions of the Fram and other ships. The massive ship itself is housed inside the museum and we were able to walk aboard. The Gjøa, also housed inside the museum, is pictured below.
After spending as much time as we could learning about the polar expeditions, we caught the ferry back to city hall just in time to board our scheduled Silent Oslo Fjord Cruise. The boat was fully electric, making for a quiet and smooth ride around the Oslo Fjord.
We heard stories about many of the surrounding islands (of which there are apparently 240k), including the morbid history of "Deadman's Bay", where boats were quarantined and dumped the bodies of the dead, and "torture island", where prisoners were hung as a deterrent.
We also saw quite a number of lighthouses and fancy homes which lined the coast of the fjord.
During the cruise we also learned that the sodded roofs (pictured above at the Folkemuseum) help keep the buildings warm during the winter and cool during the summer. In addition, they allowed goats to graze while staying relatively safe from predators.
Returning to the pier, we took another walk around the city looking for a good place to eat dinner. We settled on Fjøla, a nice restaurant within the Oslo Sentralstasjon. Iris had their iconic Fiskesuppe (fish soup) which she very much enjoyed, while I had a pulled brisket sandwich.
After dinner, we turned in to get a good night's sleep before we continue our adventures tomorrow with a train ride from Oslo to Flåm.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/blog/norway-2024-day-3/index.html b/blog/norway-2024-day-3/index.html
index 9d9c700..feac18d 100644
--- a/blog/norway-2024-day-3/index.html
+++ b/blog/norway-2024-day-3/index.html
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Norway 2024 - Day 3 - Geoff Blair
Today we traveled from Oslo to Flåm via train, and then to Aurland.
We started out the day with another breakfast at the Amerikalinjen hotel. Knowing that we'd be on the train for several hours, we got a to-go box with meat, cheese, and some pastries from the buffet.
After breakfast we took the short walk across the street to the sentralstasjon to catch the train to Myrdal. The ride was nice, and we had great views of the countryside. Myrdal is a small station that connects to the famous Flåm Railway which is considered one of the best train trips in the world, and for good reason!
On board the train to Flåm, we were treated with spectacular views of the valley and mountains - pictures just don't do it justice. The rocky cliffs shrouded in fog, numerous waterfalls, deep valleys, and quaint villages lining the rivers were all breathtaking.
Once we arrived in Flåm, we were picked up at the station and driven to 29|2 Aurland where we'll be staying for the next few days. After a quick tour of the grounds and a nice salad for lunch, we headed out for a short hike to a nearby waterfall.
Continuing up the hillside, we stopped for some spectacular views of the valley below.
Returning to the lodge, we rested for a bit before dinner time. Dinner was an amazing three-course meal: Cold potato and leek soup to start (my personal favorite so far), followed by a main of Hake with peas and burnt tomato sauce, and capped off with chocolate fudge cake with cream and coffee drizzle for dessert.
It was an eventful and exhausting day (in a good way) and we're looking forward to more activities around Aurland over the next few days.
\ No newline at end of file
+Norway 2024 - Day 3 - Geoff Blair
Today we traveled from Oslo to Flåm via train, and then to Aurland.
We started out the day with another breakfast at the Amerikalinjen hotel. Knowing that we'd be on the train for several hours, we got a to-go box with meat, cheese, and some pastries from the buffet.
After breakfast we took the short walk across the street to the sentralstasjon to catch the train to Myrdal. The ride was nice, and we had great views of the countryside. Myrdal is a small station that connects to the famous Flåm Railway which is considered one of the best train trips in the world, and for good reason!
On board the train to Flåm, we were treated with spectacular views of the valley and mountains - pictures just don't do it justice. The rocky cliffs shrouded in fog, numerous waterfalls, deep valleys, and quaint villages lining the rivers were all breathtaking.
Once we arrived in Flåm, we were picked up at the station and driven to 29|2 Aurland where we'll be staying for the next few days. After a quick tour of the grounds and a nice salad for lunch, we headed out for a short hike to a nearby waterfall.
Continuing up the hillside, we stopped for some spectacular views of the valley below.
Returning to the lodge, we rested for a bit before dinner time. Dinner was an amazing three-course meal: Cold potato and leek soup to start (my personal favorite so far), followed by a main of Hake with peas and burnt tomato sauce, and capped off with chocolate fudge cake with cream and coffee drizzle for dessert.
It was an eventful and exhausting day (in a good way) and we're looking forward to more activities around Aurland over the next few days.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/blog/norway-2024-day-4/index.html b/blog/norway-2024-day-4/index.html
index ed7d44b..dca403e 100644
--- a/blog/norway-2024-day-4/index.html
+++ b/blog/norway-2024-day-4/index.html
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Norway 2024 - Day 4 - Geoff Blair
Today we continued our outdoor adventures around Aurland.
We started off with a good breakfast at the 29|2 Aurland lodge, consisting of eggs, bacon, fresh bread, smoked fish, cheese, and other tasty items.
After breakfast we set out with our guide up Aurlandsfjellet (Aurland mountains).
We stopped at the Stegastein viewpoint, but because of the rainy and foggy weather we weren't able to get a clear view of the fjord below.
Continuing up the mountains, we reached the snow covered plateau with many small lakes amongst the peaks.
Heading down the other side of the mountains, we stopped for a short hike to a nearby waterfall. The changing leaves with the snowy mountains as a backdrop made for an amazing view.
Descending the mountain, we reached the town of Lærdal. After driving along the river we stopped to visit the Borgund Stave Church, built around 1200 and one of the few remaining stave churches in Norway.
Getting a bit hungry, we stopped for picnic lunch in a scenic spot along the river with a rocky overhang to keep us dry in the light rain. On the far side of the river was the "King's Road", an historic route connecting the east and west sides of Norway.
After lunch, we returned to Aurland via the Lærdal Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in the world.
Once again we finished the day with an amazing three-course dinner back at 29|2 Aurland - A halibut ceviche appetizer, duck confit main, and Tilslørte bondepiker for dessert.
\ No newline at end of file
+Norway 2024 - Day 4 - Geoff Blair
Today we continued our outdoor adventures around Aurland.
We started off with a good breakfast at the 29|2 Aurland lodge, consisting of eggs, bacon, fresh bread, smoked fish, cheese, and other tasty items.
After breakfast we set out with our guide up Aurlandsfjellet (Aurland mountains).
We stopped at the Stegastein viewpoint, but because of the rainy and foggy weather we weren't able to get a clear view of the fjord below.
Continuing up the mountains, we reached the snow covered plateau with many small lakes amongst the peaks.
Heading down the other side of the mountains, we stopped for a short hike to a nearby waterfall. The changing leaves with the snowy mountains as a backdrop made for an amazing view.
Descending the mountain, we reached the town of Lærdal. After driving along the river we stopped to visit the Borgund Stave Church, built around 1200 and one of the few remaining stave churches in Norway.
Getting a bit hungry, we stopped for picnic lunch in a scenic spot along the river with a rocky overhang to keep us dry in the light rain. On the far side of the river was the "King's Road", an historic route connecting the east and west sides of Norway.
After lunch, we returned to Aurland via the Lærdal Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in the world.
Once again we finished the day with an amazing three-course dinner back at 29|2 Aurland - A halibut ceviche appetizer, duck confit main, and Tilslørte bondepiker for dessert.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/blog/norway-2024-day-5/index.html b/blog/norway-2024-day-5/index.html
index 4195faa..254cde1 100644
--- a/blog/norway-2024-day-5/index.html
+++ b/blog/norway-2024-day-5/index.html
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Norway 2024 - Day 5 - Geoff Blair
Today was our last full day in the Aurland area of Norway.
As you may have guessed from reading previous entries, we started off with a nice breakfast at the 29|2 Aurland lodge.
After breakfast we met up with Gry, a local farmer who resides in the mountains of Aurland. These farms sit high up the mountain in order to get sun as the steep cliffs of the fjords generally shade the valley below.
We took a nice hike with Gry up to one of her various cabins within the mountains.
Inside the small cabin, we had coffee and Gry cooked up delicious surmelkslapper (sour cream "pancakes") while she told us all about life on her multigenerational farm. It was fascinating to hear her stories and the ins and outs of making and selling goat cheese, lamb meat, and wool.
We spent a few hours with Gry talking and hiking, after which we said goodbye.
Since it was such a beautiful day, we took the opportunity to head up to the Stegastein viewpoint again - this time with a clear and amazing view of the fjord.
We found a nice spot above the viewpoint to eat our packed lunch before heading back down the mountain into the town of Aurland. We spent an hour or so walking around the town and pier and did a bit of gift shopping at local retailers.
It didn't take long to see most of the small town and afterwards we took a nice walk back to 29|2 Aurland where we jumped into the outdoor hot tub to relax and unwind while taking in views of the mountains and waterfalls.
We again finished up the day with superb dinner in the lodge - delicious hake and a brown butter parfait for desert.
\ No newline at end of file
+Norway 2024 - Day 5 - Geoff Blair
Today was our last full day in the Aurland area of Norway.
As you may have guessed from reading previous entries, we started off with a nice breakfast at the 29|2 Aurland lodge.
After breakfast we met up with Gry, a local farmer who resides in the mountains of Aurland. These farms sit high up the mountain in order to get sun as the steep cliffs of the fjords generally shade the valley below.
We took a nice hike with Gry up to one of her various cabins within the mountains.
Inside the small cabin, we had coffee and Gry cooked up delicious surmelkslapper (sour cream "pancakes") while she told us all about life on her multigenerational farm. It was fascinating to hear her stories and the ins and outs of making and selling goat cheese, lamb meat, and wool.
We spent a few hours with Gry talking and hiking, after which we said goodbye.
Since it was such a beautiful day, we took the opportunity to head up to the Stegastein viewpoint again - this time with a clear and amazing view of the fjord.
We found a nice spot above the viewpoint to eat our packed lunch before heading back down the mountain into the town of Aurland. We spent an hour or so walking around the town and pier and did a bit of gift shopping at local retailers.
It didn't take long to see most of the small town and afterwards we took a nice walk back to 29|2 Aurland where we jumped into the outdoor hot tub to relax and unwind while taking in views of the mountains and waterfalls.
We again finished up the day with superb dinner in the lodge - delicious hake and a brown butter parfait for desert.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/blog/norway-2024-day-6/index.html b/blog/norway-2024-day-6/index.html
index aed8373..e8a6cec 100644
--- a/blog/norway-2024-day-6/index.html
+++ b/blog/norway-2024-day-6/index.html
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Norway 2024 - Day 6 - Geoff Blair
Today we said goodbye to Aurland and traveled from Flåm to Bergen.
We woke up early to eat our final breakfast at 29|2 Aurland, thanked the staff for an amazing time, and headed out for the quick drive to Flåm in order to catch the ferry to Gudvangen.
The ferry ride through the fjord was spectacular!
The fjord was dotted with several charming villages and farms along the coastline.
Arriving in Gudvangen, we met up with our driver, Gerald, and set out on the scenic ~2.5 drive to Bergen along the fjords. We stopped for a few pictures, and had a great chat along the way.
Once in Bergen, we settled in at our hotel, the Clarion Hotel Admiral. Our room has a balcony facing the water with a fantastic view of the Bryggen area.
After checking in we set out on a meandering walk through the city of Bergen. We visited the Bergenhus Fortress, many of the iconic shops along the Bryggen, and a few parks within the city.
We stopped for some food at a street vendor on the docks - Iris had a bowl of their fiskesuppe (no surprise!), and I had a moose burger topped with grilled veggies.
After a bit more walking, we sat down for a dessert of blueberry cheescake, strawberry cake, and coffee at the Fisketorget (fish market).
Full of sweets and a little exhausted from a day of travel and walking around the city, we returned to the hotel to get some rest for tomorrow's hike in the mountains overlooking Bergen.
\ No newline at end of file
+Norway 2024 - Day 6 - Geoff Blair
Today we said goodbye to Aurland and traveled from Flåm to Bergen.
We woke up early to eat our final breakfast at 29|2 Aurland, thanked the staff for an amazing time, and headed out for the quick drive to Flåm in order to catch the ferry to Gudvangen.
The ferry ride through the fjord was spectacular!
The fjord was dotted with several charming villages and farms along the coastline.
Arriving in Gudvangen, we met up with our driver, Gerald, and set out on the scenic ~2.5 drive to Bergen along the fjords. We stopped for a few pictures, and had a great chat along the way.
Once in Bergen, we settled in at our hotel, the Clarion Hotel Admiral. Our room has a balcony facing the water with a fantastic view of the Bryggen area.
After checking in we set out on a meandering walk through the city of Bergen. We visited the Bergenhus Fortress, many of the iconic shops along the Bryggen, and a few parks within the city.
We stopped for some food at a street vendor on the docks - Iris had a bowl of their fiskesuppe (no surprise!), and I had a moose burger topped with grilled veggies.
After a bit more walking, we sat down for a dessert of blueberry cheescake, strawberry cake, and coffee at the Fisketorget (fish market).
Full of sweets and a little exhausted from a day of travel and walking around the city, we returned to the hotel to get some rest for tomorrow's hike in the mountains overlooking Bergen.
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diff --git a/blog/norway-2024-day-7/index.html b/blog/norway-2024-day-7/index.html
index 1318cf8..4b4aeee 100644
--- a/blog/norway-2024-day-7/index.html
+++ b/blog/norway-2024-day-7/index.html
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Norway 2024 - Day 7 - Geoff Blair
Today we hiked in the Fløyen mountain above Bergen.
Starting with the standard Norwegian breakfast buffet at the hotel, we met up with our guide in the lobby and set out for a day of hiking.
First, we walked through downtown Bergen to the funicular station and rode it up the mountain to the first lookout. We were treated to spectacular views of the city below, the surrounding islands of Bergen, and other mountains in the distance.
After taking in the views, we started the actual hike further up the mountains. Our guide, Torbjörn (basically "thunder bear" - which is AWESOME) was a fascinating person and we had great conversations. He was particularly interested in American politics/government and we had several long discussions about the differences between Norway and the United States.
Before we knew it, we made it to the top of the mountain which was sprinkled with some of the first snows of the season; not unlike our home in Colorado where it also begins to snow in October.
We took a short rest and had the traditional Kvikk Lunsj ("Quick Lunch") of chocolate covered wafers (similar to a "Kit-Kat").
On the hike back down, we saw a number of old Norse deities and trolls carved into tree stumps.
Nearing the funicular station, we came across a group of people recreating historical viking life and battles - much like the medieval European "renaissance fairs" we have in the US.
At the station, we said goodbye to Torbjörn and did a bit of souvenir shopping before heading back down into the city.
After a quick rest at the hotel, we went out to a Mexican restaurant on the docks for some comfort food of enchiladas and tacos.
We picked up a pastry to share on the way back to the hotel, and turned in for the night to prepare for traveling to Tromsø tomorrow.
\ No newline at end of file
+Norway 2024 - Day 7 - Geoff Blair
Today we hiked in the Fløyen mountain above Bergen.
Starting with the standard Norwegian breakfast buffet at the hotel, we met up with our guide in the lobby and set out for a day of hiking.
First, we walked through downtown Bergen to the funicular station and rode it up the mountain to the first lookout. We were treated to spectacular views of the city below, the surrounding islands of Bergen, and other mountains in the distance.
After taking in the views, we started the actual hike further up the mountains. Our guide, Torbjörn (basically "thunder bear" - which is AWESOME) was a fascinating person and we had great conversations. He was particularly interested in American politics/government and we had several long discussions about the differences between Norway and the United States.
Before we knew it, we made it to the top of the mountain which was sprinkled with some of the first snows of the season; not unlike our home in Colorado where it also begins to snow in October.
We took a short rest and had the traditional Kvikk Lunsj ("Quick Lunch") of chocolate covered wafers (similar to a "Kit-Kat").
On the hike back down, we saw a number of old Norse deities and trolls carved into tree stumps.
Nearing the funicular station, we came across a group of people recreating historical viking life and battles - much like the medieval European "renaissance fairs" we have in the US.
At the station, we said goodbye to Torbjörn and did a bit of souvenir shopping before heading back down into the city.
After a quick rest at the hotel, we went out to a Mexican restaurant on the docks for some comfort food of enchiladas and tacos.
We picked up a pastry to share on the way back to the hotel, and turned in for the night to prepare for traveling to Tromsø tomorrow.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/blog/norway-2024-day-8/index.html b/blog/norway-2024-day-8/index.html
index f3f0c3d..a698955 100644
--- a/blog/norway-2024-day-8/index.html
+++ b/blog/norway-2024-day-8/index.html
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Norway 2024 - Day 8 - Geoff Blair
Today we traveled from Bergen to Tromsø to continue our adventures in the even northern parts of Norway.
We got up early to pack and eat breakfast before heading out. The morning view of the Bryggen area from our hotel was magical. The lights going up the mountain are the funicular route we took yesterday.
After a short ride to the Bergen airport, and a smooth two hour flight, we landed in Tromsø.
We checked in to the Clarion Hotel The Edge and walked around downtown a bit, but since it was a cold and rainy Sunday evening there wasn't much going on. With limited dining options, we ate at the Egon restaurant, a chain with a large menu and pretty decent food, before calling it a night.
\ No newline at end of file
+Norway 2024 - Day 8 - Geoff Blair
Today we traveled from Bergen to Tromsø to continue our adventures in the even northern parts of Norway.
We got up early to pack and eat breakfast before heading out. The morning view of the Bryggen area from our hotel was magical. The lights going up the mountain are the funicular route we took yesterday.
After a short ride to the Bergen airport, and a smooth two hour flight, we landed in Tromsø.
We checked in to the Clarion Hotel The Edge and walked around downtown a bit, but since it was a cold and rainy Sunday evening there wasn't much going on. With limited dining options, we ate at the Egon restaurant, a chain with a large menu and pretty decent food, before calling it a night.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/blog/norway-2024-day-9/index.html b/blog/norway-2024-day-9/index.html
index 800519f..d9f6ca9 100644
--- a/blog/norway-2024-day-9/index.html
+++ b/blog/norway-2024-day-9/index.html
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Norway 2024 - Day 9 - Geoff Blair
Today we explored the city of Tromsø and traveled to Senja.
We started off with breakfast at the hotel and then stashed our luggage and set out to explore Tromsø and the surrounding areas.
Walking along the docks, we saw various ships backed by beautiful snow-covered mountains.
In the photo above, you can see the Tromsø Bridge, which we walked across as it looks awesome and there are a couple of interesting landmarks on the other side.
Crossing the bridge, we were immediately greeted by another icon from Tromsø, the Arctic Cathedral.
We continued walking towards Sherpatrappa, a trail up the mountain. Hiking only partway up due to time constraints, we still got to see great views of Tromsø.
Since we had a ferry to catch later, we headed back down the trail and across the bridge to eat lunch. Given the limited options, we again ate at Egon, but with comfort food and wifi it was a nice meal.
We stopped at a few shops along the way back to our hotel to pick up our luggage before heading over to the ferry dock to catch our boat over to Finnsnes. The express boat ride was a quick one across the rainy fjord and we were met by a driver who then took us from Finnsnes to our hotel, Hamn i Senja.
Hamn i Senja is a very nice resort with amazing cottages that overlook the sea and have large north-facing windows for viewing of the northern lights.
Being fairly remote, the only option for dinner was the attached restaurant, which had some great food. Iris tried their fiskesuppe while I had panfried cod with bacon mashed potatoes.
The resort includes a small lighthouse offering panoramic views of the area while enjoying hot coffee. We spent some of the evening after dinner in the lighthouse hoping to see the aurora, but because of the rain and clouds we couldn't see anything spectacular. We're hopeful for better views over the next couple of nights.
\ No newline at end of file
+Norway 2024 - Day 9 - Geoff Blair
Today we explored the city of Tromsø and traveled to Senja.
We started off with breakfast at the hotel and then stashed our luggage and set out to explore Tromsø and the surrounding areas.
Walking along the docks, we saw various ships backed by beautiful snow-covered mountains.
In the photo above, you can see the Tromsø Bridge, which we walked across as it looks awesome and there are a couple of interesting landmarks on the other side.
Crossing the bridge, we were immediately greeted by another icon from Tromsø, the Arctic Cathedral.
We continued walking towards Sherpatrappa, a trail up the mountain. Hiking only partway up due to time constraints, we still got to see great views of Tromsø.
Since we had a ferry to catch later, we headed back down the trail and across the bridge to eat lunch. Given the limited options, we again ate at Egon, but with comfort food and wifi it was a nice meal.
We stopped at a few shops along the way back to our hotel to pick up our luggage before heading over to the ferry dock to catch our boat over to Finnsnes. The express boat ride was a quick one across the rainy fjord and we were met by a driver who then took us from Finnsnes to our hotel, Hamn i Senja.
Hamn i Senja is a very nice resort with amazing cottages that overlook the sea and have large north-facing windows for viewing of the northern lights.
Being fairly remote, the only option for dinner was the attached restaurant, which had some great food. Iris tried their fiskesuppe while I had panfried cod with bacon mashed potatoes.
The resort includes a small lighthouse offering panoramic views of the area while enjoying hot coffee. We spent some of the evening after dinner in the lighthouse hoping to see the aurora, but because of the rain and clouds we couldn't see anything spectacular. We're hopeful for better views over the next couple of nights.
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<p><img src="https://www.geoffblair.com/media/images/norway2024/karl-johans-gate.webp" alt="Looking down Karl Johans gate in Olso, Norway" /></p>
<p>Getting hungry, we ate at the Royal Gastropub near the sentralstasjon. We returned to the hotel for an early night as we were tired from the long day of travel.</p>
<p>We're looking forward to experiencing more of Oslo tomorrow!</p>
+<p><em><a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/blog/norway-2024-day-2/">Continue to day 2</a> or browse <a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/tags/norway/">all posts tagged #norway</a>.</em></p>
@@ -828,6 +829,7 @@ ctx<span class="token punctuation">.</span><span class=
<p><img src="https://www.geoffblair.com/media/images/norway2024/oslo-fjord.webp" alt="A house on a small island in the Oslo Fjord" /></p>
<p>Returning to the pier, we took another walk around the city looking for a good place to eat dinner. We settled on <a href="http://fjola.no/fjola-ostbanehallen/">Fjøla</a>, a nice restaurant within the Oslo Sentralstasjon. Iris had their iconic Fiskesuppe (fish soup) which she very much enjoyed, while I had a pulled brisket sandwich.</p>
<p>After dinner, we turned in to get a good night's sleep before we continue our adventures tomorrow with a train ride from Oslo to Flåm.</p>
+<p><em><a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/blog/norway-2024-day-3/">Continue to day 3</a> or browse <a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/tags/norway/">all posts tagged #norway</a>.</em></p>
@@ -849,6 +851,7 @@ ctx<span class="token punctuation">.</span><span class=
<p>Returning to the lodge, we rested for a bit before dinner time. Dinner was an amazing three-course meal: Cold potato and leek soup to start (my personal favorite so far), followed by a main of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hake">Hake</a> with peas and burnt tomato sauce, and capped off with chocolate fudge cake with cream and coffee drizzle for dessert.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.geoffblair.com/media/images/norway2024/aurland-dinner.webp" alt="Cold potato and leek soup at 29|2 Aurland in Norway" /></p>
<p>It was an eventful and exhausting day (in a good way) and we're looking forward to more activities around Aurland over the next few days.</p>
+<p><em><a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/blog/norway-2024-day-4/">Continue to day 4</a> or browse <a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/tags/norway/">all posts tagged #norway</a>.</em></p>
@@ -872,6 +875,7 @@ ctx<span class="token punctuation">.</span><span class=
<p><img src="https://www.geoffblair.com/media/images/norway2024/laerdal-picnic.webp" alt="Picnic spot near Lærdal in Norway" /></p>
<p>After lunch, we returned to Aurland via the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A6rdal_Tunnel">Lærdal Tunnel</a>, the longest road tunnel in the world.</p>
<p>Once again we finished the day with an amazing three-course dinner back at 29|2 Aurland - A halibut ceviche appetizer, duck confit main, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilsl%C3%B8rte_bondepiker">Tilslørte bondepiker</a> for dessert.</p>
+<p><em><a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/blog/norway-2024-day-5/">Continue to day 5</a> or browse <a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/tags/norway/">all posts tagged #norway</a>.</em></p>
@@ -894,6 +898,7 @@ ctx<span class="token punctuation">.</span><span class=
<p><img src="https://www.geoffblair.com/media/images/norway2024/aurland-pier.webp" alt="Walking along the Aurland pier" /></p>
<p>It didn't take long to see most of the small town and afterwards we took a nice walk back to 29|2 Aurland where we jumped into the outdoor hot tub to relax and unwind while taking in views of the mountains and waterfalls.</p>
<p>We again finished up the day with superb dinner in the lodge - delicious hake and a brown butter parfait for desert.</p>
+<p><em><a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/blog/norway-2024-day-6/">Continue to day 6</a> or browse <a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/tags/norway/">all posts tagged #norway</a>.</em></p>
@@ -918,6 +923,7 @@ ctx<span class="token punctuation">.</span><span class=
<p>After a bit more walking, we sat down for a dessert of blueberry cheescake, strawberry cake, and coffee at the <a href="https://www.visitbergen.com/ting-a-gjore/fisketorget-i-bergen-p822253">Fisketorget</a> (fish market).</p>
<p><img src="https://www.geoffblair.com/media/images/norway2024/bergen-dessert.webp" alt="Enjoying dessert at the fish market in Bergen" /></p>
<p>Full of sweets and a little exhausted from a day of travel and walking around the city, we returned to the hotel to get some rest for tomorrow's hike in the mountains overlooking Bergen.</p>
+<p><em><a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/blog/norway-2024-day-7/">Continue to day 7</a> or browse <a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/tags/norway/">all posts tagged #norway</a>.</em></p>
@@ -941,6 +947,7 @@ ctx<span class="token punctuation">.</span><span class=
<p>At the station, we said goodbye to Torbjörn and did a bit of souvenir shopping before heading back down into the city.</p>
<p>After a quick rest at the hotel, we went out to a Mexican restaurant on the docks for some comfort food of enchiladas and tacos.</p>
<p>We picked up a pastry to share on the way back to the hotel, and turned in for the night to prepare for traveling to Tromsø tomorrow.</p>
+<p><em><a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/blog/norway-2024-day-8/">Continue to day 8</a> or browse <a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/tags/norway/">all posts tagged #norway</a>.</em></p>
@@ -955,6 +962,7 @@ ctx<span class="token punctuation">.</span><span class=
<p>After a short ride to the Bergen airport, and a smooth two hour flight, we landed in Tromsø.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.geoffblair.com/media/images/norway2024/tromso-plane.webp" alt="Looking out the plane window descending into Tromsø, Norway" /></p>
<p>We checked in to the Clarion Hotel The Edge and walked around downtown a bit, but since it was a cold and rainy Sunday evening there wasn't much going on. With limited dining options, we ate at the Egon restaurant, a chain with a large menu and pretty decent food, before calling it a night.</p>
+<p><em><a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/blog/norway-2024-day-9/">Continue to day 9</a> or browse <a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/tags/norway/">all posts tagged #norway</a>.</em></p>
@@ -978,6 +986,7 @@ ctx<span class="token punctuation">.</span><span class=
<p><img src="https://www.geoffblair.com/media/images/norway2024/hamn-i-senja.webp" alt="Hamn i Senja cottages along the sea in Senja, Norway" /></p>
<p>Being fairly remote, the only option for dinner was the attached restaurant, which had some great food. Iris tried their fiskesuppe while I had panfried cod with bacon mashed potatoes.</p>
<p>The resort includes a small lighthouse offering panoramic views of the area while enjoying hot coffee. We spent some of the evening after dinner in the lighthouse hoping to see the aurora, but because of the rain and clouds we couldn't see anything spectacular. We're hopeful for better views over the next couple of nights.</p>
+<p><em><a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/blog/norway-2024-day-10/">Continue to day 10</a> or browse <a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/tags/norway/">all posts tagged #norway</a>.</em></p>
@@ -995,6 +1004,7 @@ ctx<span class="token punctuation">.</span><span class=
<p>All in all, it was nice to have some downtime after lots of hiking and outdoor activities in the past week.</p>
<p>In the evening we went down to the restaurant for dinner and then headed back to our room to hang out and watch for the northern lights.</p>
<p>We stayed up late looking towards the north, but the stormy weather and clouds predictably put a damper on our views for tonight. We still have tomorrow night, so we're keeping our fingers crossed for better weather!</p>
+<p><em>Browse <a href="https://www.geoffblair.com/tags/norway/">all posts tagged #norway</a>.</em></p>
