Ross and I flew to Oslo from Montpellier on Wednesday, a long day of travelling with a hour changeover in Stanstead because we couldn’t get a direct flight. Our friends Martin and Annette were there to meet us in Oslo and drive us to their lovely home in Nesbyen in the Halling Valley. The last time we were at Isakbraten, the country was covered in snow and we have been looking forward to seeing what lies beneath. Martin and Annette have done some clever extensions to their house, the main part of which dates back to 1850. It is cosy, warm and affords a wonderful view of the valley below. They are also both great cooks, so home baked bread, elk stew, pate and smoked bacon are on the menu. Check out the video clips for some cooking tips.
On Friday we packed our gear for a hike to the Halling peak, which gives a 360 panorama of the area. We crossed mountain streams, had great views of snow covered peaks in the distance and a phone call from Dave in Mudgee on the mobile, but the best came when we saw 2 huge herd of reindeer and were able to get close enough to hear their grunting sounds and the clack of horns as males vied for female attention. It was really something!
On Friday we drove via Geilo and the Hardanger Fjord to Bergen. This journey took us through country which is a geographer’s delight and brought back some memories of learning about glaciers, u-shaped and hanging valleys. Above the treeline, the mountains looked like a moonscape, then we drove further west into the massive cliffs of the fjord which were often mirrored in the still waters below. The autumn colours of the vegetation were beautiful, as were the small towns perched on the sides of the fjord. Two ferry crossings gave us the opportunity to see the fjord from a different perspective.
Pension Skansen, our home in Bergen is situated on the hill on the eastern side of the water and gives a great view of the main part of the city. Fortunately as Bergen is very wet, the owners provide umbrellas as part of the pension’s service! We spent our time just wandering around the city, visiting some museums and trying out the local fare.
The trip back to Nesbyen tomorrow will be part of a round trip through a different fjord which promised to be even more spectacular.
Have just seen the results of the South Africa-Argentina game.. an England vs South Africa final coming up!
Who would have thought SA v Eng Rugby final a month ago.