Ever since I read (and re-read) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy back in my teens I have wanted to visit Norway. One of Douglas Adam's minor characters, Slartibartfast, is a designer of planets who is a bit obsessed with his award-winning Fjords... that teeny section of one of my favourite books made such an impression that ever since then "see some fjords" has been the closest thing to a Bucket List I've had.
My trip started with an NSB sleeper train from Drammen to Bergen, which I spent most of sat up cross-legged on my cosy little bunk watching barely-moonlit, snow-kissed views whoosh by. After six hours or so and a couple of hours of sort-of sleep I arrived in Bergen and after a pit-stop for breakfast headed out on a Rødne fjord cruise to Mostraumen. Sometimes when you have had a long time yearning for something there's the possibility that it won't live up to your expectations, but the cruise was so amazing I stayed up on the top deck long after my fingers and cheeks went numb with cold.
The next adventure was taking the Fløibanen funicular, which climbs mount Fløyen, from which you can see the whole of the city and beyond. One of the highlights of my trip was seeing a snowstorm blow in from above, just as golden sunlight was breaking through a gap in the cloud.
The weekend ended with the return train journey on the NSB Bergen-Oslo line... this time in the daytime. While researching the trip I'd read that the journey would be beautiful, but I tried to not look at photos... it was a bit like trying to avoid Game of Thrones spoilers.... and the view was quite a lot like being North of the Wall. Being cosy and warm on the train while whooshing through the harsh but beautiful wintry surroundings was the perfect way to say goodbye to Norway... for now.
It was only a weekend trip this time, but I will be returning soon to explore some more.
