View of Donhaug farm and Uskedal from the fjord
I’m looking out the window of our place on the fjord. There are no words to describe the view. At first I couldn’t stop taking pictures. The light would change or the clouds descend and it looked different. I finally calmed down and now I just sit and look.
We arrived several days ago after a wonderful stay at the Dønhaug farm, our ancestral family farm now turned into a gjestegård or guest farm. We hiked up into the mountains, toured the the local historical sights and spent time talking to Magne the current owner of the farm. One evening, Magne took Mitch and I out on his boat for a tour around the island in the fjord below the farm. We had a lovely view of Uskedal and the valley. We saw birds, a salmon farm and fabulous scenery.
Italian cruise ship, Costa Delisiosa, leaving Flaam. We saw her again in Bergen and then again in Oslo!
Now we’re here in Flåm. The season is just about over. It was very quiet the first two days and this morning we woke up to two behemoth cruise ships anchored in the fjord. The population increased by several thousand as the shuttle boats ferried people ashore. We had a great time watching all the action with the regular ferries arriving and squeezing into the harbor along with the various tour boats. Finally, this evening the massive rope loosened and the ship began to slowly back out sounding the horn which echoed down the valley. Amazingly enough the huge beast actually turned around in the middle of the fjord. We held our breath wondering if there was enough room. There was. As it passed the other giant ship they both sounded their horns over and over again making a strange kind of harmony in the fjord. Things have changed a lot since the days of the Vikings. Or have they? The shops and tour groups in town made a tidy profit selling $1.50 post cards and other overpriced souvenirs and trips to the unsuspecting tourists. Hmmm……..
-Margit
View of Aurlandsfjord from the place we stayed, Fretheim Fjordhytte
long4adventure
Oh those crafty old Vikings…. at least they are only causing a little financial mayhem these days. They could also probably tell BP a thing or two about how to cap an oil well. Thanks for ferrying around the Grandma.
When are we going to hear from Grandma Ruth? Perhaps she could dictate some thoughts to Bjorn or Emma. You must be having a wonderfully busy time if you don’t have time to post. Your pictures of the fjord from Flam look just as it did when I was there in 1967!
Catching up with your Family, Margit. Those photos of the fjord are awesome! Hello to All!