The Fjords Day 3💕

If a picture is worth 1000 words than this is all I need to post today!

Worth traveling 4000 miles to see? My answer is YES! Spent a big chunk of today on a ferry on one of the most famous fjords in the world - the Geirangerfjord which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. And so happy that it wasn’t raining!

Check out the house in the middle of this rock cliff! It’s a little hard to see but I’m guessing their boat is anchored below the house and slightly to the left. If you see the boat go up about two thirds and look a bit to the right. That’s a house! No idea how they get up to it. I can imagine the AirBNB post now. Darling house overlooking one of the most famous fjords in Norway. Must be able to rock climb and rappell to rent this house 😂

We got off the ferry in a cute little village so I decided instead of browsing the souvenir shops I would walk up the hill to the sweet little village. Came to this church and was so touched seeing all the grave stones surrounded with beautiful flowers and plants in front of each marker. And a couple of older individuals planting beautiful flowers in front of some right as I was standing there. Then I remembered when in Oslo taking a city tour and going by a beautiful cemetery right behind the Royal Palace and the guide saying that flowers are one of the most loved things in Norway. When you are invited to dinner at someone’s home the traditional gift to bring is flowers. It’s very important that every grave have flowers or some type of greenery planted in front of it and if someone doesn’t have family close by to do it than the government does it for them. What a lovely tradition and it did make this cemetery a very special place.

On my walk back to the harbor I happened across a local stand that I thought had solved my problem of what to bring back for everyone. A stand that sells local reindeer and whale food items. Done! Even had samples to try. But then I found out that it is illegal to take any whale product outside of Norway. They will be confiscated at the airport so I’m back to square one. No one will be getting whale jerky in their Christmas stocking.

Say hello to the largest Norwegian Troll I’ve seen so far. In smaller sizes they are everywhere doing all kinds of things - holding flags, wearing Viking helmets etc. Quite a bit different than the troll dolls I remember from my childhood. A little scarier but still pretty cute. They are a Norwegian folk tale and supposedly come out when the sun goes down and steal naughty children. Reminds me of the Christmas Elf on the shelf!

We took a harrowing drive up 4800 feet to the top of Dalsnibba Peak. A narrow road with more hairpin turns than I could count. The higher we went the cloudier it became - or I think we were literally up about the clouds. It was pretty cold at the top and we could still see patches of snow that hadn’t melted yet. People like to leave their mark so we saw tons of cairns - the piled up rocks that people build as a memorial that they were there. Lots of waterfalls on the way up and down as well.

When I got back to the little village I’m staying in I decided to take a walk. It’s just so dramatically different from where I live that I am constantly amazed. Right next to the little hotel there is an apple orchard and the apples are looking perfect for harvest. The trees are so much smaller than I’m used to seeing and the apples are so close to the ground - but all absolutely perfect. And on the roadsides they have stands that are strictly on the honor system. They list the price and you put your money in the box. This stand was selling a bag of apples for 25 krone which is $2.50 US and a container of plums for 60 krone which is $6 US. I would have bought the apples but you can get by here with a credit card so I have zero Norwegian currency.

Then I chatted with all the sheep. They were as interested in me as I in them. They would stop eating grass, lift their heads and stare right at me and then start chatting. So cute and so many.

I walked by this darling church and read that the Celtic stone cross is over 1000 years old. Another church surrounded by a cemetery.

And finally a picture of the famous Norwegian brown cheese. I had never heard of it but it is everywhere. The square brown cheese is made from cows milk and the round from goats milk. I’m working up my courage to try it. I believe it is an acquired taste. From what I gather it is high in fat and sugar, but does have protein and other positive attributes. It is from many years ago when Norway was a very poor country (before they discovered they were sitting on all this oil) and so it was the leftovers from the good cheese cooked for a long time so as to make it edible. Doesn’t exactly make me want to run out and buy it but I’m perhaps open to trying a small sliver. I’ll keep you posted. Maybe right alongside some smoked whale😱

Tomorrow leaving this idyllic countryside and heading to Bergen. I’ve heard good things so anxious to see it for myself. It’s never lost on me how lucky I am to be here. Thanks for coming along🥰