Flam, Norway

[Travel 25]

The next stop on our Norway itinerary is a 9 hour stop in Flam. Here we plan on taking the 12 mile train ride to Vatnahalsen that includes a 3 mile down hill hike to Flam Valley. It is a 5 hour tour. After this tour we want to stop at Fretheim Hotel's bar for a relaxing drink. Any input would be appreciated. THANKS

 

What other ports will you visit in Norway? Bergen??? Happy to share more info on other locations. We didn't stop in Stavanger.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Terry, we will be going to a total of 8 ports and will post them after I do a lillle research on each. Always like to get you input and especially your fantastic pictures. You really helped us out on our Baltic trip last year. Thanks to your pictures and comments we went to Moscow. It was the highlight of the trip. Your information is a big help to a lot of people. Steve

[TLCOhio]

The next stop on our Norway itinerary is a 9 hour stop in Flam. Here we plan on taking the 12 mile train ride to Vatnahalsen that includes a 3 mile down hill hike to Flam Valley. It is a 5 hour tour. After this tour we want to stop at Fretheim Hotel's bar for a relaxing drink. Any input would be appreciated. THANKS

Terry, we will be going to a total of 8 ports and will post them after I do a lillle research on each. Always like to get you input and especially your fantastic pictures. You really helped us out on our Baltic trip last year. Thanks to your pictures and comments we went to Moscow. It was the highlight of the trip. Your information is a big help to a lot of people. Steve

 

THANKS, Steve, for the nice comments on the Baltics info, pictures, etc.! Much appreciated.

 

We did the train up and back to Vatnahalsen that morning. As the below pictures show, it was very nice and interesting. Lots to see and enjoy, including the stop at one spectacular waterfall next to the rail tracks that is shown as the second picture below.

 

We sail up the Sognerfjord on Friday, July 2, doing our first port stop in Norway at Flam, with a population of about 500. It is nestled deep in a tributary of the world's longest and deepest fjord. This fjord is 128 miles long and has a maximum depth of 4,291 feet. On the question of how deep are these fjords, local say: “A mermaid could swim all the way to China.” Our chief attraction here is the 66-year-old Flam Railway. It is widely known as one of the world's best railroad journeys. It includes twenty tunnels and eight stops as it goes up the mountain. This rail lines rises from Flam’s gingerbread rail station going up 2,835 feet to Myrdal and this "Roof of Norway" rail station. Railroad website: http://www.flaamsbana.no/eng.

 

In the afternoon, we sailed to Gudvangen and traveling up the Naeroyfjord. This is rated as the “best of the best” and most “majestic” with its deep blue water. It is 10.5 miles long. It is Europe’s narrowest, less than 1000’ wide, and is surrounded by 5600’ tall mountains. This fjord and its surrounding area are included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2006. Most larger ships cannot travel this routing.

 

Let me know any added questions you have and needs for additional visuals.

 

Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 24,000 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

Arriving at Flam, the Captain is right there directing this process. You can see here some of the fjord mountains, waterfalls in the background. There were some many great highlights from this day in the Sognerfjord.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[travelbig]

Terry,

Thank you for the pictures! Absolutely beautiful!!

[TLCOhio]

Terry, Thank you for the pictures! Absolutely beautiful!!

 

THANKS so much, Travelbig, for the kind comments on the pictures! For many who have done cruises in the usual and regular places such as the Carib or Med, Norway is something very different and interesting to consider. Wonderfully cool in the summer. Great fjords, plus charming towns, lots of history and nature, etc. Below are a few more visuals from Flam and the train trip. Let us know any questions or added reactions. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 24,200 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

 

From our early July visit to the highly-rated Sognerfjord, here are some added details and sights from Flam, riding the railroad there, etc. This includes showing the interior of the passenger cars, several views from the train going up and back, the view at the hotel deck of the nearby mountains and passengers re-boarding to return to Flam and our ship.::

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Travel 25]

Terry, your pictures are so good. They make me feel like I have already been there. Hope you don't mind, but I copied them and pasted them on our roll call thread so all could enjoy and see the beauty that is in store for us. Did say they were from you. As always a big THANK YOU. Steve

 

PS Did you ever think of showing your pictures to companies that produce puzzles? We have friends that love to do puzzles and your pictures are more beautiful than any they have ever put together. Maybe you could start your own company and make puzzles of your pictures.

[TLCOhio]

Terry, your pictures are so good. They make me feel like I have already been there. Hope you don't mind, but I copied them and pasted them on our roll call thread so all could enjoy and see the beauty that is in store for us. Did say they were from you. As always a big THANK YOU. Steve

PS Did you ever think of showing your pictures to companies that produce puzzles? We have friends that love to do puzzles and your pictures are more beautiful than any they have ever put together. Maybe you could start your own company and make puzzles of your pictures.

 

Appreciate, again, the nice comments on the pictures. Interesting idea on starting a picture puzzle company. Or, getting that connection. Hadn't thought of that concept and potential. Hope the pictures spur interest on your roll call. Which cruise lines are you using for what dates? Where does your cruise depart from? Look forward to learning more on your upcoming "adventure"!!!

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 24,300 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[Travel 25]

Appreciate, again, the nice comments on the pictures. Interesting idea on starting a picture puzzle company. Or, getting that connection. Hadn't thought of that concept and potential. Hope the pictures spur interest on your roll call. Which cruise lines are you using for what dates? Where does your cruise depart from? Look forward to learning more on your upcoming "adventure"!!!

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 24,300 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

We are using Celebrity and the ship is the Constellation: July 21 through August 2. We depart and arrive in Amsterdam, where we are going to spend a few days before the cruise. It must have been a great cruise for you last year on the Silver Cloud. We took the Silver Whisper through the Panama Canal and the Silver Cloud was in the same port on one of the days. They allowed passengers from both ships to tour the other ship. It was a nice experience. We are planning to do a 10 day trip to Egypt next year that will not be a cruise and hope to go to the Galapagos in 2012.

 

What are your upcoming plans? Steve

[TLCOhio]

We are using Celebrity and the ship is the Constellation: July 21 through August 2. We depart and arrive in Amsterdam, where we are going to spend a few days before the cruise. It must have been a great cruise for you last year on the Silver Cloud. We took the Silver Whisper through the Panama Canal and the Silver Cloud was in the same port on one of the days. They allowed passengers from both ships to tour the other ship. It was a nice experience. We are planning to do a 10 day trip to Egypt next year that will not be a cruise and hope to go to the Galapagos in 2012. What are your upcoming plans? Steve

 

Yes, Steve, you've got a great cruise coming up. Departing Thursday, July 21 from Amsterdam and then to Norway for Stavanger, Flam, Alesund, Geiranger, Molde, Olden, Bergen, Oslo, and back on August 2 to Amsterdam. Three sea days. We have been to five of these great Norway locations. I will share some info and visuals for your other individual postings on each key location. Hope you keep posting, not being shy on your questions, etc. That helps you get more info and share it for others doing such upcoming planning and research.

 

My upcoming plans are . . . our first grandchild, born in early October. 10-4 is an easy date to remember. In Charlottesville, Virginia. Been down once already to see and hold our great grandson and headed there for the upcoming holiday periods. It will be great to see and track that growth and development. Maybe in early June 2011 we might do with good friends a Celebrity Solistice cruise from Barcelona that does parts of Italy and the long-desired Croatian Coast. Have heard good things on that ship and Celebrity. Booked now for that trip, but trying to work out some work schedule questions before it's all final.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 24,300 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[Travel 25]

Yes, Steve, you've got a great cruise coming up. Departing Thursday, July 21 from Amsterdam and then to Norway for Stavanger, Flam, Alesund, Geiranger, Molde, Olden, Bergen, Oslo, and back on August 2 to Amsterdam. Three sea days. We have been to five of these great Norway locations. I will share some info and visuals for your other individual postings on each key location. Hope you keep posting, not being shy on your questions, etc. That helps you get more info and share it for others doing such upcoming planning and research.

 

My upcoming plans are . . . our first grandchild, born in early October. 10-4 is an easy date to remember. In Charlottesville, Virginia. Been down once already to see and hold our great grandson and headed there for the upcoming holiday periods. It will be great to see and track that growth and development. Maybe in early June 2011 we might do with good friends a Celebrity Solistice cruise from Barcelona that does parts of Italy and the long-desired Croatian Coast. Have heard good things on that ship and Celebrity. Booked now for that trip, but trying to work out some work schedule questions before it's all final.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. This posting is now over 24,300 views. Appreciate those who have “tuned in”.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

 

Terry, we had our first grandchild this year born June 19---4 months old as of yesterday. Tyler John: 7 lbs 11 oz and 21 inches. Hope he is not a big gambler with 7-11 and 21. May have to teach him craps and blackjack. I take off from work every Tuesday to watch him. It is the highlight of the week. Tomorrow is our 30th aniversary and our daughter and you husband are taking us out for a fancy brunch at the American Club, which is the best resort in Wisconsin.

 

We went to Dubrovnik a few years ago. The people there are so friendly. Spent 3 hours walking the outer wall. You will get some great pictures there enjoy the holidays. Steve

[TLCOhio]

Terry, we had our first grandchild this year born June 19---4 months old as of yesterday. Tyler John: 7 lbs 11 oz and 21 inches. Hope he is not a big gambler with 7-11 and 21. May have to teach him craps and blackjack. I take off from work every Tuesday to watch him. It is the highlight of the week. Tomorrow is our 30th aniversary and our daughter and you husband are taking us out for a fancy brunch at the American Club, which is the best resort in Wisconsin. We went to Dubrovnik a few years ago. The people there are so friendly. Spent 3 hours walking the outer wall. You will get some great pictures there enjoy the holidays. Steve

 

Yes, that first grandchild is super wonderful. Below is the month-old visual sample. It's neat experience and we're going to enjoy that seeing all of that growth and development. It's tough time competition versus cruising.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Here's Calum at one-month-old in Charlottesville, Virginia: