Fjord Trip and the World’s Steepest Railway

This was the day which for me was to be one of the highlights of the holiday . We drove via an exciting 1:18 hill down to Gudvangen on an arm of the famous Sognefjord then sailed along Nærøyfjord ( narrow fjord ) a UNESCO listed sight .

Unfortunately the weather was not kind but it was really atmospheric. The boat then changed direction into Aurlandsfjord to the honeyspot of Flam . It was magical with isolated farmsteads and villages en route , the odd seal and shoals of herring . It was a 2 hour long cruise - so relaxing if you were well wrapped upon- sheepskin mittens came into their own . :))

Flam is the tourist platform for the ‘world’s most beautiful railway ‘ - it is 24 km long and rises from sea level to 864m through 20 tunnels using 2 engines. It’s the world’s steepest Railway that runs without cable or rack wheels and climbs to Myrdal on the Hardangervidda Plateau .

However the main event for us was at the Kjosfossen Waterfall where the train stops for a 5 minute photo opportunity- suddenly there is a surround sound of Norwegian classical music and high up by the waterfall a woman in a long red dress with blonde hair dances in a ‘Kate Bush ‘ kind of way !!! Bananas! She represents a forest spirit ‘Huldra’ who is meant to lure men into the woods ! :))

The last part of the journey was by ordinary train back to Voss.
Also managed a swim in the hotel before breakfast and dinner, Paul bought a brilliant tacky key ring with a moose wearing a Norwegian flag complete with moving hoofs and I purchased a very becoming a Norwegian hat to wear in the winter ! A great day .:))