Laerdal was pretty empty. In the 1850s, it was an important center of trade and communication between east and west Norway. Now, the wooden little houses are owned by those who want to preserve its character and charm. They hold a number of art fairs during the year, but our overnight stay was quiet, with just a bus of Japanese tourists making their way on the Norway in a Nutshell tour.
We stayed in one of the oldest buildings in Laerdal, built in 1840. Lyle was not real excited about it, but of course I loved the iron bed and charming wallpaper.
We woke up to a sunny and warm day, perfect for a boat ride. We drove the little Prius onto the first deck and then we found seats on the top deck to enjoy the views.
Pictures can't even capture the majesty of these vistas. Only when you see other boats, kayaks, or small towns dotting the shore can you understand the height and depth of the mountainside against the water.
This awesome, but peaceful ride gave us a chance to experience two different fjords....part of the huge Sognefjord that goes all the way to Bergen......and the most narrow fjord, the Naeroyfjord. As soon as we turned to enter this smaller fjord, the weather changed to cold and blustery. When we arrived in the little town of Gudvangen, the rain started, and we were grateful for the timing!
We drove off the ferry and headed to Flam, a small village on the fjord, but busy with tourists. This is where cruise ships come in every day from Bergen with "boaters" as Lyle calls them. (Lyle and I have yet to get on a cruise ship, but little did he know what was ahead of him....) Cruise ships in the middle of Norway! We stayed here for two nights so that we could explore the area by train and foot....our next mode of transportation.
The view from the hotel was amazing!
For a few more pictures of the fjords......
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