Greetings from Flåm!

Hello everyone! I'm sitting here in a little village called Flåm - population 400. But it's a major tourist destination as it's a port between lots of ferries and trains. We spent the night here in a campsite/hostel that was actually quite cozy. The best part about Flåm, however, is getting here. The views on the train up here were absolutely spectacular.

The first train we took was from Oslo to Myrdal and lasted about 5hrs. What started off as distant views of hills through small towns soon because dramatic scenery. There were giant mountains with patch of snow and amazing waterfalls. We spent a great deal of time trying to get the perfect photos through the window of the train while avoiding glare and trees and tunnels. As soon as I find an internet portal that has a USB port, I will definitely share some photos!

James admiring the spectacular views on the train from Oslo to Myrdal

Once in Myrdal, we quickly switched trains to the Flåmsbana - a train line almost exclusively for tourists that lasts about an hour. 

The Flåmsbana train we took from Myrdal to Flåm!

Gob smacked by the views!

Probably the most amazing part was when we pulled up to this gigantic waterfall. As everyone ran over to the left side of the train to try to get a good photo, a voice came over the loud speaker to tell us that the train would be stopping for 5min so that we could get out and get a full view. Needless to say, James and I raced out of the train to capture the moment. The waterfall was absolutely spectacular. There are no words to describe the power and beauty of it. As we were snapping pictures (in the cold rain, mind you, and of course I didn't think to grab my coat on my way off the train) the oddest thing happened. Loud music started to play and these two women dressed in blue dresses came out on a hill up closer to the waterfall in what looked almost like ruins. They sang and danced for a few minutes in an oddly captivating little number. It was quite amusing. I videoed some of it on my camera, so I'll have to share it with you all as soon as I get the chance.

The waterfall!

But as if that wasn't enough, when we arrived in Flåm, we were immediately taken by it's beauty. This small village lies in a valley surrounded by enormously high green mountains and sits at the mouth of a fjord. It's totally stunning. Last night as James and I took a stroll around town we couldn't stop musing how it felt like we were living in a painting. Once we settled into our hostel - bunk beds again, which I love since it reminds me of such good times in Little (not the same without you, Liz, of course!), we headed out to hike a little through the village. There was a trail that went up by a nearby waterfall so we thought we'd try our hand at that. Well am I glad I wore my hiking boots. This trail ended up being a steep uphill climb over rocks and through mud for about an hour. But my was it worth it. The view of the village below and of course the waterfall were absolutely breathtaking. Aching muscles and sweat were quickly forgotten when we cast our eyes upon this intense waterfall. The one on the train had been gorgeous, but we felt like this view was one that we earned.

View of the waterfall after the hike

View of Flåm from the waterfall

After taking a well deserved rest and photo break at the top of the trail, we headed back down to town to quickly change into some dryer and less muddy clothes and head out for some dinner. We grabbed dinner at this great little cafe where I had the most satisfying plate of fish and chips. After the intense hike it really hit the spot. Then it was back to the hostel (where we have a nice little private room) to unwind and head to bed.

Now we're spending the morning in Flåm before we jump on a ferry tour through the fjords followed by a bus and a train before arriving in Bergen this evening. Bergen is supposedly a big and fantastic town, so hopefully I'll find somewhere to upload pictures when I arrive there.

Here's what James wrote about our journey:

It's really the only word I can think of to begin to describe the sensation of taking the train from Oslo to Myrdal and from Myrdal to Flåm. You slowly ascend through the gentle rolling farmland of southern Norway, thinking "oh, this is pretty". But then you climb into hills and forested craggy mountains dotted with pristine lakes and you say "this is spectacular". And still there's more. You burst into the clouds onto a high plateau of eerie rock and snow landscapes, obscured by rain and mist. Now you say "I have no words to describe this". And STILL there's more. You transfer trains at this lonely spot in the clouds and begin a steep descent through an intensely green fjord valley, cut with dramatic ribbons of gushing waterfalls and spotted with percariously situated farms. Both Meghan and I were speechless and giddy like schoolchildren, hopping up and down to make sure we weren't missing the next awe-inspiring view. We were, in a word, gobsmacked. In a daze we arrived in the pretty port of FlÃ¥m.

Keyed up we quickly checked into our hostel and set forth to hike in the dripping wet hills, taking a strenous and muddy route up to Brekkefossen Falls and a view of the fjord that made us say: We are in Norway.

Can't wait till I can share full stories and pictures with you. But until then, I'll just send my love over the ocean.

-Meg