Eidfjord,Handanger Norway

Eidfiord ,Hardanger ,Norway.

You think it cannot get any better ..but it does, just in different ways.!
We came into the waterways later yesterday, amongst many Islands ,to sunshine and calm, sailing through very narrow channels ,under bridges, past oil and gas installations and an Oil Rig and Tug for good measure, and many salmon farms. Progressing past tiny Inlets, and right by many people’s front windows.! Lovely homes on the slopes above, and on the shore some just meters from the sea. We watched until 11.30 pm, it just went on and you didn’t want to leave.. Met the neighbours, Canadians, interesting people, and just great to be out in the sun and warmth.
Arrival into lovely Eidfiord ,early morning ,this is a small place which came into prominence when a large Power station was built from 1973 /1983,then infrastructure improved, and from a tiny place, a Cruise terminal was established ,nicely done with some of the moorings in the Park adjacent, and a beautiful Hotel ,older style ,right in front .A small residential area ,and some newer homes being built now, in precarious places but well retained. It has a huge danger of avalanches ,the road in along the Fjord is under very rocky mountains and accidents happen, a bus in the Fjord in 2002,and more incidents over time… It is away inland, took 8 hours at least from the sea, so heavy snow in winter..Picture perfect today…
We were off to walk ,not sure where ,but saw there were ancient burial grounds, and was given the map ,and off we went, to some elevation I may add… along the river, through the forest, on a lovely trail…not a soul to be seen…Bears we wondered, they do live in Norway, but no signs, so safe we imagined…! Idyllic, further on the river ,a salmon trap from long ago, now outlawed, then turned and came to a spectacular Lake, High mountains surrounded and shoreline was so lovely, we wandered down, now one more couple from the ship. Breath taking ,and which ever way you looked, just more and more.. Onward climbing up ,and up ,a zig zag ,and well done, on a wide and reasonably easy track. At the top a Plateau of grass land ,small farms, quite large ,open fields, so green…not an animal to be seen, except 3 Norwegian Ponies, Baylage carefully stacked.

Then the burial grounds, these are from the Iron age, and Viking days, dates of between 1000 and 2500 years ago. These are situated on a terrace and divided into two burial fields, around 400 remain ,but they probably covered the whole terrace a long time ago , some are easy to spot ,they are cairns of stones ,round or oblong ,but many are smaller and not easy to see.. This is the largest site in Norway, and some finds are from 500-1000 AD…They include broken pots ,pearls, axes ,arrowheads, remains of a sword, bronze kettles, and remains of shields. Fascinating ,to say the least. They lie in pretty glades of trees ,in a beautiful place. Farms were in this area from long, long ago..As we walked further ,we came to little settlements of very old Farm houses, most still in use, with many fruit trees, pears, apples, plums and cherries, some cherries looked ripe ,but small, and surprisingly the birds seem to leave them completely.?
When I stopped for a rest, earlier, half way up, and someone went on.. a long way ahead , leaving me to the Bears…I found little wild strawberries ,and they were so sweet..along with the biggest ants I have ever seen ,in another part of the track…
The path went through the farm houses, all with flowers in pots and nice things to see, doors wide open ,steps from the road..stone walls of rounded boulders, just all like a dream really, simply beautiful. It was like pinch me can this be real…so ,so peaceful, not a sound, a dog or anything…not many birds, but some pretty wee titterers…
Onward to be above the Fjord again ,looking down on our ship with more stunning views ,walked down another 1 ½ ks through new homes ,built in precarious perch’s, but well retained, some had the old slate style rooves , they looked quite lovely, but must be hugely heavy, barriers for the snow on them all. Wound our way down, seeing nice plants along the way ,and had good coffee at the bottom, in cups we want, and will search the world for, they come from Germany…clear and lovely… Onward to the grocery shop, always so interesting in search of the delicious Brown Cheese, Norway has, found after discussion with a nice young man.. Saving for later…another walk along the foreshore, to see the trees encased in Knitted/Crochet covers, saw this in Spain and other places, will be significant, but these were Prize Winners, even had little birds attached ,fish all sorts… Slightly exhausted by now, we wandered back for a light late lunch. Many K’s covered today for sure.!
This is ,without doubt ,the most beautiful place we have seen so far in Norway, and we came by accident of course… Our Captain said it had the best scenery in Norway ,and quite right…
We sailed at 4pm, promised magical sights and they were, a sensory overload today, under a huge bridge with a 2 mile span between the Pillars. Up and up Hardanger Fjord, with so, so many orchards, cherries ,plums and apples, pears, and much more ,along both sides, the food basket of Norway, all beautifully orderly ,in the afternoon sun, past the oldest Hotel in Norway, where Queen Sylvia has a residence. Well up ,we paused, well stopped, and one of our little boats went to get Cider, from a special place, they then brought the owners out for a little visit, who were thrilled, never been on such a ship, and we all had Cider to sample, and it was quite nice. For all of this, we were on the After Deck, in the warm sun, [well hot ..had to get the hat,] for hours… Met friendly Dutch folk, from Amsterdam, who will be on the next part of the cruise as well. Much later we resorted to Hamburgers for dinner ,on our balcony, as we are going into yet another Fjord ,for a final special sight. Almost there…Exhausted !!! from simply SO much that is beautiful, I am concerned that my phone will be FULL ,I have taken soo, many pictures…!
To end our day, after 9pm, we have come quietly into a smaller Fjord ,to see a lovely waterfall, and then further in, in the late sunlight, way up on the mountain ,a large Glacier ,surrounded by huge mountains on all sides, out of sight ,is a power station, that operates on the melt water from this..
Norway has many power stations ,and every tiny corner has power, the lines cross huge abyss’s, between mountains, it’s incredible , then they also cross the complete Fjord. The distances are amazing ,how it all happens is worth some study..
Now so sadly, as our very magical day has ended, our very special Captain has said he will leave us tomorrow ,it simply won’t be the same ,he will be sadly missed during our last 2 weeks, I’m sure. Bergen tomorrow ,so rest is much needed.En savoir plus