Day 4 - Bergen Norway and the Flam Railway

We both awakened this morning (6-28-05) refreshed yet tired. The schedule is tight with so many stops and so much to see. We missed this morning’s lecture but had a good breakfast before setting out for the Flam Railway Tour. We boarded the bus at 8:15am and were off to the train station. There we got on to the car reserved for our group for the comfortable train ride to Mydral where we changed trains to the Flam Railway. The views were spectacular with cascading waterfalls down the sheer cliffs. The train stopped at the best waterfalls where legend says that men fall victim to to Sirens (seemingly beautiful women that hide their tails with long skirts). The water from the melting snow is so bountiful making the mist so heavy that it felt as if we were on the “Maid in the Mist” at Niagara Falls. We continued onto Flam (pronounced Flaam) where we cruised to Gudvagen through the Songefjord. Lunch was served aboard the ship and was filled with a buffet of seafood with all the trimmings. We stopped at Styvi where we posted cards at the smallest post office in Norway while sampling the best Norwegian heart-shaped waffles complete with homemade strawberry preserves. Shortly thereafter we disembarked the boat and took a very interesting bus ride back to Bergen. The bus driver masterfully maneuvered the tour bus up the hairpin turns and back to Bergen. We took an hour for a little shopping in the “Fish Market” where I bought a nice wool sweater and some small souvenirs. Our group met in the hotel lobby before dinner where we opted to walk to the Galleri (restaurant) instead of riding the bus. A short 10 minute walk (well maybe 15 since we went the scenic route) and we were at the most interesting gallery of art, wining, and dining complete with a historical lecture from a local who has also lived in the USA. The meal was superb medallions of beef accompanied by the best French red and white wines with wonderful chocolate mousse pie for dessert. Following dinner, Don and I walked back to the hotel only to venture out again for a ride on the Floyen (cable-car-tram) for a lofty night-view of the city.