From Tvinde to Flam
This morning we leave to discover our first Fjord. We take the E16 road towards Flam via Gudvangen. Travel and photos should be there. After traveling about sixty kilometers and crossing 2 endless tunnels (8km and 15km)...we have finally arrived in Flam. I say endless because we are not yet used to crossing these tunnels of several kilometers which for some pass under the Fjords.
This small village is in fact a landing stage for the many liners which come to stop over in the summer from June to September to dump thousands of tourists in search of virgin nature. We settle down for the night in the small campsite overlooking the Fjord. The night should be peaceful. We descend on foot towards the Fjord a few hundred meters from our camp. On the pier, a few tourist traps, souvenir shops, supermarket, hotels and food-truck. Why come to Flam? For the visit of the museum and the tourist train which connects Flam to Myrdal (I will tell you about it a little later)...of course there is also the discovery of the Fjord.
For our part, this visit to Flam was an opportunity to see our first Fjord in a long series. Of course the setting is beautiful and well worth the trip. This Fjords named Aurlandsfjord is a branch of the Sognefjorden listed as a UNESCO heritage site. It is the longest in Norway, 962m deep, it is bordered by steep mountains along these banks for several dozen kilometers. We decide to buy an ice cream in one of these little shops along the pier. Sitting on a bench we admire a huge liner at the quay. In the distance, a pretty wooden bridge crosses a small river which flows into the fjord.
A short walk in the surroundings makes us discover charming houses typical of this country.
I am going to tell you about the 2 attractions to do in Flam...First of all, the visit to the railway museum. Note that it is free. You will discover photos of the history of this line, locomotives, tools, machine parts that will take you back in time to the construction of this railway line which has now become touristic from Flam to Myrdal. The second point of interest in connection with the museum... the train which takes this route called the "Flamsbana"... For the sum of around 45 euros round trip you will leave in a world of virgin nature , you will cross valleys accessible only with this train, you will come across vertiginous waterfalls, impressive ravines... wild nature as you wish. The journey is about 20kms and the ascent 800m. This trip makes you cross all these territories at a slow pace, the time to take pictures through the window... We are far from the TGV... but that is what we are looking for. Take your time, admire the landscape, take photos that will become lasting memories. This is Norway...natural beauty and time to live.