Review Fjords Cruise (Norway) 2014 - Bergen; Geiranger; Flam (Flaam); Stavanger.

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Dylanlewis2000

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I happened to stumble upon another thread when I was looking for advice on what to take upon a trip up to the Norwegian Fjords this August. I found that the advice given in the thread was very valuable so I thought I would also return the gesture and write a mini review of some of the ports that I had visited highlighting some of the things to look out for.

I would like to think that I am a seasoned cruiser. I have been on a total of 7 cruises and although I am relatively young, I love cruising for a number of reasons; I’ll come to that later.

There was a reason for going to the Fjords this year, the main being that I didn't want somewhere really warm plus I fancied a photographic type holiday; one where the girlfriend wouldn’t be bored either.

What lenses/ equipment to take?

I would go as wide as you can! I took the following:
Canon 400d
Canon 18-200 (Used 65% of the time)
Canon 50mm (Used 20% of the time)
Sigma 100-300 (Used 10% of the time
Sigma 150mm (Used 5% of the time)
Tripod - Didn't use!
Circular Polariser - Hardly used

For the majority of the time you want to go as wide as possible. If you have any light primes then I would take them. There were a fair few people shooting with 24-105s on crop bodies so do not rule the general walk around out. One problem I did find was haze. As the Fjords are surrounded by water there is a lot of haze build up which is problematic. I found that a polariser did not stop this however as I shot in RAW I could bring it all back.​

This Cruise was with the P&O cruise line aboard the Arcadia. It is a mid to large size ship at 83,000 tonnes and although it was carrying around 1500 passengers, there was enough space on board at all times. This particular cruise stopped at the following ports:

  • Bergen
  • Geiranger
  • Flam
  • Stavanger

As the cruse departed and returned to Southampton we also had two days of sea, one going out and one coming back. Many who I speak to worry that the days of sea are horrible and boring and whilst in some cases that may be true, however the ship usually put a variety of events to cater for a wide range of audiences. Our first impressions on the ship were good.

Day 1 - Southampton IMG_8023 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Some ship spotting:

Day 1 - Southampton IMG_8030 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr


Day 1 - Southampton IMG_8038 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr


We were waved off by the Oriana. Notice the big hand?

Day 1 - Southampton IMG_8077 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr


And a little toast on deck whilst we were leaving Southampton.


Day 1 - Southampton IMG_8137 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr


P&O are very British. When leaving ports we were given flags to wave over the the side whilst singing along.

Day 1 - Southampton IMG_8140 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr


As this was the first time I had been to this part of the world, I enjoyed looking out to sea and spotting things… as sad as it sounds I have never seen an Oil Rig up close before. I honestly didn’t realise how many Oil Rigs were in the North Sea!

Day 2 - At Sea IMG_8244 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr


We were blessed with a beautiful sunset whilst in the North Sea.

Day 2 - At Sea IMG_8298 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr
 
**Warning**

One word of warning about Norway before I go any further. Norway is very expensive. Although most of the areas we visited were ‘tourist areas’ we still found even the local shops in the ports very expensive, as an example, Mars bars were around £2.50 a bottle of coke was similarly priced and if you wanted to use the public toilet you would have to pay 10 NOK which is around £1. Small gifts (See pics later on) command a premium as do all other tourist type memorabilia, simply put it’s a very expensive place to live.

Bergen
En route up to the Fjords we encountered some bad weather. This was not the worst weather I have experienced on a cruise ship but according to the ship’s statistics we had a force 9 wind, with a large swell and rough seas. The ship however was not rocking from side to side (that much). Upon arriving at the mouth of the Hjeltenfjorden (for Bergen) we encountered heavy winds from the right hand side. This allowed me to get some great photos of the waves smashing against the rocks.

Day 2 - Bergen B&W IMG_8299 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

As soon as we were closer to the port the weather calmed down and brightened up.

Day 3 - Bergen IMG_8356 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Upon cruising through the Fjord the seas calmed down considerably allowing us in. We passed the Mein Schiff (TUI German ship) which was unable to leave the port due to bad weather the previous day. As we sailed into our berth I had my first glimpse of Bergen.

Day 3 - Bergen IMG_8394 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Bergen by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

As you can see from the photo, this picturesque city was looking very pretty indeed. From where we were docked the city was only a short walk in roughly 5-10 minutes if that. We were very lucky to see a Norwegian sailing ship from the sailing school had docked in Bergen on that very day, a beautiful structure.

Day 3 - Bergen IMG_8437 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

If you Google Bergen the first thing you will see if the iconic coloured houses that are on the side of the port. These wooden shops are iconic in this little city and it seems as if every gift shop in Norway has little replicas of these houses. The houses are on a conservation order which means they cannot be modernised or changed. Nestled between these shops are alley ways which lead to more shops and cafes. I have to honestly say that I felt totally comfortable walking around Bergen with an SLR and a few lenses, even when walking up the side streets.

Day 3 - Bergen IMG_8486 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Day 3 - Bergen IMG_8541 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

The lens is fine. Those houses are really like that. As the houses are made of wood their shapes alter year to year. It seems that Christmas is in every shop:

Day 3 - Bergen IMG_8465 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

These figures are around £10 each!
 
Fishing is a big part of Bergen’s history. Up one of the alleys is a large wooden sculpture of a cod fish. Cod was a main source of income many years ago! A short hop away is the fish market where the locals sell live fish, crabs and fruit!

Day 3 - Bergen IMG_8488 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Photo from the fish market:
Day 3 - Bergen IMG_8563 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

One of the main attractions in Bergen is the funicular railway. This runs every 15 minutes throughout the day. There are directions all around Bergen pointing to it. Tickets can be purchased outside the lower station. If you want to do the funicular railway then you either need to go there first thing in the morning or after lunch as late morning tends to be very busy. Currently the price is £8.50 (85 NOK) per adult ticket. If you purchase a Bergen card then you can get additional discounts or even free travel depending on when you visit Bergen.

Bergen Funicular's website

The view from the top is awesome though.
Bergen 2 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Day 3 - Bergen IMG_8753 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Sailing out is the reverse of coming in, however you have different levels of light therefore you see things in a different light so to speak. Thankfully the sea calmed down considerably

Day 3 - Bergen IMG_8888 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr
 
Geiranger

Gerianger is situated in the Storfjord. It takes roughly three hours from the mouth of the Fjord to Gerianger. This is a tender port, however as you are in a Fjord there are no waves or currents therefore going from the Ship to the port is a relatively easy process.

Day 4 - Geiranger IMG_9454 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Its majestic landscape and snow-capped mountains complement the lush turquoise coloured water. This is another very pretty port. There are a number of small gift shops on the quay side however prices are high as to be expected. A short walk from the quay reveals a mighty waterfall. 320 odd steps mean you will be at the top of the waterfall within a few minutes. There is a centre for alternative energy at the top too.

Day 4 - Geiranger IMG_9407 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

One of Norway's 'hairy houses' Apparently they put grass on the roof to insulate their houses all year round.

Day 4 - Geiranger IMG_9422 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

We took a trip up to Dalsnibba one if the highest points in the area. This was an escorted tour which took us to the top, and three other points on the way down. The view from the top is awesome, although if you are doing this wrap up warm. We visited Dalsnibba in August. In Gerianger it was around 18 degrees and up the mountain it was 6!

Bus tour's website - This is a round trip for 260 NOK ~ £26

Geiranger 2 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

There was a lush souvenir cabin fitted with a log burner. One thing I loved with little shop was the exposed wooden structure with the warm glow of the fire. They should have put a small café up here as well!

Day 4 - Geiranger IMG_9104 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

On the way down you stop at a small hotel. This seems to be a very popular stop off point and the small café and souvenir shop is very expensive. Queues are large due to the footfall however you can get a few nice shots outside.

Day 4 - Geiranger IMG_8946 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

On the way back down through the twisty turnies there are a few opportunities to shoot through the bus windows to get some nice shots.



Geiranger 3 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr
 
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The last stop is another panoramic view point for tourists. The bus stopped here for around 15 minutes. If you are going to stop here it’s worth walking down the road a little as there is a vantage point which is quieter.

Geiranger 4 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

There are other attractions in this port such as Kayaking through Keirangerfjord or a simple mountain walk. If you are planning on visiting this place i would strongly advise you to book. Most of the activities will sell out due to the number of passengers coming off the cruise ship. The only reason for not booking the Kayaking was the mountain tour. If i was visiting this destination again I would certainly do that!

As we departed from the port we were blessed by gorgeous sun shine lighting up the scenery once more.

Day 4 - Geiranger IMG_9591 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

There are two waterfalls opposite each other. Legend has it that the prince was trying to seduce one of the seven sisters, however he hit the bottle and the rest is history. Seven sister’s waterfalls:

Day 4 - Geiranger IMG_9595 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Prince. Look at the wine bottle:
Day 4 - Geiranger IMG_9655 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr
 
FLAM

The transit into Flam is marked by towering cliffs and thundering waterfalls. Another picture perfect port it is slightly bigger than Gerianger. There are a number of small gift shops around the port along with a railway museum and one of the main attractions the Flam Railway.

Day 5 - Flam IMG_9724 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Day 5 - Flam IMG_9726 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Day 5 - Flam IMG_9744 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr


** Important**

If you want to book a ride on the Flam railway you must do so as soon as possible! The railway is a very popular tourist attraction and gets booked up months in advance. They allocate a specific number of tickets to cruise and other tour companies. The main website Flamsbana also has a limited number of tickets to sell and they reserve a number of tickets to buy on the day (This is a very small number!). If you cannot find tickets you do have one other option. The NSB (Norway State Railway) does have some tickets too, although they appear to be more expensive they work out to be the same price. I had to book using the NSB website which proved to be a little difficult due to the website requiring a Norwegian address. I ended up Googling the error; people recommended using a generic address. If you are going to book make sure you get a return journey. Sometimes they will have tickets going up, but not coming back! One further point... to skip the queues, if you book using the NSB website you can download their app from the Apple appstore and have an electronic ticket.

Helpful links:
NSB's website
Flamsbana's website
​

Day 5 - Flam IMG_9814 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

The train is wonderful. When we visited there was supposed to be three other cruise ships in the port, however two of them couldn’t dock due to rough weather. With this in mind the train we booked was a little quieter. If you are going to do a tour independently try to book an early train as they tend to be quieter but be careful. Some of the trains leave at 8am, therefore you need to make sure that you are docking before that time.

Seating arrangements in the train:
Day 5 - Flam IMG_0181 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Advice on the train:
Getting perfect photos from a moving train is difficult. Try to find a seat on the right hand side on the way up. If you are looking in the train's direction sit on the right, preferably by an opening window. Although there is not a lot of room, the windows open enough to get your camera outside. Before you sit down make sure the window does actually open (I sat down and one wouldn't open - We moved seats quickly!). There is scenery on both sides, however on the way up the majority is on the right. If you want to stop by the waterfall you need to get by a door. When you see people leave you need to get off the train as quickly as possible as the train does not stay very long. The windows of the doors do not open so you cannot just stand by the door the entire time. When the train reaches Mydral most passengers will get off, stay on the train as this will allow you to swap sides. The Flamsbana only goes between Mydral and Flam so don't worry about ending up in Bergen or Oslo. ​


As you can see form the photo. One side of the train has 2 seats, the other has three. On the way up try to sit on the right hand side and on the way back sit on the left (If you can move). Try to sit by a window that opens. This will allow you to hang out of the window and take the best photos.


Day 5 - Flam IMG_9852 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Day 5 - Flam IMG_9896 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Day 5 - Flam IMG_9885 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr
 
Day 5 - Flam IMG_9951 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

There are a number of stops on the way up (and on the return) as some people do like to walk down from some of the small stations. As I have said, if you have time at Mydral swap over to the other side of the carriage to get the other side of the scenery on the way down.

Back at Flam there is a free railway museum which has a number of small activities and a shop geared up for railway memorabilia. A short walk around the other side of the port allows you to get panoramic photos of the port. There is also three different ferries which sail between different Fjords. They seemed to be departing and arriving on a regular basis, although we didn't check the cost or the time these take.


Day 5 - Flam IMG_0215 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr


If you like trains this is one place that you should go and have a look around - It's free too!
 
Stavanger

Stavanger is a large town similar to Bergen. As a result it is not as picturesque on first sight however, walk into the back alleys and this port opens up nicely. The difference with this port is that it is undergoing modernisation. Modern brands are setting up shop which detracts from the real beauty of the town, however these are almost segregated in another part of the village so mostly unnoticeable.

Day 6 -Stavanger IMG_0489 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Unfortunately due to inclement weather some of the photos were taken with my iPhone, although to the latter part of the day the sky did clear up and the SLR did come back out to play. The forecast changes by the hour so if you are going out for the day you might want to bring a brolly.

Day 6 -Stavanger IMG_0531 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Day 6 -Stavanger IMG_0539 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

This large town has a number of shops and small boutiques. If you walk around the quay side you will come to the white fisherman houses which are steeped in history. These houses, now painted white are postcard perfect houses rich in history. Walk further along the back alleys, passed the old canning factory, reveals a fisherman’s house which is open to the public. This has been decorated in period décor to give you an idea of how they looked back in the day.

Day 6 -Stavanger IMG_0556 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

It’s really hard to believe that three or more families lived in this houses as living space is cramped to say the least. Due to the limited space and preservation orders on these houses they command a premium. Our tour guide explained that these houses started at £500k and a few larger houses were sold for well over £1m!

Day 6 -Stavanger IMG_0575 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Over the other side of the town you will see some familiar brands, and some smaller locally owned shops.

Day 6 -Stavanger IMG_0587 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr

Stavanger is easy enough to walk around but if you are going on foot, please wear supportive and grippy shoes as the cobbled streets do get slippery when wet.

Leaving Stavanger is not as senic as the other ports as they have discovered Oil here and you will see a lot of 'industrial landscape'. For a short while I had a friend:

Day 6 -Stavanger IMG_0662 by Dylanlewis2000, on Flickr


So in summary, the Norway Fjords is an excellent opportunity for photographs if that is what you want out of a holiday. Yes, it is very expensive, although costs can be minimised if you are visiting on a cruise ship as all of your food is provided on board, but gifts can be quite expensive if you want to bring everything back. On the plus side it’s a very safe country to visit. At no time did I feel intimidated and not want to get the camera out to take photos. All of the locals are very happy and pleasant to speak to. Their standard of English is excellent and we found that there was no language barrier even when we were searching for local things they were very helpful.

I suppose the million dollar question is if I would visit Norway again. The answer would be yes, but in a few years’ time. I’m not a big fan of going to the same ports multiple times although if I was on a tour and they happened to visit the same port then I would probably do another excursion.



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If you have found this helpful please let me know/ leave a comment, ask a question/ say something to me. I do have a few videos that I will upload from my iPhone later on in the week.
 
Great pics and brings back memories, of Geiranger and Stavanger anyway! Thanks
 
Norway is far better if you drive it rather than go on a cruise ship. I would endorse a fly /drive holiday over a cruise any time.
 
fracster said:
Norway is far better if you drive it rather than go on a cruise ship. I would endorse a fly /drive holiday over a cruise any time.
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I would also imagine it would be very expensive to do that too :(. It probably works out cheaper to do the cruise and visit multiple ports rather than drive and get multiple hotels.
 
Dylanlewis2000 said:
I would also imagine it would be very expensive to do that too :(. It probably works out cheaper to do the cruise and visit multiple ports rather than drive and get multiple hotels.
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I go in my old motorhome, so not a problem.But there is far more to Norway than the cruise ships, seriously.

standing next to glaciers, camping in the mountains, watching elk walk around. You just don`t see those on the ships.

I`m not putting a downer on the cruises, but they do not represent Norway at its best, just my opinion I hasten to add.
 
I am doing a tour of Scandinavia next week and can not wait! This has proved very helpful and your photos are stunning. I saw the Northern Lights in Tromsø in November and it was £9 for a pint of beer so guessed the rest of Norway would be too! Thanks again for the tips, will take a look at your Flickr photostream too now.
 
Thanks Dylan, a really good review, great pics too. Glad you had a terrific time.

I spent too much time taking landscapes! Your selection is much more balanced! :)

Can I share on a closed P&O FB group please? You may well be a member already of course.
 
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Great trip report with some enticing images of Norway. I have only been to Kristiansand in the south, which was 10 years ago and I would love to return for a more adventurous trip......one day! So thanks for sharing.
 
You had a Great trip then!
I'm just wispering this post as Paul, will probably have a pop at me for not posting mine yet!
To be honest, i have been up to my neck since i got back poor excuse i know.... will start another thread for mine...
Personally i want to go again!!
 
It's a shame Fjordline stopped the Newcastle - Bergen ferry. I went loads in the 90s - never cost more than £12 return.
 
WOW what a report. We did exactly the same trip on P&O Azure in June, and I took a lot of the same shots. It was the 2nd time we cruised the Fjords the 1st time was on Thomson Spirit and the weather was awful, both sailing and on land at the stops. Sailing back home the ship had sick bags everywhere as the sea's were so bad. Anyhow what a great report (I wouldn't have thought to do anything like that).
As an aside, in four weeks time we will be setting off cruising again, this time to the Med, reading your report has already given me itchy feet. The wife wanted to go cruising years ago but I would not go, I said I would be bored top tears, however after capitulating I cannot get enough cruising. There is alway's something to do so no time to get bored. We try to do 3 cruises a year if we can, I think the next will be our 19th and still have another booked for later in the year. "The joy's of retirement" (there aren't many with the advancing years).
 
swiftflo said:
WOW what a report. We did exactly the same trip on P&O Azure in June, and I took a lot of the same shots. It was the 2nd time we cruised the Fjords the 1st time was on Thomson Spirit and the weather was awful, both sailing and on land at the stops. Sailing back home the ship had sick bags everywhere as the sea's were so bad. Anyhow what a great report (I wouldn't have thought to do anything like that).
As an aside, in four weeks time we will be setting off cruising again, this time to the Med, reading your report has already given me itchy feet. The wife wanted to go cruising years ago but I would not go, I said I would be bored top tears, however after capitulating I cannot get enough cruising. There is alway's something to do so no time to get bored. We try to do 3 cruises a year if we can, I think the next will be our 19th and still have another booked for later in the year. "The joy's of retirement" (there aren't many with the advancing years).
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Awesome! Where are you off in the med? I've done lots of the med ports with a few different companies.
 
freon warrior said:
Thanks Dylan, a really good review, great pics too. Glad you had a terrific time.

I spent too much time taking landscapes! Your selection is much more balanced! :)

Can I share on a closed P&O FB group please? You may well be a member already of course.
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Please do share! What is the group?? Thanks for the comments!
 
Those photos certainly look very scenic - I'm definitely looking forward to my Norway cruise later this year - it also stops at Bergen & Flam and also Alesund and a couple of other places so should hopefully be good. Those tips for the Flam railway are useful - my cruise company have a railway trip on offer for about £150 but there is no way I can afford that sort of price so I will probably try and buy a ticket directly without their mark-up. It looks about £40 for a ticket if booked directly. I did a cruise a few years ago and was a bit fed up with some of the tour prices and a lot of them involve coach trips and I hate travelling on coaches! It looks like Flam has no proper port so the ship has to anchor offshore and ferry passengers in tenders which must be a bit tedious but luckily all the other stops have ports. I'm definitely a fan of more northern places for cuises - my last one was greenland and next year it's north cape - I'd not be so keen on the Med or Caribbean!
 
boliston said:
Those photos certainly look very scenic - I'm definitely looking forward to my Norway cruise later this year - it also stops at Bergen & Flam and also Alesund and a couple of other places so should hopefully be good. Those tips for the Flam railway are useful - my cruise company have a railway trip on offer for about £150 but there is no way I can afford that sort of price so I will probably try and buy a ticket directly without their mark-up. It looks about £40 for a ticket if booked directly. I did a cruise a few years ago and was a bit fed up with some of the tour prices and a lot of them involve coach trips and I hate travelling on coaches! It looks like Flam has no proper port so the ship has to anchor offshore and ferry passengers in tenders which must be a bit tedious but luckily all the other stops have ports. I'm definitely a fan of more northern places for cuises - my last one was greenland and next year it's north cape - I'd not be so keen on the Med or Caribbean!
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£150! Definitely do it on your own. Its £20 each way per person so £40 return, £150 is crazy. What company are you cruising with. Book the train sooner rather than later as it gets full quickly.
 
Dylan, I have just had a close look at your panoramic 1 of Bergan. It looks like you were berthed much closer to the 'old town' than we were. Auroa was berthed over by what looks like a Thompson ship? That is why we were bussed in free of charge from the port area, which was very busy and quite dangerous for pedestrians.
 
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Yeah we were pretty much in the port. Apparently there are a number of Berths in Bergen. We were really lucky as it was only a short walk in.
 
When we were alongside, one of the Cunard "Queens" was where Dylan was berthed we were in the same place but looking at the Photo we were positioned at the bow of Arcadia's berth and at 90 degrees (so where those ships are berthed in front, to the left of Arcadia). Just a short walk past the fort, then into Bryggen, old town just a 5 minute walk. They were starting to prepair for the Tall Ships which was due in the following week, that would have been a sight but bet it would have been rammed.
 
Nice review and photos, did the same places on a Midnight Sun cruise earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed Norway, the sail out of gerainger Fjord my highlight

Simon
 
coinciently, I was up last night looking at Noway Cruises, so this has proved very informed. thank you.
 
Thank you for the comments. Which line were you thinking of going with?
 
Hello, I was just looking at the P & O and the Princess Carribean one. I saw prices for the both, by myself, and changed my mind. So Ihave started looking at flights and the trains. the idea being to go to Tromos too, for the northern lights, but it needs a lot more thought, so your comment on walking around and feeling safe in the town added my interest.
 
Dylanlewis2000 said:
Awesome! Where are you off in the med? I've done lots of the med ports with a few different companies.
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Gibraltar,Corsica,Rome,Florence,Genoa,Monte Carlo and Barcelona, then back to Southampton.
 
Smiffster said:
Hello, I was just looking at the P & O and the Princess Carribean one. I saw prices for the both, by myself, and changed my mind. So Ihave started looking at flights and the trains. the idea being to go to Tromos too, for the northern lights, but it needs a lot more thought, so your comment on walking around and feeling safe in the town added my interest.
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It will probably work out more expensive when you factor in food and rail travel, however if your primary goal is to get good photos then this would probably be the best option. I like cruising as you see different places each day. Also, it depends on where you see the prices as sometimes you can get good deals if you go through last minute booking services.
 
Great write up, quite unusual to find write-ups from a photography point of view, I might jot up the two US coach tours we've done recently.

It's not actually that expensive to live there as everything is relative (my wife is Norwegian), but yes, visiting is quite a shock if you're not prepared for it. The first piece of advice my wife gave me was to buy everything in supermarkets, forget eating out!
 
ukaskew said:
Great write up, quite unusual to find write-ups from a photography point of view, I might jot up the two US coach tours we've done recently.

It's not actually that expensive to live there as everything is relative (my wife is Norwegian), but yes, visiting is quite a shock if you're not prepared for it. The first piece of advice my wife gave me was to buy everything in supermarkets, forget eating out!
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Yes! Definitely shop in the supermarket, however we did find a co-op in Flaam which was selling their equivalent of Mars for around £2.50! One nice touch in that shop was that they sold loves of bread, next to the bread was a bread slicing machine. Simple things!
 
Just got round to putting up some photos from my recent fjords trip - those tips about the flam railway were quite useful and we made sure we sat on the right hand side. Luckily there was no queue for tickets as we got the 11am train and most of the prebooked tours seemed to be on the earlier trains as we passed a really packed train coming down as we went up and our train had lots of empty seats. The bergen funicular was superb and cost about £4 per head one way as we walked back down through the network of narrow steep cobbled streets. The beer was £10 per 500ml glass - we had Ægir beers which were brewed in Flam and good quality. Have put some pictures on my blog here: http://www.boliston.com/2014/10/10/norway-15914-26914/
 
I did a very similar cruise last year and absolutely loved Flam. The image of the 4 red huts/houses above is right where I took one of my favourite images, right down in front of them.

Wish I'd been able to explore more with my camera at the other stops.
 
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