When you think of Norway, you think of the fjords and the beauty of the country. We decided to go to Trondheim, in the northwestern part of Norway. Trondheim is the 3rd largest city, yet it's population is only about 170,000.
Our train ride from Stockholm was not the best. We were supposed to change trains in Lillestrom but our train got delayed and we missed our connection. So, we had to go to Oslo and take a later train. The trains here are a little slow and the ride not as smooth. It was also late getting into Trondheim. We got into the hostel just before midnight. If we had been a little late, well......we'd have to sleep outside or someplace where we're not supposed to be sleeping.
We spent the next day walking all over the city. It's small enough that you can get to most places by walking. The city has a lot of history and tradition; it was founded in 997. I'll just use the pictures below to explain some of the sights.
This is the Nidaros Cathedral, Norway's national sanctuary, built over their patron saint, St. Olaf. Construction started around 1070 and finished around 1300. The inside is typical of many cathedrals that you see in Europe that were built around that time. I was able to climb up to the top where I had an excellent view of the city. Next to the cathedral is a museum about Norway's history and Trondheim itself. Also next to the cathedral is a museum of the Royal Family's treasures.
Here is one of the pictures I took from the top of the cathedral. In the distance is a fjord and below that is Monk's Island. I was expecting to see a fjord like you'd see in tourist brochures but I was told by someone in the Tourism Office that if you want to see one of those impressive fjords, you'd have to go 4 to 5 hours out in the country. If you google "fjord of norway" you can see beautiful images of fjords posted by others.
Monk's Island, off the coast of Trondheim. It was at some time a monastery, a prison and a garrison for the Germans during WWII.
Just a beautiful sandbar with the fjord in the background.
Surprisingly, there are many non-native Norwegians in Norway. Here a couple of Vietnamese women are buying fresh fish from a fisherman. They spoke fluent Norwegian but they were speaking Vietnamese to each other. At the train station in Oslo there were many Africans and some middle-easterners.
My Norwegian lunch - a reindeer stew with potatoes and a few pieces of lettuce. All for 170 kroners, about $34! I thought Denmark is expensive, until I went to Sweden. Then I found that Norway is the most expensive of all.
This is the Nidaros Cathedral, Norway's national sanctuary, built over their patron saint, St. Olaf. Construction started around 1070 and finished around 1300. The inside is typical of many cathedrals that you see in Europe that were built around that time. I was able to climb up to the top where I had an excellent view of the city. Next to the cathedral is a museum about Norway's history and Trondheim itself. Also next to the cathedral is a museum of the Royal Family's treasures.
Here is one of the pictures I took from the top of the cathedral. In the distance is a fjord and below that is Monk's Island. I was expecting to see a fjord like you'd see in tourist brochures but I was told by someone in the Tourism Office that if you want to see one of those impressive fjords, you'd have to go 4 to 5 hours out in the country. If you google "fjord of norway" you can see beautiful images of fjords posted by others.
A sunset view of buildings along the river.
Monk's Island, off the coast of Trondheim. It was at some time a monastery, a prison and a garrison for the Germans during WWII.
Just a beautiful sandbar with the fjord in the background.
Surprisingly, there are many non-native Norwegians in Norway. Here a couple of Vietnamese women are buying fresh fish from a fisherman. They spoke fluent Norwegian but they were speaking Vietnamese to each other. At the train station in Oslo there were many Africans and some middle-easterners.
My Norwegian lunch - a reindeer stew with potatoes and a few pieces of lettuce. All for 170 kroners, about $34! I thought Denmark is expensive, until I went to Sweden. Then I found that Norway is the most expensive of all. 
No comments:
Post a Comment