Trip to Alesund and Geirangerfjord

Finally, I have some time to tell you about my life in and around Trondheim. Last weekend, my parents and my brother visited and we spent great days in Alesund and at Geirangerfjord! We started on Friday towards Kristiansund, and on the way there, we wanted to drive along the coast. Definitely worth seeing is the Atlantic Road, which turned out to be shorter than I expected/hoped. It is a part of the Norwegian National Road 64, which consists of eight bridges connecting small islands from one mainland to the next. Of course, we made a little stop and enjoyed the magnificent view and the almost 25 degrees. That's quite rare for Norwegian conditions - and in mid-September! :) However, you should also know that due to the Gulf Stream passing by the coast, you can feel the temperature difference compared to the inland quite clearly (about 10-15 degrees difference!).

In Skodje, about half an hour away from Alesund, we rented a cozy and typical Norwegian cabin where we spent the next two days. There was even a small platform with garden furniture where we made ourselves comfortable in the evening.

On Saturday, we went straight to Alesund - to explore the city a bit more. It is very popular among tourists, especially because of the Art Nouveau houses that offer a beautiful view from the viewpoint (418 steps :)). In the harbor, we immediately spotted the first cruise ship, a Norwegian Star. And it was not the last one in the upcoming days ;-)

On Sunday, at 7 o'clock in the morning, we went to one of the most famous and beautiful fjords in all of Norway: Geirangerfjord. Since July 2005, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of course, we didn't miss the opportunity to take a boat tour on the fjord and we realized that we had chosen the perfect departure time. Just as we got on the boat, the sun came over the mountain, which didn't stop us from unpacking our thick down jackets. We raced across the fjord at quite a high speed, so even with the thick jackets, we quickly became cold. But it was definitely worth freezing for the amazing view! It is also impressive that some of the old farmhouses are still standing. They are very well maintained, even though no one lives there anymore. I just wondered how they got up there and how it was possible to do agriculture in such steep places. But the captain explained that due to the good location, the climate is quite mild and apricots and other tropical fruits could be cultivated here in the past.

Afterwards, we decided to visit the 'Dalsnibba' viewpoint, which is located 1,400 meters high and was on our way back to Trondheim anyway. We drove up the mountain on serpentine roads and enjoyed the view in between. It was amazing how the climate suddenly changed from green and warm to dry and cold. In general, we encountered a completely different vegetation on the way back through the inland. Everything was quite barren and resembled a steppe. But that doesn't mean that it wasn't as fascinating as the coastal tour.

The highlight was seeing the two female moose at dusk, just before returning to Trondheim.

Finally, we treated ourselves to a delicious meal at the Tyholt Tower in Trondheim. With tasty pizza, burgers, and a breathtaking view, our 'short vacation' unfortunately ended much too soon... :( But all in all, it was an amazing trip that you should definitely do if you ever come to Norway! The country has so much to offer and with a camper van, you could easily stay here for a few months :) There are campsites on every corner, after all ;-)

Many greetings and see you soon!! :)

Yours Sabi