Around Scandinavia: Part Eleven

Journey 2: Myrdal to Flam through Flamsbanen (05:15pm to 06:15pm)

Day Three continues ...

The Flåmsbana has an hour journey, stretches from the high mountain station of Myrdal (867m above sea level) down to Flåm (2m above sea level) at the head of Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord. Travel past rivers cutting through deep ravines, waterfalls tumbling down precipitous mountainsides, and white peaks with small farms clinging to steep slopes, untouched valleys and 20 tunnels. 

The journey started towards the Vatnahalsen station, followed by a horseshoe curve to Reinunga. The journey includes a 5-minute photo stop at the Kjosfossen waterfall. 

An actress dressed as a legendary Huldra (a seductive forest creature in Scandinavian folklore) dances and sings in front of the waterfall. After passing through a long tunnel, the train reaches Kardal and then Bloomheller. 

The railway then crosses the river Flåmselvi and runs through a series of short tunnels. It passes through Berekvam and then the waterfall Rjoandefossen, which with a 460 ft vertical drop. 

Then the last stations are Hareina, Lunden and Flam. There was a signal halt which delayed the journey till 7pm. But for us, it was snacks break of munching’s from everyone’s home.

We boarded the bus and got to know that the short route to our stay hotel is not operational. Hence, we had to drive the longer route to reach the Bardøla Høyfjellshotell, Geilo. 

It was a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Geilo. Many started singing songs and Anthakshari to kill the time. We dragged our luggage from the bus to the reception area, had a restroom break and settled for the dinner. It was a served dinner at 10pm, not a buffet. I sat on the table with Manasi, Amita Rane, Jyotsna Gokhale, Poonam Chaturvedi and her daughter Anshika Kashyap. First the carrot & tomato soup was served, followed by the main course of boiled rice with beans. 

Dessert was a bowl of cut fruits and cream. Done with the dinner, we got our room keys. My room was 318. We freshened up and then Manasi was off to sleep. It was a studio apartment so I took time clicking photos and then getting the bag ready for tomorrow. I slept at midnight.