Foto: The steep Preikestolen (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Norway - When we open the curtains, it is cloudy. Carefully a ray of sun comes through the clouds. The most important thing: it is dry. After breakfast we drive to the Preikestolen. The Preikestolen is a 605-meter-high steep rock that rises above the Lysefjord. On top is a straight plateau. It is clear that all other tourists in this area also travel only along Jørpeland to climb this special rock. All cars on the road turn off at the Preikestolen. There are already many cars in the parking lot and it is only eight o'clock. Soon we will also hit the road. The path to the top is four kilometers long. Every 150 meters it is indicated how far you have come. In the beginning, this feels like the trip is not progressing. Via a staircase built with boulders we quickly gain height. After two kilometers the path flattens out. We are on the plateau. From this height there is already a nice view of the surroundings. After an hour and a half of climbing we arrive at the Preikestolen. From the plateau we have a view of the Lysefjord six hundred meters below. What a beautiful sight. It feels quite exciting to look over the edge. The rock is completely vertical. There are no fences. On the edge of the rock we take pictures. On the way back, there are two routes to walk back. The regular route back or via the Hill trail. We choose the latter. Via the boulders we clamber to the rocky outcrop just above the Preikestolen. From there we descend again. Yet we must have gone wrong somewhere, because we miss the signs that indicate the path. In the distance we see the original route running again. We descend again via the rocks. Back on the original path, the descent is easier. It has become considerably busier on the route. Hundreds of tourists have also started their climb. For some this is a bit easier than for others. Around half past eleven we are back downstairs in the parking lot
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Hopperstad stave church
Norway - After lunch, the bus continues along the shores of the Sognefjord toward Hella. In Hella, we take the ferry across the fjord to Vangsnes. At Vik, we leave the fjord behind and head to the small church village of Hopperstad. In Hopperstad stands one of ...
Northern lights at the Arctic Circle
Norway - In the evening, during dinner at the hotel (there is no other place to eat nearby), the waitress alerts us that the Northern Lights are visible outside. We abandon our coffee and quickly grab our cameras. We rush outside. The Northern Lights are a beautiful ...
The Geiranger Fjord
Norway - Along the way, the low clouds create stunning views across the fjords. In Linge, I cross the Norddalsfjord by ferry toward Eidsdal. From there, I continue toward Geiranger. Thankfully, the weather keeps improving. As I approach Geiranger, I get a magnificent ...
The Lofoten Peninsula
Norway - As we rejoin the E6, light rain begins to fall. This is not the kind of weather we had hoped for in Lofoten. It doesn’t improve. Just past Narvik, we leave the E6 and take the E10 heading toward Lofoten. Lofoten is a rocky peninsula just above the Arctic ...
The North Cape
Norway - At Olderfjord, we leave the E6 and take the E69. This road leads to the North Cape. The North Cape is located on the island of Magerøya. We reach the island via the Nordkapp Tunnel, which is nearly seven kilometers long. The road in the tunnel descends ...
The Norwegian Fjords
Norway - After breakfast, we drive through light rain to the ferry. Visibility is limited due to the low-hanging clouds, which gives the Moldefjord a mystical atmosphere. The ferry crossing takes thirty-five minutes. On the other side, we continue toward Geiranger. ...
Wooden trading houses of Trondheim
Norway - The Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim is one of the few churches in Norway built from stone. The building was constructed in the 11th century (1093) but has been expanded and restored several times, partly due to the many fires that have damaged it (six ...