We decided to go to sleep with the curtains open, and wake naturally to daylight and see the view. We went to bed around 11:00pm and it was still somewhat light outside. Reality check for us both, this is the furthest north we have ever traveled, present location slightly north of the highest parts of Scotland and slightly further north than the southern tip of Greenland! Even so, it is only mid-May, hardly the longest day yet.
I awoke at 4pm as it was light outside. I wonder now long it was dark for? All I could see outside was the side of the fjord, close to the ship, almost vertical, with snow on top. What a beautiful way to start the day. I was too excited to sleep so kept a watch outside as we progressed up the fjord. Eventually it became properly light by about 6:30am, by which time we were allowed out on the bow. For us, this was only four doors along the passageway. The bad side, roughly one hundred passengers walking past our room, and not quietly! We had ordered room service for breakfast, which arrived around 7am, very handy this morning with so much going on. We ate while watching the view go by.
We docked at Flåm around 8:00am. Interestingly, the ship is much longer than the dock, so the bow and stern ropes are extended a long way over the water to reach land. One is actually in the town!
Funny, although we have been on the ship for two days now, this is the first time we actually get to see the ship properly, as when we boarded we entered through the passenger terminal, and yesterday was an "at sea" day. The ship really does look grand and completely towers over this small town. Our cabin is relatively low on Level 5 yet provides a spectacular view.
We were booked on the Flåmsbana Railway, a 20km train ride that rises from sea level up to over 800m, and is one of the steepest railways in the world. The town is tiny, and everything is close to the port, so it was only a short walk to the train. By now it was starting to rain. The train carriages were beautiful, lined in wood and everything clean and polished.
The train ride was very scenic, everywhere were waterfalls, sleep mountains, snow, frozen lakes, more waterfalls, and many tunnels.
Our journey stopped at Vatnalalsen, where there is a single hotel, and we went inside for waffles and hot drinks. We had about an hour to soak in the scenery before the train arrived for the return trip.
By now the rain was pouring down, and we arrived back in town around midday. After a quick visit to a souvenir shop and then the local supermarket, we returned to the ship to get lunch at the Lido Market.
Helen has now caught a head cold, probably the same one I had last week, so she returned to our room to have a snooze. I went out for a walk around the waterfront but the rain was really heavy, and with rain jacket and umbrella was still unpleasant, so I returned to the ship to write this blog.
We decided to go for a later dinner tonight. While the majority of passengers were eating, I went for a quiet swim and spa while Helen rested. This was while the ship sailed out through Sognefjord. It was most amazing lying in a hot tub, seeing near-vertical cliffs on either side of the ship, very close, with snow on top and many waterfalls, through the glass ceiling above the pool.
Once the dining areas quietened down, we went and had a lovely meal. I finished by watching a live comedian act, which was surprisingly good, while Helen went for a pampering spa, and we went to bed around 10:30pm.
Next stop tomorrow is Stavanger, Norway.
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