"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." RLS
Travellers arriving into Flåm and not staying the night will require somewhere to deposit their bags if arriving by one mode of conveyance and leaving via another, as many do. This, off course, assumes you have some time for a look around before leaving. Continue reading “Left Luggage in Flåm”
The Flåm Railway, or Flåmsbana in Norwegian, opened in 1940. From an engineering perspective this railway is an amazing feat. Europe’s steepest railway, it rises, and indeed falls, 864 metres in a distance of only 20.2 kms – with gradients of 1 in 18 (5.5%) along 80% of the distance. This is quite something for a standard gauge track with not a cog in sight – or indeed in existence. Continue reading “Flåm Railway – Flåmsbana”
Myrdal Station, as there is little else at Myrdal, is the junction stop on the Oslo – Bergen train line which connects with the famous Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana).
98% of people arriving into Myrdal will be transferring onto the Flåm Railway, leaving the Flåm Railway to continue their journey on the Bergen Line or immediately returning to Flåm on the Flåmsbana having just arrived from there. 1% of people will be transferring to a bicycle (available for hire here) to ride down the valley to Flåm. Of the remaining 1%, a few hardy souls will stop here for hiking, a few will actually work here at the guesthouse (yes, there are a couple of accommodation options should you want to stay) or the railway and its related businesses and the remaining few will have alighted in error! Continue reading “Seven Minutes in Myrdal – Changing Trains”
In one word – Stunning.
Now the longer version. Continue reading “Oslo to Myrdal to Bergen by Train”
Many independent travellers to Norway follow a tried and tested route between Oslo and Bergen (or vice versa) taking in Aurlandsfjord, the UNESCO listed Nærøyfjord and Flåm en route.
This trip involves catching three trains, a boat and a bus together with accommodation, should you wish to spend a night in Flåm en route. Continue reading “Norway In A Nutshell – All Your Tickets Together”
Flåm is a small village of less than 500 people, tucked away, and indeed hemmed in on three sides by mountains, at the head of the Aurlandsfjord, which, itself, is tucked away deep in the Sognefjord, Norway. Continue reading “Flåm – tastic Flåm”
I have written a number of reviews about the wonderful white sand beaches and inviting sea right along the Gulf St Vincent.
Because of the presence of sand banks the water tends to be shallow and there are rarely rips or large waves. While these beaches are generally safe for swimming and other activities it is important to exercise care. Continue reading “Shark Attacks and Beach Safety”
St Jude’s Cemetery is located at the rear of St Jude’s Church.
Firstly, a little on the church first, if I may? Continue reading “St Jude’s Cemetery – and Sir Douglas Mawson”
Having been born in Northern Ireland, when I saw reference to a residence called ‘Dunluce’ in Brighton it attracted my immediate attention. Dunluce is the name of a now ruined medieval castle (picture below, courtesy of Wikipedia) on the north coast of Northern Ireland, not far from Coleraine were I lived for a number of years. Continue reading “Dunluce ‘Castle’ and the Reverend Macully”
Adelaide is often referred to as the Festival City because of the disproportionately large number of festivals it has compared to Sydney, Melbourne and other Australian cities. Two of these festivals are held, back to back, at Brighton in the later half of January each year – the Brighton Jetty Beach Sculptures and the Brighton Jetty Classic. The Brighton Jetty Classic is an open water swim while the Sculpture festival (fashioned on similar events at Cottesloe Beach in West Australia and in Sydney – Bondi’s Sculptures by the Sea) is a display of around 80 sculptures, some along the Brighton Esplanade set against the beautiful backdrop of the Gulf St Vincent and the balance within the local Surf Life Saving Club. Continue reading “Person Sitting on Bench – Brighton”
The Rambling Wombat 