Larry and I took a trip to Norway in 2018. Six years later, we still have wonderful memories of this magical country.

Norway was  simply magical for the twenty Solivita Travel Club members who visited the country in July 2018.  We toured cities but more importantly we savored Norway’s incredible countryside via bus, foot, ferries, and train.

On our first day in Oslo, our Globus group strolled through  Frogner Park, that had over one with Gustav Vigaland’s extraordinary statues that captured life from birth through death.

That afternoon, many of us took an excursion to three nautical-themed museums: unearthed Viking ships; the Framm, which carried  Roald Amundsen and his crew to the South Pole; and Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki.  I won’t have traveled across Lake Toho in any of those vessels—thank you!

We toured the electric plant in Vemok, scene of the daring World War II sabotage action that delayed the Nazi’s ability to develop to atomic bomb. Bungee jumping was also offered, but our leader Jane Baker refused to set an example. Chicken!

Bergen lived up to its reputation as the rainiest city on earth—it rains over 240 days a year. Before the onslaught many of us were able to take the funicular up to the top of Mt. Fløyen, giving us stunning views of the fjords.Norway is famous for its love of trolls, even known to leave treats for these fairy creatures in front of their houses. One even gave Larry and me a hug on top of Mount. Fløyen,

We then climbed aboard the Flam train ride, described as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. The twelve mile ride took us from tranquil views of fjords long tunnels to impressive views of wild mountainsides and streams rushing down to the river far below in the deep, narrow ravine. We glimpsed one of the remaining medieval stave churches which captured Norway’s pagan roots through its dragon steeples

In Loen, we took the new Skylyft up to the top of Mount Hoven, at over 3600 feet. While Bill Dunne and Lenny Kirschbrown took four hours to hike down the 3600 foot mountain on switchbacks, the rest of us opted to walk the trails offering jaw-dropping views. Arlene and Phil Fortsch and Larry and I ate lunch at the top, but Arlene opted out of the views from the twenty foot plate glass windows that were cantilevered over a cliff. 

Our fabulous guide Peter called Norway the land of one thousand waterfalls, and we saw many of them cascading from dizzying heights throughout Norway.  On the ferry wide on the Geiranger Fjord, no less than seven waterfalls tumbled down cliffs measuring over 800 feet.  Near the waterfalls, Knivsflå, an abandoned farm, once housed a family that literally had to tie the children by ropes to the house so they would not fall down the cliff. 

After we hopped on the bus, our wonderful bus driver maneuvered switchbacks from sea level to over 5000 feet for panoramic views on the Geriagner Skywalk. 

In Lillehammer, we toured the site of the 1994 Olympics. Our guide had attended many of the events and was able to give us his first hand account—including watching downhill skiing in temperatures hovering around twenty below zero. Norway was experiencing a heat wave when we were there, but Peter also brought alive for us the long, dark winters and the isolation for many of the residents outside the cities.

 Of course, we ate! We started each morning with sumptuous buffets that often including over 100  items, including numerous varieties of salmon, lox, fish,  and the country’s famous brown goat cheese. Dinners were as sumptuous and always offered one free wine or beer. 

“I never thought I would see scenery that would rival the Canadian Rockies,” said Mitch Carlander, a fellow traveler. “ But Norway was even more beautiful.” 

And magical. We all loved Norway. And you will too!

A version of this story was originally published in Capital Region New York’s The Jewish World on August 8, 2018.