Just wow

Despite having unlimited internet here in the UK, I don’t have unlimited time. That time will probably be better spent doing things other than uploading photos onto Flickr (and than blogging, actually), but that doesn’t mean that you will be forsaken – I have chucked a few pics up there already, and I will continue to write blog posts. Sorry about that.

Norway was amazing, incredible.
I’m lucky enough to live in one of the most dramatically beautiful countries on the planet. This last weekend, I was lucky enough to visit another. Living in Cape Town often gives one a false level of expectation when it comes to seeing other places. There’s not really much that can match it, but the west of Norway did just that. And, dare I say it, possibly more.

Bigger and better on black

If our rail journey from Bergen to Myrdal was breathtaking, then the trip from there to Flåm would have to be described as asphyxiating, and the near six hour fastcraft journey through the fjords back to Bergen would have left us long dead through suffocation.
Sight after utterly incredible sight left us (to continue the pulmonary theme) literally gasping.

There are, as you might expect, several hundred images to wade through, to select the best and discard the rest. And as I said, I’m not doing that just yet. But if there was one image that summed up our visit to Norway better than any other I took, it would be this one. The falu red cottages, built almost into the rocks, the glassy, icy waters of the fjords and – for us at least – the blue sky.

I desperately want to go back, but equally, I desperately don’t: there’s simply no way that a return visit could ever be so perfect.

Could it?

Goodbye Norway

I’m flying back to the UK today.
I hope it’s been an amazing trip.
(I’m writing this in Cape Town last week.)

At this point, a quote from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy seems appropriate:

“Pity,” said Slartibartfast, “that was one of mine. Won an award you know. Lovely crinkly edges. I was most upset to hear about its destruction.”

Destruction? I promise to leave Norway in exactly the state I found it.

Expect some photos coming when I am safely ensconced at my next destination.

Oh, and (the final) tenuous a-ha link: I’m “left without a reason to stay”, as per their 2010 hit Butterfly, Butterfly.

Concert Day!

Disclaimer: I’ve been caught out with this sort of post before.

Here’s an alternative version of Cast In Steel, featuring footage and images for the tour’s South American leg last year.

a-ha are due on stage just after 10pm local time at the Bergenhus Festning this evening.

a-ha topp2

Vi gleder oss!

Tenuous a-ha link: er…

First day

First of all: we made it! I’m actually in  Norway and it’s just like you think it would be.

Bergen is busy, touristy, friendly and beautiful. Everything centres around the harbour, and we had amazing fresh  cooked fish, scallops and whale meat there for lunch.

Then it was up the mountain for some stunning views over the city.

There’s Internet in the hotel, meaning that you might get a flickr upload if we have a moment to spare. But that seems unlikely, given that we want to spend every waking hour exploring more of this amazing place.

Yes, I like it here. 🙂

Bergen-bound

Right. *deep breath*

If all goes well, when this post self-publishes, we should be on the first leg of the journey to Bergen for the final concert in a-ha’s Cast In Steel tour.

This first leg is deeply uninteresting and involves fighting with the rush hour traffic on the N2 to get to Cape Town International Airport. From there, things get a little more exciting, involving international air travel (twice) and a bus journey to a fish market in Bergen. To be honest, given last time’s problems, I am more than happy for the entire traveling process to be wholly mundane and uneventful.

As ever, when I’m on the move, I’m not sure what sort of blog coverage will be possible, so I have attempted to furnish you with some pre-written posts, each with at least a tenuous a-ha link. In addition, if I get chance to blog, I shall, obviously.

You may also expect twitter and Instagram updates, although Flickr may be out of the question.
Still. Go look and you may find yourself be pleasantly surprised.

I shall see you on the other side. Of the world.