Nay 15th Norway in a Nutshell Tour

Norway in a Nutshell by train, bus, boat, and train.  We were up early, had a fabulous breakfast buffet, and walked to the train station to begin, by 8:40 a.m., our day-long tour of mountains and fjords.  From the moment we boarded the train, these became an Irish/Norwegian spectacular.  An Irish accordion band, who became our good friends, came into the station marching and playing their way onto the train.  It was their Nutshell tour, too, and we enjoyed their company and music all the way to and from Bergen. The old gentleman who was band leader smiled ear-to-ear the whole day.  One of our students had commented on how much she liked to see the mix of ages in a city band.  The leader said they were from a Northern Irish town of 450 people and had left only two old ladies, a cat, and a dog behind! All things Irish mixed with all things Norwegian to make a truly international day for us. 

Karissa on the train with her Flat Stanleys.

The Irish Band that went on the Nutshell tour with us.

Mountains (some with snow), waterfalls, sheep and baby lambs, and flowering shrubs and trees.  It is spring in Norway and we are at a loss for words to describe the wonders.  The fog only adds to the mystery and beauty.  It is a privilege to see this nature’s bounty in Norway.  It is reassuring to know that the Norwegian people value and appreciate it as much as we do as guests.



It was a cloudy day in the mountains.

A waterfall boring a hole through some remaining snow.

A passenger feeding seagulls on the fjord.



Donna on the boat.

More cloudy mountains.

The ship helps see how big this waterfall is.

An Irishman, a Norwegian, and 2.5 Cobbers.

The gang with another new friend.

Britta & Amy on the train back to Bergen.

Karissa, Alli, & Hope on the train back to Bergen.

Megan & Donna on the train back to Bergen.

I am always intrigued by speculative questions.  While having a quick lunch on the fjord tour boat, Britta and Amy were talking about fantasy literature and their “what if” questions were marvelous.  Britta wondered what if each and every person in the world spoke a different language. Amy wondered what if we looked in the mirror and saw our image, but, in fact, we didn’t look anything like that.  I told them they had the beginnings of a collaborative novel.

A good day was had by all. - Karla