Foto: Lofoten is a chain of rocky islands (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Norway - As we rejoin the E6, light rain begins to fall. This is not the kind of weather we had hoped for in Lofoten. It doesn’t improve. Just past Narvik, we leave the E6 and take the E10 heading toward Lofoten. Lofoten is a rocky peninsula just above the Arctic Circle. The four main islands are connected by bridges and tunnels. Svolvær is the capital of the archipelago. We look for a parking spot near the shopping center. There are many tourists here. Campers are everywhere in the town center. We grab a sandwich and use the restrooms in the mall. As we continue driving, the scenery becomes increasingly beautiful. The road winds past towering rock formations and offers stunning views of the sea. The sun even breaks through. In Kabelvåg stands the second-largest wooden cathedral in Norway. The yellow structure rises clearly above everything else. Via tunnels and bridges, we reach the island of Vestvågøy, where the town of Leknes is located. This is where we’ll spend the night. Upon reaching the island, our navigation directs us to turn left, even though road signs point right. Apparently, the GPS still follows the old route, and a tunnel must have been constructed in the meantime. We decide to follow the old scenic route. It's a beautiful, rolling road that runs along the island's edge. Because it's narrower than the main road, we need to be cautious when encountering oncoming traffic. Eventually, this road also brings us to Leknes. We check in at the hotel. The sun is shining brightly. We decide to make the most of the good weather and drive to the most remote island, Moskenes. The road there is hilly and winding. The views are breathtaking. What a stunning environment this is. Just before Reine, the road crosses a few small islets, connected by one-lane bridges. Traffic takes turns crossing. Even beyond the bridges, the road is sometimes narrow, requiring vehicles to wait for each other. We arrive in Reine, an old fishing village on a peninsula at the foot of the Reinebringen rock formations. Thanks to its location behind the cliffs, the village was protected from the sea. Nowadays, mostly tourists drive in and out of the village in search of a parking spot. It’s obvious that the Lofoten Islands struggle to handle the number of summer tourists. The fishing villages aren’t equipped for this influx. It's becoming a victim of its own success. Just outside of Reine, it’s possible to hike the Reinebringen. From the top of this 400+ meter high rock formation, you get a stunning view of Reine and the surrounding islands. We park the car in a small lot just past the tunnel and follow the other hikers to the trailhead by the tunnel. At the start, there's a warning that the climb can be dangerous. The trail can be slippery, with loose stones, and it's emphasized that it’s not an official trail. Right from the first few meters, it's clear what they mean. The path climbs steeply over rocks. Sometimes you have to scramble. You can hold onto the trees for grip. From the plateau, the trail continues steeply toward the summit. Going up is one thing, but we also need to get back down. Halfway, we decide to split. Wouter continues to the top. I turn back. The path is too steep and too slippery for me. At least a hundred other tourists are climbing the slope. You're never alone here. After about 45 minutes, Wouter returns. He made it to the summit and had a fantastic view of Reine and the surroundings. Despite the beautiful photos he shows, I’m glad I turned back. It’s now 6:30 PM. We drive the same road back to Leknes.
Hopperstad stave church
Norway - After lunch, the bus continues along the shores of the Sognefjord toward Hella. In Hella, we take the ferry across the fjord to Vangsnes. At Vik, we leave the fjord behind and head to the small church village of Hopperstad. In Hopperstad stands one of ...
Northern lights at the Arctic Circle
Norway - In the evening, during dinner at the hotel (there is no other place to eat nearby), the waitress alerts us that the Northern Lights are visible outside. We abandon our coffee and quickly grab our cameras. We rush outside. The Northern Lights are a beautiful ...
The Geiranger Fjord
Norway - Along the way, the low clouds create stunning views across the fjords. In Linge, I cross the Norddalsfjord by ferry toward Eidsdal. From there, I continue toward Geiranger. Thankfully, the weather keeps improving. As I approach Geiranger, I get a magnificent ...
The North Cape
Norway - At Olderfjord, we leave the E6 and take the E69. This road leads to the North Cape. The North Cape is located on the island of Magerøya. We reach the island via the Nordkapp Tunnel, which is nearly seven kilometers long. The road in the tunnel descends ...
The Norwegian Fjords
Norway - After breakfast, we drive through light rain to the ferry. Visibility is limited due to the low-hanging clouds, which gives the Moldefjord a mystical atmosphere. The ferry crossing takes thirty-five minutes. On the other side, we continue toward Geiranger. ...
The Preikestolen
Norway - When we open the curtains, it is cloudy. Carefully a ray of sun comes through the clouds. The most important thing: it is dry. After breakfast we drive to the Preikestolen. The Preikestolen is a 605-meter-high steep rock that rises above the Lysefjord. ...
Wooden trading houses of Trondheim
Norway - The Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim is one of the few churches in Norway built from stone. The building was constructed in the 11th century (1093) but has been expanded and restored several times, partly due to the many fires that have damaged it (six ...