Archive for May, 2010
Fun in the Fjords – Norway in a Nutshell
Posted by: | CommentsThe following is an excerpt from an article published in the May 1, 2008, edition of Edmond Life and Leisure.
floating the fjords
No Norwegian vacation should be limited to only the country’s urban areas, and the best way to experience Norway’s scenic mountains and fjords is an organized trip called Norway in a Nutshell.
While possible as a day trip from Oslo, many tourists use this trip as transportation between the capital and Bergen, Norway’s second largest city and a tourist destination itself.
From Oslo, the Nutshell tour begins with a long train ride across the countryside. Hikers and other passengers hop on and off at the many quick stops as the train climbs its way to the mountain station at Myrdal. The connection point for the Flam Railway, Myrdal is a good place to grab a quick bite before the descent from mountain high to sea level low and the fjord cruise connection in Flam.
Kjosfossen waterfall
The one-hour trip from Myrdal to Flam is packed with waterfalls, tunnels and wonderful views of the Flam valley. The train stops at the 305-foot Kjosfossen waterfall, which provides electric power for the railway, for photos and an opportunity for tourists to get soaked by its spray. The train passes through 20 tunnels on its journey, one of which makes a 180-degree turn inside the mountain.
After arriving in Flam, join the stampede to the most exciting leg of the journey, a boat ride on two scenic arms of the Sognefjord. You will likely be pushed and shoved as other Nutshellers race to get the best views from seats on the boat’s top deck. The floating journey starts on the Aurlandsfjord and passes waterfalls and picturesque villages tucked under the mountains next to the glacier-carved fjord.
Shutterbugs will love this two-hour cruise, especially when the boat enters the dramatic Naeroyfjord. The narrowest arm of the Sognefjord, this is the highlight of the entire day. The mountains seem to rise straight up from the water and the narrow passes look just wide enough for the boat to squeeze through.
Once the boat arrives in Gudvangen tourists transfer to buses for the long climb from the valley floor up to Voss and the train connection back to Oslo o
r on to Bergen.
We took the Nutshell trip as a round trip from Olso. Our advice to future travelers, don’t do it, go on to Bergen. We left Oslo at 6:30 am and did not return until almost 11 pm. It makes for a very long day and only about three hours are spent amongst the scenic beauty we traveled so far to see. The round trip from Olso includes two different five-hour train rides. Whether day tripping from Oslo or connecting to Bergen, it’s best to have a reservation as the trip is popular with tourists and the trains and boat can be crowded.
They Fought for Our Freedom – Museum Honors WWII Heros
Posted by: | CommentsEach Wednesday this summer, TravelBlur is teaming with The Oklahoma Gazette to feature an Oklahoma City metro-area travel attraction.
This week’s article highlights the 45th Infantry Division Museum.
“The museum’s collection chronicles the 45th Infantry Division’s World War II battles in the European Theater where it saw more than 500 days of fighting in Italy, France and Germany.”
Even Hail Hell Can’t Sink a Slovenian Sojourn
Posted by: | CommentsA huge hail storm that recently swept through my hometown reminded me of a bit of hail storm hell I experienced while on a rowboat in the middle of an idyllic lake in the Julian Alps.
The tiny hamlet of Bled sits on a lake of the same name in the northwest corner of the Balkan country of Slovenia. Surrounded by mountains and a cliff-top castle, Bled’s fairytale setting comes complete with 17th-century church built on a tiny island in the middle of a sapphire-blue alpine lake.
Visitors ride wooden pletna boats across the lake to visit the church. Powered only by the oarsman, the trip is a relaxing ride. My ride to the island was enjoyable but it was the ride back to the dock that was most memorable.
As we were about to leave the island, we heard a rumble of thunder and our oarsman said we needed to hurry to try to beat the storm.
We didn’t make it.
Just a few minutes into the journey, the downpour came. After we were thoroughly soaked, the hail storm moved in. The boat’s decorative canvas canopy did fine in blocking the sun, but hail was another story. Although the hail stones were only about the size of a quarter, it was still an unpleasant experience. We eventually found cover under a private boathouse where we sat to wait out the storm.
watching the storm from the safety of the boathouse
A Bull in China Closet – Crashing Around the Porcelain Museum
Posted by: | CommentsEach Wednesday this summer, TravelBlur is teaming with The Oklahoma Gazette to feature an Oklahoma City metro-area travel attraction.
This week’s article highlights the World Organization of China Painters Museum.
“With more than 6,000 square feet of exhibit space, the giant china closet is filled with painted porcelain of every shape and size, from huge vases to dainty teacups. Among the 3,000 pieces in the collection are works from almost every U.S. state and at least a dozen countries. Plates, bowls, cups and saucers are joined by porcelain chandeliers, china dolls and Christmas ornaments. Even the light switch covers are decorated porcelain. “
Travel Clubs and Cruise Tips in May’s Budget Travel
Posted by: | CommentsThe May issue of Budget Travel magazine contained two items that caught my eye. First was Brad Tuttle’s piece examining travel clubs and whether the benefits justify the expense of the yearly fees.
The second item was a compilation of reader tips covering ”the art of cruising.” I’m not much of a cruiser, but I have enjoyed a couple of voyages with my family and thought many of the reader tips could come in handy on my next family sailing.
Firefighters Museum Honors Oklahomans Who Keep Us Safe
Posted by: | CommentsEach Wednesday this summer, TravelBlur is teaming with The Oklahoma Gazette to feature an Oklahoma City metro-area travel attraction.
This week’s article highlights the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum and Memorial.
“Claiming the distinction of the nation’s only fire museum owned and operated by firefighters, the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum and Memorial preserves the history of the Oklahoma fire services and honors the men and women who work in this perilous profession.”
Charging for Pressurized Air, Comparing Airline Fees
Posted by: | CommentsI stumbled across an informative article that compares all those charges airlines have tacked on for the little extras that used to come standard. In an article titled “How Much Does That Airline Ticket Really Cost?” author Amy Roberts compares the services and fees for a domestic flight across eight US airlines; AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Air.
It’s no secret that the airline industry is hurting, but I particularly enjoyed Roberts’ quip that airlines are “practically charging you for the pressurized air.”
Travel to Oklahoma’s Territorial Past at the Harn Homestead
Posted by: | CommentsEach Wednesday this summer, TravelBlur.com is teaming with The Oklahoma Gazette to feature an Oklahoma City metro-area travel attraction.
This week’s article highlights the Harn Homestead and 1889er’s Museum.
“Set on original land run property, the Harn Homestead and 1889er’s Museum transports visitors back more than 100 years to a time before statehood. The open air museum’s collection of century-old homes, barns and buildings brings history to life through the story of Oklahoma pioneer William Fremont Harn.”
