FLIEGER67 From Bulgaria, joined Sep 2003, 4424 posts, RR: 56 Posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 10915 times:
God dag, dear readers,
if you expect to follow here long haul travel between the busiest cities of the world, this is not the right place to be, at least not today. Ok, you don´t even clicked on the link with this expectations!.
But when you want to see a couple of pictures from a country, where you can travel between sun...
...and snow...
...by train...
...ship...
... and of course, by plane...
...around a day, you might be ok here.
Well, not that someone persuaded me to do it this way, no, I simply love this country.
Ok, back from the pathetic path, might have something to do with the first day around this trip as the country´s national day.
Service SK 4752 operated by SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Scheduled: 11.30 // 13.25
A lazy late morning departure on the ticket confirmation.
Powered by Exp.de this time.
The fare per leg 85.00 Euro´s, booked as a return, is somewhat steep, but it´s a long weekend here in Germany and lot´s of people are on travel around this time of the year.
I´ve asked for an miles upgrade, but not accepted due to the booking class, also Optiontown shows no upgrade possible for the flight. A good load today?.
Well used motorways, but anyway close to as expected at the usual parking spot for FRA departures, Tourcare, in Neu-Isenburg. Shuttled to the terminal, 1 of course, within the next few minutes.
Seat selection is done in advance, but no boarding papers printed.
That means a detour for the Lufthansa Senator desks.
The elder female agent shows us the seatmap, well done, really good service here.
No need to block the aisle with lots of open seats around the last row.
Quickly done, no time to wait at security and ready for a view to the screen.
OSL looks like ok from gate B01
And also the inbound arrived nice 20 minutes early
The SEN place is packed with people as usual, but it´s public holiday, ok, you know, so most of the travellers are in a good mood today.
Breakfast anyone?
Vegetables and eggs
Nice staff at the sandwich desk and well, my travel companion
Looks like not that busy here, MEA and Tarom
Bus boarding, as lots of FRA connectors dislike.
But not me, with nice weather conditions like today.
This is good to do for example an under the wing shot
Or maybe also another one this way
LN-RRN, is this something new for me?
Ok, it´s the scheduled 737-700.
Leg. no 36 on type. No new entry here. This bird shuttled me from SVG to OSL a couple of years ago.
Flying around within the SK group since 03.11.1999
22 machines on type are in the fleet actually.
The plane was involved in a near miss incident with an AY B752 above Sweden in 2010
11.30 am, ontime, "Scandinavian" likes to go now back to the north from the 4000 meters runway "Two-Five-Center". 1 hour, 50 minutes in the air ahead, 8 partly cloudy degrees here. Maybe better up the north?.
Cockpit crew is from Scandinavia, the captain with a nice welcome during boarding.
Oldfashioned fabric seats to say the least
Cabin crew is four FA´s today.
Two female, two male, both times one elder, one younger, all together nice and relaxed, but also nothing special.
Service is free water, coffee, tea.
A view to the cabin
Legroom is ok here, 24E with the aisle seat open.
The load is 60% in the end, mostly leisure travellers today
Well, the -600 is much more needed here
No, not Rome for today
Where we departed from, just a couple of minutes ago
Full cabin view with the dark blue well used fabric seats
The captain is on the mike inflight in a nice style. Cruise level is 30000 feet maximum.
We will see some turbulence above the north sea in a couple of minutes due to strong crosswinds.
The whole thing will not longer last than 10 minutes, but nothing really to worry about. So it was in the end.
Low clouds on finals
Touchdown at the 3600 meters "One-Nine-Right", 1.30 pm, close to ontime. 10, superb, 2 more than in FRA, degrees and partly cloudy.
Finger disembarking at Oslo
Bye now to LN-RRN
There is something different here, spot the Norwegian flag on the plane close by
Some minutes to wait for the bag and on the way for the city.
Well, my travel companion decides that we need to go on the "Flytoget".
Impressive to say the least
The fare is more than 20.00 Euro´s, but what should you do in such situations?
Not that I´ve even noticed it before. It´s national day in Norway and that means with the people here,
mostly proud of their country, sure a good festival mood around.
Even the female train conductor walks through the railway carriage, singing the national theme, like others told me and decides it´s not the day to check any tickets. Well, tell this one of the Deutsche Bahn officials, no way, absolutely no way in Germany!.
Our accomodation is not that far to walk from Oslo Sentralstasjon and after the usual selfmade and never really necessary detours, we´re ready to check-in
We´re ready but not the hotel.
Check-in is open from 3.00 pm and you need to pay an extra 100.00 NOK earlier. Hah, no way, some minutes to wait only till 3.00 pm
The lobby
Room first view
Not that really spacious
The bathroom
But, you know, Norway and especially Oslo is super expensive. So this is really ok with us and 75.00 Euro´s to stay the night.
Let´s go for a view into town.
A thousand and a couple more people on the streets
Tough job today with all the visitors on a public holiday around
The new Opera is also something for us
This is really Oslo S.
Impressive architecture down by the sea
Ostbane, well, we will see
All the people in traditional clothing
Lion´s are also here
The castle in the evening
The afternoon goes forward and the people on the streets decide to consume everything, what they don´t do usually, at least not in this quantity.
Don´t get me wrong, but I have never seen such a number of drunk people on the streets.
Singing and dancing and drinking.
And not the usual alcohol addicts.
Lot´s of well dressed also elder people who need much more space on the streets while walking than standard.
And lot´s of drunk women, unbelievable.
Helped by other women, bloody knee from falling down. Every taxista in Oslo should pin these day with a big red marker as soon as the first calendar for the new year arrives. And it seems they know it well!.
Time for some good hours of sleep for us now.
It will be an early wakeup call the next morning for a
train/train/ship/bus/train combo, some 14 hours from hotel to hotel and we are really looking forward to it!.
Ah, here we are, Oslo S., 07.30 am and this looks like the first train bound for Myrdal
I´am really surprised to see also a couple of suits on the train. Now that´s really a heavy form of fear of flying when you decide to go for biz by train than by plane here on this route.
Red for us today
The older brother
On the tracks cruising along the Norwegian countryside
Not that there are also some lakes to follow
And it feels also good with snow on the peaks
Hard work for the engine up for the Hardangervidda
Looks like cold out there
Now that´s what I call snow
Ustaoset, 990m above sea level
More snow to come
Well, that´s the Hardangervidda, the largest mountain plateau in Europe
Finse, the highest train station in northern Europe
And down again
For Myrdal
Where, after a couple of snowy minutes, the next train, the famous Flamsbana is on finals
The snow slide is well needed here
This is one of the steepest tracks around the whole world, along a valley with the tracks down to the sea level
That´s where we should go on the other side of the valley
A short stop en route with a couple of waterfall´s
And yes, it was cold and wet but really worth it
Directly above the tunnel
Impressive to follow the tracks
Do you want to live here?
It seems we´re not alone in Flam
These big cruiser feels somewhat surrealistic here
Cunards Queen Mary 2
Anyone ready for an adventure?
A long way to go from Hamilton till Flam
The big ship and the small harbour
Impressive to say the least
Down the fjord guided by the seagulls
Bye now for Flam
Hey, the birds know how to attract the public
Flam in the distance
Cruising down the Aurlandsfjord
The water looks like cold
The captain with good assistance today
Not that easy to reach you´re home up there
Around the corner
To enter the Naeroyfjord
How I like this view
Our ship in Gudvangen
Further by bus now up and down the Stalheimskleiva
One of the steepest roads in Europe
Water and road down there
Till Voss, where one of these super classic engines wait´s to shuttle us for the final destination today
Along more lakes for Bergen
We know that Norway is an expensive country, we know that Oslo is an expensive city.
But we don´t really know that Bergen top´s it all.
Tough biz to secure here an accomodation with an acceptable rating on TA.
Rooms on offer, sure, but old, dirty and lousy places for much to much money at all.
Finally we decided for the newly opened Clarion Bergen Airport. Top on the TA ratings for Bergen, with one, maybe very expensive, risiko point. We are calling Bergen railway station scheduled at 8.34 pm and there are two bus departures only available this evening for the airport later on.
A short delay, what might be possible with that long travel day and several connections and the only other way for the airport will be digging a hole in my wallet, by taxi, not what I´am really looking for.
Thanx god, it works and we catched the first bus.
The fare for the two of us is 10.00 Euro´s oneway.
The hotel the next morning
Unbelievable with a spotters heart
The room
And the bathroom
What about an afternoon view out of the window?
Unbelievable that you follow the planes directly from you´re bed
Good night planes
And good morning planes
Ready for breakfast
One of the best ever during my latest travels
Everything what you need or not for 130.00 Euro´s
Conference
Bergen has also an extra heli terminal with lot´s of services for mainly oil rigs in the north sea
Let´s go for a city visit now.
But stop, take the advantage of an airport hotel and pick up you´re boarding pass first. No need for OLCI here.
Done in a minute.
Hoping on the next bus and emerging at the harbour front with views like this
Or like this
The seafood market
What do you like for dinner?
Or what about this?
Weather was perfectly nice for Bergen standards
A view from above anyone?
The Floibanen for us now, 5.00 Euro´s to leave my credit card account twice
Higher
Just a little bit more
Now, that´s a place with a view
Cruisers also here
Down for the old town, Bergen Brygge
Narrow ways
Wooden houses
How to act with a heavy load
Looks like really interesting
It meanwhile started what it usually in Bergen does, rain!.
Time for us to catch the next bus, pick up the bag and for a closer look around my new departure airport.
Saturday, 19.05.2012
.
.
Bergen lufthavn, Flesland
.
Oslo lufthavn, Gardermoen
.
Service SK 284 operated by SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Scheduled: 18.15 // 19.05
Covered walkways, sure well needed here
In the small terminal building
What about our service?.
Looks like ok from gate 29.
Note the delayed LH bound for HAM.
The info to the pax was for sure interesting.
An catering service truck hit the fuselage of the plane which results in a large dent.
They are not sure if the plane is ready to fly.
Wait for the next info.
Well, the plane was still on the ground later, when we taxied for the runway
75.00 Euro´s is the fare here per pax secured by Lastminute.de.
No time to wait at security and for a view to the apron. Action, at least if there is one!.
No lounge to visit here btw.
SK, ok that´s somewhat expected
Norwegian, well also not out of the ordinary
Rainy close up
That looks like more interesting. Heli between the winglets
Taxi
For the heli terminal, of course
Norwegian´s classic LN-KKD
Heli on the go
Air Europa with an cruiseshipcharter two hours late bound for Valadolid.
Thanx god, we passed security short before these huge group of mostly retired spanish couples.
Imagine the scenery when they want to open an emergency door from the domestic to the international terminal area.
Shouting around, shaking at the door, the next thing might be a broken glass and we all need to vacate the gates again to sort it out.
Well, always these retirees!
There is one more 737-700 on schedule for our service
No winglets, but it looks like a -700
How to check the engine
Wideroe Dash´s in the background
Boarding is called from the finger gate
But hey, there are also stairs leading for the apron and the rear door. No question, the way to go for us now
The engine looks somewhat oily here
What to do if it starts to rain on the apron?.
The wing is for sure a good rain protection
LN-RRM now
Leg no. 37 on type. Finally a new registration for me.
"Erland Viking" is within the SAS group since 12.01.2000.
Never noticed these small registration markers at the tail
Cockpit crew is from Scandinavia, the captain with a nice and relaxed welcome during boarding.
He´s once again on the mike later on with more informations during our early approach.
No route or flightlevel details.
6.20 pm, close to ontime, "Scandinavian" on the move for OSL, 40 minutes to go from the 2990 meters runway "Three-Five".
11 degrees and light rain here.
Just departed, snowy peaks ahead
Turning inland
Waterstyle living down there
Where we are coming from
Cabin view with the well used, not that really clean, dark blue fabric seats from 22E, all three seats are taken here.
This is a 100% load, no open seat to spot.
It´s Saturday evening, travellers of all ages around and no biz suits to spot
Cabin crew is one elder female, well, really nice, cute and good looking together with two male FA´s, one elder and ok, one middle aged and nice.
Legroom, not that there is much about it.
Ok, what do you expect from a middle seat and a full flight?
Service is free coffee, tea, water.
The safety card, for sure
Touchdown at "Zero-One-Left", 7.10 pm, close to ontime, also 11 degrees and light rain here, no changes.
Finger disembarking at OSL, no apron possible this time
Bye now for LN-RRM
The bag is quick and we decided to go for a Pizza at the airport before heading out to the hotel.
Not to talk about the price, much to much, but anyway we´re hungry, what should you do?.
Well, I had already talked about how I like these country?.
Yes ok, but had I also talked about the people and alcohol here?.
A few tables away are two couples between 50 and 60
in a really funny mood, to say the least. Laughing and talking loud.
Suitcases and a couple of plastic dutyfree bags around, where you hear the usual clash when booze bottles and the stone floor coming in contact.
The two ladies helped each other on the way for the, maybe, restroom and when they are coming back a soaking wet trousers with one of them was clearly to spot. I don´t want to know what happens on the way!.
Well, they picked up their belongings and staggering away, hopefully to catch a taxi.
Five minutes later another couple decides for the same table.
He is looking also not that really comfortable but anyway ok, but she rests her head immediatelly on the table, snoring away as soon as she sits down.
And no question the usual duty free bags with the usual clash are also here.
Time for us to catch the frequently running hotel bus shuttle now for the Quality Airport Hotel Gardermoen. The fare 9.00 Euro´s.
The room was prepared for us
And there was nothing else to do than catching a couple of hours in dreamland now
The bathroom
A small breakfast is available from 04.30 am, sure ok with us and the upcoming early deaprture.
The fare here 100.00 Euro´s B&B.
Service SK 4751 operated by SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Scheduled: 07.25 // 09.35
The shuttle bus runs perfectly ontime, also this very early Sunday morning time.
And for sure there are not that many customers around.
These flight is scheduled on a 737-500 and I´am really looking forward to it.
Seat selection is done online and the self service kiosk
prints out what we are looking for.
Nothing new for FRA from gate 30
Time enough to hit the lounge here
Strange, you need to walk through the biz part till you reach a separate door for the Star Gold guests.
Well, guests, there is no one else around beside us and three employees
Superb offers this early morning
Meeting anyone?
Comfy chairs
Scandic design tables
Smoothie´s anyone, too?
Our plane. Are you sure that this is a -500?
Well, well, it looks like more as the third -700 in a row
LN-TUM, at least that sounds new to me
"Oystein Magnusson", no viking today.
It´s new, really, leg no. 38 on type.
In the air since 19.04.2002 along the SK group.
One of the 22 -700´s in the fleet
Large winglets here
Engine view
The two main competitors side by side
Cockpit crew is from Scandinavia, the captain with a nice welcome during boarding in a cool style.
The FO is pilot flying today. He´s on the mike inflight with short informations and once more during holding for FRA.
No route info, flightlevel maximum is 40000 feet.
7.25 am, that´s nothing really new to me, perfectly ontime.
8 degrees ans rain, I´am looking for something warmer now.
1 hour, 50 minutes from runway "One-Nine-Left" for FRA.
Cabin view with the dark blue fabric seaters, clean so far
Cabin crew is two female FA´s both nice, one elder, one middle aged together with another elder nice male FA.
Sure, the safety card
Ok legroom with 21E, the aisle remains open.
Warm welcomed with a 80 % load. The usual bunch of weekend travellers around, for example these guy with
his annoying loud music in the row behind us.
Hey, I don´t want to listen to you´re ghetto style tunes
Cruising above the clouds
Service is nothing new, free coffee, tea, water.
Full cabin view
Coming in for FRA
Touchdown at "Zero-Seven-Left", 09.25 am ontime, some holding circles but anyway 10 minutes ahead to schedule.
Something warmer?. Ok, 16 degrees and a few clouds only here.
7-8-7, something for me
Nice weather at FRA
Welcome back to Germany
Or should I go again up the north, maybe on this engine?
Under the wing, you know
Bye now to LN-TUM
And the under-the-wing shots
Our bag was one of the very few on the belt.
Lot´s of connecting pax as usual at FRA.
The shuttle works convenient and not that long thereafter back at the homebase.
Conclusions, no question:
SK FRA-OSL: As relaxed as it should be.
SK BGO-OSL: Nice staff, cramped seating.
SK OSL-FRA: Comfy, beside the ghetto music guy.
And now?. There is something more to do this month.
Some legs to count on Skyteam, of course a new departure airport and "Travel with nice accompaniment" is the theme for the next story!.
Farvel, Norway, comments welcome, no question,
FLIEGER67 or "Markus Klaus Felger" by Facebook.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 25129 posts, RR: 60 Reply 4, posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 10839 times:
Hey Markus ,
Lovely report and brought back memories . I did a Fjords cruise taking in Flam/Bergen and did the same train trip . Really nice experience. Also great to see the QM2 . It really looks unreal in such a location.
Lovely photos of SK too and nice pics of Norway . Always a nice place to go .
You make we want to go back sometime
Thanks for the lovely report.
Regards
Philip
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
NorthstarBoy From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1716 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 10818 times:
Good report Markus. Flam looks really scenic. If ever i take another trip on the Hurtigruten, I'm going to have to make a side trip there. Your pictures of Bergen brought back fond memories of my two trips there to take the Hurtigruten. Norway too is one of my favorite countries, probably doesn't hurt that my maternal grandfather was from there.
I do have to wonder, how do you get access to the operational information at FRA? is there a special kiosk at FRA airport to access that? Or do you have access to a non-public website that contains such information?
Finally, if you break down your log by subtype, I think LN-TUM is a 737-705, probably originally delivered to or ordered by Braathens. On my second trip on the Hurtigruten I flew on LN-TUA, Braathen's very first 737-700, at that time it didn't have winglets.
Finally, when you say International vs domestic, do you mean Schengen vs non-schengen? because I thought all flights within the Schengen zone were considered to be "domestic" as in, no passport controls, or is Norway different?
Once again, good report and pictures.
[Edited 2012-07-14 04:04:25]
I could have elite status if I wanted it, but flying the same airline all the time is boring.
jwhite9185 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 748 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 10687 times:
Great report there with good pictures Markus. Scandinavia looks completely different to anywhere else in Europe - must make a point to get there sometime!
mloew From Germany, joined Oct 2011, 25 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 10664 times:
Hi Markus,
thanks for sharing this truly amazing report! Norway countryside looks really stunning with all the fjords and especially with the QM2 in between. Doing a cruise up there sounds quite nice to me.
Too bad the 735 was changed to a -700, but anyway a great report!
FLIEGER67 From Bulgaria, joined Sep 2003, 4424 posts, RR: 56 Reply 8, posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 10509 times:
Hi and nice to follow these comments.
@Phil:
Quoting OA260 (Reply 4): Lovely report and brought back memories . I did a Fjords cruise taking in Flam/Bergen and did the same train trip . Really nice experience. Also great to see the QM2 . It really looks unreal in such a location.
Lovely photos of SK too and nice pics of Norway . Always a nice place to go .
You make we want to go back sometime
Thanks for the lovely report.
Thank and really good to know about you´re cruise experience.
@NorthstarBoy:
Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 5): Good report Markus. Flam looks really scenic. If ever i take another trip on the Hurtigruten, I'm going to have to make a side trip there. Your pictures of Bergen brought back fond memories of my two trips there to take the Hurtigruten. Norway too is one of my favorite countries, probably doesn't hurt that my maternal grandfather was from there.
Thank you and count me in this way.
Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 5): I do have to wonder, how do you get access to the operational information at FRA? is there a special kiosk at FRA airport to access that? Or do you have access to a non-public website that contains such information?
There is a small, secret button on the screen where you find the Ops screen.
Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 5):
Finally, if you break down your log by subtype, I think LN-TUM is a 737-705, probably originally delivered to or ordered by Braathens. On my second trip on the Hurtigruten I flew on LN-TUA, Braathen's very first 737-700, at that time it didn't have winglets.
Ah, good to know.
Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 5): Finally, when you say International vs domestic, do you mean Schengen vs non-schengen? because I thought all flights within the Schengen zone were considered to be "domestic" as in, no passport controls, or is Norway different?
Once again, good report and picture
Thanx again. Norway separates domestic and international flights, Schengen or not is separated again after the first one.
@J.:
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 6):
Great report there with good pictures Markus. Scandinavia looks completely different to anywhere else in Europe - must make a point to get there sometime!
Thank you and it´s definitely worth to visit.
@Maurice:
Quoting mloew (Reply 7):
thanks for sharing this truly amazing report! Norway countryside looks really stunning with all the fjords and especially with the QM2 in between. Doing a cruise up there sounds quite nice to me.
Too bad the 735 was changed to a -700, but anyway a great report!
infodesk From Switzerland, joined May 2006, 1256 posts, RR: 33 Reply 9, posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 10390 times:
Hi Markus,
What a really super report. It has everything: planes, trains, buses and boats, all with wonderful scenery. How lucky were you with the weather? Is it just me, or has your travel companion got taller since the AUH trip? He looks so grown up now.
Your pictures are lovely. The Norway in a Nutshell tour seems to be a good way of seeing so much in a short space of time. I can’t believe how much snow there was on the run up to Myrdal. Bergen looks so picturesque too.
We talked about the Clarion hotel but seeing your photos only emphasise what a good find it was. The view from the room is just perfect!
As for the large number of drunks, well that does spoil the otherwise good impressions you got of the country.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): The fare is more than 20.00 Euro´s, but what should you do in such situations?
What a cool train. Must have been worth the price.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Even the female train conductor walks through the railway carriage, singing the national theme, like others told me and decides it´s not the day to check any tickets. Well, tell this one of the Deutsche Bahn officials, no way, absolutely no way in Germany!.
Fantastic. I can’t see that happening in Switzerland either!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Now that´s really a heavy form of fear of flying when you decide to go for biz by train than by plane here on this route.
Such a great photo. When you see the size of the QM2 it’s hard to believe she can cruise the fjords. It proves just how deep the water must be to accommodate a ship of that size.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Imagine the scenery when they want to open an emergency door from the domestic to the international terminal area. Shouting around, shaking at the door, the next thing might be a broken glass and we all need to vacate the gates again to sort it out.
Believe me, it happens. One day at work I heard an almighty crash and what was the cause? A gentleman had wheeled his luggage trolley with full force right into the glass door of the flower shop. The entire door was gone and the floor covered in glass!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Ok, what do you expect from a middle seat and a full flight?
Middle seat? You must have a special travel companion if you sacrifice the window
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): The usual bunch of weekend travellers around, for example these guy with
his annoying loud music in the row behind us.
Hey, I don´t want to listen to you´re ghetto style tunes
Annoying, isn’t it? They were really strict about that on the buses in New Zealand. Anyone who had the volume too high got a telling off.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): And now?. There is something more to do this month.
Some legs to count on Skyteam, of course a new departure airport and "Travel with nice accompaniment" is the theme for the next story!.
Now, that seems familiar. I wonder why?!
Happy flying
Infodesk
"Do nothing in haste, look well to each step and from the beginning think what may be the end" - Edward Whymper
FLIEGER67 From Bulgaria, joined Sep 2003, 4424 posts, RR: 56 Reply 12, posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 10307 times:
Hey and nice to follow more comments.
@H.:
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
What a really super report. It has everything: planes, trains, buses and boats, all with wonderful scenery. How lucky were you with the weather? Is it just me, or has your travel companion got taller since the AUH trip? He looks so grown up now.
Thank you and that´s what I always ask him!.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
Your pictures are lovely. The Norway in a Nutshell tour seems to be a good way of seeing so much in a short space of time. I can’t believe how much snow there was on the run up to Myrdal. Bergen looks so picturesque too.
Snow and sun, that fit´s perfectly up there.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
We talked about the Clarion hotel but seeing your photos only emphasise what a good find it was. The view from the room is just perfect!
That is a really special place to stay the night.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
As for the large number of drunks, well that does spoil the otherwise good impressions you got of the country.
Jan is learning for life this way, you know.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
What a cool train. Must have been worth the price.
Sure it is.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
Fantastic. I can’t see that happening in Switzerland either!
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
Such a great photo. When you see the size of the QM2 it’s hard to believe she can cruise the fjords. It proves just how deep the water must be to accommodate a ship of that size.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
Believe me, it happens. One day at work I heard an almighty crash and what was the cause? A gentleman had wheeled his luggage trolley with full force right into the glass door of the flower shop. The entire door was gone and the floor covered in glass!
Unbelievable, these people.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
Middle seat? You must have a special travel companion if you sacrifice the window
Well, sometimes, you know!.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
Annoying, isn’t it? They were really strict about that on the buses in New Zealand. Anyone who had the volume too high got a telling off.
Sure ok with me this way.
Quoting infodesk (Reply 9):
Now, that seems familiar. I wonder why?!
No idea, absolutely, no idea!.
@Hywel:
Quoting Hywel (Reply 10): Nice photos would have been nice to catch the 737-600 for one of the flights as that's pretty rare, but never mind!
Thank you and sure that would be nice here.
Quoting Hywel (Reply 10):
Optiontown doesn't allow short haul upgrades on SAS - only long haul e.g. ARN-EWR. The exception is Blue1 where it can be used for short haul.
Ah, good to know.
@Robert:
Quoting roberts87 (Reply 11):
Great report as usual. Great idea to combine train, boat and car.
Norway is indeed a great country, and Bergen is also high on my to visit list!
Thank you and this is for something recommendable.
ZaphodB From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 77 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 9870 times:
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): I have never seen such a number of drunk people on the streets.
Singing and dancing and drinking
Try new year's eve in Stockholm. I went about 10 years ago and was stunned that all the locals got completely sh**faced in public, out in the freezing cold waiting for the fireworks (which are way better than Sydney or London BTW). Everybody was having a great time, even the ones who literally fell on their faces. Back home in the UK that level of public alcohol consumption would inevitably lead to mass brawls.
burj From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 856 posts, RR: 4 Reply 14, posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 9866 times:
Wow! What beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing them as I am sure there are many of us reading your trip report who will never get a chance to visit for ourselves!
aflyingkiwi From New Zealand, joined Nov 2010, 490 posts, RR: 3 Reply 15, posted (11 months 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 9766 times:
Hi Markus,
Once again another fantastic report! Cool to see that you used trains, ships & planes. I recently did something similar in the South Island of New Zealand. Hopefully I'll get around to do a report about it.
I have to say Norway looks absolutely stunning. Despite the extraordinary prices it looks like a pretty cool place to go. That picture of the QM2 in that tiny harbour with the Norweigian countryside surrounding it is as you said pretty surreal.
Quoting ZaphodB (Reply 13): Try new year's eve in Stockholm. I went about 10 years ago and was stunned that all the locals got completely sh**faced in public, out in the freezing cold waiting for the fireworks (which are way better than Sydney or London BTW). Everybody was having a great time, even the ones who literally fell on their faces. Back home in the UK that level of public alcohol consumption would inevitably lead to mass brawls.
Really interesting to follow you´re impression.
@A.:
Quoting burj (Reply 14): Wow! What beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing them as I am sure there are many of us reading your trip report who will never get a chance to visit for ourselves!
Thank you.
@aflyingkiwi:
Quoting aflyingkiwi (Reply 15): Once again another fantastic report! Cool to see that you used trains, ships & planes. I recently did something similar in the South Island of New Zealand. Hopefully I'll get around to do a report about it.
Thank you and good to know about New Zealand.
Quoting aflyingkiwi (Reply 15):
I have to say Norway looks absolutely stunning. Despite the extraordinary prices it looks like a pretty cool place to go. That picture of the QM2 in that tiny harbour with the Norweigian countryside surrounding it is as you said pretty surreal.
rogerbcn From Andorra, joined Sep 2006, 1140 posts, RR: 19 Reply 17, posted (11 months 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 9556 times:
Hola Markus!
Great TR, having some company on such a nice route is a very nice idea, I bet young Markus will remember this trip for the coming years.
I did a similar trip with my parents, about 40 years ago... long time and I still have fond memories of it, especially now, as I told you with my father's death at the beginning of July, all these things come to you again. We just did a small cruise from Bergen up the fjords... great!
Glad to see all the SK flights, they seem OK but their planes look sort of old-fashioned with those fabric seats, but nice to hear they have so many B737 in all series.
The view of a big cruise like the QM2 reminds me of the Panama Canal, it was announced on the press when she will cross it and it was very interesting to go and see her crossing through the jungle.
Heavy drinking and Northern Europe seems a well established union, sadly exported worldwide nowadays.
Salut!
Roger
"At reise er at leve" H.C. Andersen (Travelling is Living)
akhmad From Netherlands, joined Sep 2005, 2337 posts, RR: 53 Reply 18, posted (11 months 1 week 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 9416 times:
God dag, min venn Markus,
How nice to explore Norway with your companion and amazing how you portray the contrast within this country. From sun to snow. From city to nature. From beach to mountain. From traditional to modern design. Love it!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Ok, you don´t even clicked on the link with this expectations!.
KaiGywer From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 12043 posts, RR: 42 Reply 19, posted (11 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 9233 times:
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Reply 1): Even the female train conductor walks through the railway carriage, singing the national theme, like others told me and decides it´s not the day to check any tickets. Well, tell this one of the Deutsche Bahn officials, no way, absolutely no way in Germany!.
They actually never check tickets on that train. To enter or exit the platform at OSL, you need to insert your ticket. This is how they check that you have one. On the Oslo S side, you can walk right onboard, but you won't be able to exit the platform at OSL without a valid ticket. Also, compared to normal trains, the conductor is not a conductor, but rather an "onboard host" as all door operations are done automatically by the driver.
Quoting NorthstarBoy (Reply 5): Finally, when you say International vs domestic, do you mean Schengen vs non-schengen? because I thought all flights within the Schengen zone were considered to be "domestic" as in, no passport controls, or is Norway different?
You have to go through Norwegian customs regardless of Schengen or not, so it has to be separated.
FlyingFinn76 From Finland, joined Jun 2009, 1705 posts, RR: 41 Reply 20, posted (11 months 1 week 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 9197 times:
Hi Markus,
You certainly have a soft spot for Norway, don't you?
However I think we have a huge cultural clash here over many issues.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Well, not that someone persuaded me to do it this way, no, I simply love this country.
Come on Markus - you are from South of Germany and thrifty as hell. And then you keep going to Norway, the most expensive country in Europe, nearly the whole world! This does not make any sense. Heck I try to keep my trips there as short as possible for the very same reason - everything, not to mention everything fun there costs a ridiculous amount of money. Besides you've done that train ride already, you ever wrote a report about it already!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): I´ve asked for an miles upgrade, but not accepted due to the booking class, also Optiontown shows no upgrade possible for the flight. A good load today?.
SAS does not offer short haul upgrades thru Optiontown, only longhaul. And where did you get enough Eurobonus points for an upgrade?
Argh, I seriously hate that B "Schengen stub". Bus boardings, almost no facilities at all and a helluva way to the Schengen lounges at the A pier. Sure, you can pass immigration to go to the superior non-Schengen B lounges but coming back you need to reclear security which sucks big time (not to mention the fact that sometimes the passport queues are horrible).
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): The plane was involved in a near miss incident with an AY B752 above Sweden in 2010
Well, these are very nice seats, and way better than the newer SAS seats with abysmal legroom.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): There is something different here, spot the Norwegian flag on the plane close by
What's so different about i?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Well, my travel companion decides that we need to go on the "Flytoget".
Impressive to say the least
Well I think it a helluva ugly train. Looks like a fat version of the "dolphin nose" the Spanish AVEs have.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): But, you know, Norway and especially Oslo is super expensive. So this is really ok with us and 75.00 Euro´s to stay the night.
Hey, considering the usual hotel prices in Oslo and everywhere in Norway for that matter that's a bargain!
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Don´t get me wrong, but I have never seen such a number of drunk people on the streets.
Obviously you've never been to Finland on the 30th of April. Or to Scotland on any Saturday night.
What's so weird about drunk women? You know we abolished any gender inequality decades ago, just go to any Finnish/Scandinavian/British/Irish bar on a Saturday night and it'll be full of drunk women. And men too. You know, sometimes I think you live in the 1700th century, Markus.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): I´am really surprised to see also a couple of suits on the train. Now that´s really a heavy form of fear of flying when you decide to go for biz by train than by plane here on this route.
Well it doesn't mean they are necessarily going all the way to Bergen where the next major airport is. There are places in-between with no airport, you know?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Finally we decided for the newly opened Clarion Bergen Airport. Top on the TA ratings for Bergen, with one, maybe very expensive, risiko point. We are calling Bergen railway station scheduled at 8.34 pm and there are two bus departures only available this evening for the airport later on.
You are following Jonas' way are you?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Unbelievable that you follow the planes directly from you´re bed
You know I'm kinda disappointed at your route choice - going back the same way you came in. No way! Why not fly to CPH on the lovely CRJ-900 or just direct to FRA with a LH 737?
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Never noticed these small registration markers at the tail
Me neither, next time I'll be keeping an eye out for them.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Suitcases and a couple of plastic dutyfree bags around, where you hear the usual clash when booze bottles and the stone floor coming in contact.
Yes, you saw how expensive everything, and especially everything fun is around these latitudes, so don't act like you're surprised to see people stock up on affordable booze while abroad. On an average trip I bring back many liters of the good stuff.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): He is looking also not that really comfortable but anyway ok, but she rests her head immediatelly on the table, snoring away as soon as she sits down.
Again standard behavior around here on trips abroad. A couple of years ago at OSL I had to help an extremely drunk Norwegian man coming from LPA thru security but he couldn't make it so the guards took custody of him.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Strange, you need to walk through the biz part till you reach a separate door for the Star Gold guests.
The funny thing is that there's no warden on the entrance to the "inner sanctum" so basically anyone who is admitted to the lounge can just walk back there any enjoy the (slightly) better offerings.
sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1215 posts, RR: 29 Reply 21, posted (11 months 1 week 2 days ago) and read 8947 times:
Hello Markus,
Very good report, Markus! Your love for Norway is evident on every pic. I've been to Norway once in my childhood and remember it as well as a beautiful country: cold but the breathtaking fjord and other views made it really worthwhile.
Solid flights on SAS, too bad you missed out on the 735.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Nice staff at the sandwich desk and well, my travel companion
Ha ha, FLIEGER67 junior came along! You're apparently bringing him up as a good trip reporter
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Shouting around, shaking at the door, the next thing might be a broken glass and we all need to vacate the gates again to sort it out.
CaptainRed From Germany, joined Oct 2010, 588 posts, RR: 19 Reply 22, posted (11 months 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 8748 times:
Hi Markus,
another great report. Nice how you have included so many different means of transport here. Some wonderful pictures as well, especially around the train ride and the little cruise you made. This train ride is something I would love to do as well, even though I normally don't like such long train rides.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): Even the female train conductor walks through the railway carriage, singing the national theme, like others told me and decides it´s not the day to check any tickets. Well, tell this one of the Deutsche Bahn officials, no way, absolutely no way in Germany!.
Cool, now that's indeed something. Unthinkable of indeed in Germany.
Quoting FLIEGER67 (Thread starter): So this is really ok with us and 75.00 Euro´s to stay the night.
Great price for Norway, and the room looked nice as well.
Ok, now that sounds more like Norway ... But excellent view towards the apron, just it seems there is not that much variety in traffic in Bergen. Also nice to see some pictures of the city of Bergen, definitely a interesting place. And you were obviously quite lucky with the weather, especially for the views from Mount Floyen. On my visit there a few years ago I had both heavy rainshowers and heavy sunshine, alternating every 5 minutes.
And on the flights, another solid performance by SK it seems here, nothing special but ok. Just a shame that you had three times the same plane type, a little more variety would have been nice for sure.
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6115 posts, RR: 56 Reply 23, posted (11 months 1 week 20 hours ago) and read 8574 times:
Hi Markus !
Great to see another report from you and especially one to Norway on their National Day (also my son's birthday...) !
Very nice to see you travel around Norway on trains and by air and bus. Amazing with the snow on Hardangervidda. I saw that on my flight ARN-EWR in early June.
You were really lucky with the weather in Bergern; I think it rains well over 200 days a year there.
Hotel at the airport looks okay and perfect view!
Looking forward to your next report !
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
Good to see mini-flieger again in action... missed him for a while.
Regards
Eric
"The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going"
25 dc9northwest: Hi Markus! I read this report while in Tromso, as it was raining heavily, but the comments have had to wait, sorry about that! Really nice report from
26 FLIEGER67: Hey and good to see more comments. @Roger: Thank you and I hope so. Memories, sure good to know. Also my opinion, you know. Now that sounds also inter
27 FLIEGER67: Hi, A. and really good to follow you´re feedback. Thank you. Good to read about you´re impression. Sure the SK style and exactly the way about Norwa
28 KaiGywer: I know you went for the experience of trying different trains, but if you ever go back, take the "normal train". If it's an "InterCity" train, it wil
29 SloAir: Hi Markus, great story about Norway, I have enjoyed it a lot. A very nice plane/train combo and some very interesting and beautiful places. I've been
30 FLIEGER67: Hi, more comments, welcome. @KaiGywer: Once again, good to know. Now that sounds much more like my style. @Blaz: Thank you and sure it´s a great plac
31 PlaneHunter: Hi Markus, nice report with many interesting pictures, the landscape up there is really beautiful. As for SAS - I don't find it attractive at all (int
32 FLIEGER67: Hi, PH, good to see you´re feedback. Country, a big plus, airline nothing special, also my opinion here. Greetings, Markus(FLIEGER67)
33 gabrielchew: Nice report Markus - you got some great photos of Norway - beautiful country!
35 signol: Hi Markus, what can I say? Stunning pics of Norway, perhaps the 2nd most beautiful country (after NZ ) The standard SAS flights definitely take 2nd pl
36 MSS658: Hello Markus Nice trip report about your Norway trip. Good to see you got the chance to discover the country. Funny to see how SAS maintains all the d
37 FLIEGER67: Hey and good to follow more comments. @R.: Thank you and I should check NZ soon, so it seems. Good point here and I will ask him immediatelly. @Marc:
38 deltamartin: Hi Markus! Enjoyable report, just as usual! Good to see that you had a nice time in Norway, It does seem that whatever way you choose to travel in Nor
39 FLIEGER67: Hi, Martin and good to follow you´re comment. Thank you. Sure I know it by now. Definitely worth it. Much more lucky me here. Strange, don´t noticed
40 Parton87: Hello Markus! Thanks for another great story! Love the pictures from Norway, it´s a beautiful country with very nice people! Great that you was able
41 FLIEGER67: Hej, Robert, Thank you. A real surprise, you know. Lucky me with the weather, sure I know. Exactly my opinion. Greetings, Markus(FLIEGER67)
42 adamspotter: Guten tag Markus, See that you posted a lot of new reports during my vacation, have a lot of catching up to do now hehe But anyway, an awesome report
43 FLIEGER67: Hi, B., Thank you. If the weather is ok, sure, me, too. Not that easy to catch also in Europe. So it was!. Ah, good to know. Count me in, you know. Su
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