Sarah Howell

Wow. I still feel like I just arrived in Norway, and now there are only 13 days left until I leave on a plane back to the motherland.

This fall has been a whirlwind of school, classes, group projects, meeting new friends, going on Norwegian adventures, relaxation in Ås and Oslo, and experiencing the amazing transition from summer to autumn to winter in Norway.

October was beautiful, with the golden yellow of the trees changing color, with the warm goldenness of the sun and the hayfields in Ås. I loved the chill which dropped into the evening air, that seemed to arrive out of the blue.

  One weekend, I went on a Weegian adventure up to Bergen with a few friends. We took a fjord tour on the last weekend they offered tours. Once we were out on the water, it was easy to see/feel why it was the last weekend: we were bundled in fleece blankets and yet the cold air of the inner parts of the fjord was so cold! Yet, what a beautiful time to see the trees changing color, the beautiful farm houses along the shoreline, and sip hot chocolate and tea from the semi-warm boat cabin.

Bergen was a great city. The vibe is lively, and bright, and it was very fun to explore both during the day and when we went out for  a meal and a few drinks. Where Oslo’s night scene seems to be spread out into a few pockets around different neighborhoods of the city, Bergen seemed to be more condensed.

Taking the tram up the mountain was a great way to look over the city and the fjord. Taking the trail on the way back down through the trees was beautiful as well. I recommend doing so for anyone (unless you have a bad knee or two, as the hill is a bit steep).

On the way back to Oslo, I took the train back (my other trip companions left earlier than I) and so I alternated reading and napping with snapping some photos of the amazing and dramatic scenery out the window of the train. Though some of the photos are a bit blurred, it was amazing to see the transition from autumn and warmth along the fjord, into the mountains (where there was a bunch of snow from a storm!), following the mountain rivers along the tracks, and then through some of the farmlands of  Vestlandet towards Oslo. Such an amazing train ride; I can see why it has been called the most beautiful train ride in Europe.

More photos from Bergen: