June 23, 2004 - Bergen to Balestrand, Norway
   
      Today can be summed up in one word: fjord.  The centerpiece of the day was a four-hour cruise up the coast in into the longest (204 kilometers) fjord in Norway, arriving at noon in Balestrand and settling into our hotel overlooking. . .the fjord.  I've had an image of fjords since 6th-grade geography and a picture of an ocean inlet cutting between two towering, sheer cliffs.  While that qualifies, fjords vary a great deal.  And where I had an image of Norway's coast consisting high sheet cliffs, sliced into by fjords here and there, the reality is a landscape I can only describe as porous.  It is a vast mixture of land and water, and I don't know the ratio between the two but it has to be near a tie.

     Here are just a few faces of the fjords.

fjord
fjord church
fjord village
fjord islands

     Our destination for the afternoon and night was Balestrand, located at a bend in the Sognefjord and an old artist haunt and vacation favorite of Kaiser Wilhelm.  It is now a very popular tourist destination.  Our hotel, the Kvikne, was initially established in 1752 as the Inn at Balholm (the old name for Ballestand).  We're staying in the old wing of the current hotel, though it doesn't date back that far.  Here's the view from our private porch.

     While we have done alright on hotels, this one is the first that we would actively urge people to try.  It is interesting as well as being very well done.

     Below is the full panorama laid in front of our room.
 view from porch

panorama

     We wrapped up a wonderful day with the Kvikne's smorgasbord.  It was something to behold, and we will spend the evening sitting quietly and letting our dinners settle.  This being the summer solstice, there would normally be a bonfire, but it is too windy tonight.  That means we have no reason to stay up till midnight.  Yay!  

     Actually, we didn't quit with dinner.  After awhile, we walked the grounds and watched the sun go down in the mountains around 9:15.  Finally, we had after-dinner drinks in the bar, where a group of Japanese tourists were offering an ocarina concert.  It kind of reminded me of the Greensboro Kazoo Band, though I don't think they have plans to perform next to a fjord in Norway.  Probably time for bed.


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