Flåmsbana

Yesterday is a day I will remember for the rest of my life.

We took the train from Oslo Sentralstasjon to Myrdal, a cross-country trek lasting nearly five hours, complete with stunning window views like something out of so many postcards. As you reach the more mountainous part of the country, the ride starts to play what I’ll call landscape peekaboo: alternating between total darkness inside carved out mountain tunnels, then bursting into daylight revealing scenery for which you can’t possibly prepare. Rinse and repeat.

At Myrdal, we switched trains to a much shorter jaunt to Flåm; this particular leg is one of the most famous train rides in the world, and I now understand why.

This train winds its way through the countryside, offering jaw-dropping views of countless waterfalls, streams, and cliff-sides. The train makes a stop at Kjosfossen to allow visitors to take photos of the mighty waterfall.

For those who don’t know, many Norwegian last names are taken from a geographical feature that defines where a family’s farm is (or was) located—Berg for mountain, or Dahl for valley, for example. In our case, Foss is the Norwegian word for waterfall. I had a powerful experience photographing me and my dad in front of Kjosfossen, also taking some time to soak in the moment. It was a glorious thing to behold this beautiful force of nature that gave me my name, next to the man who gave me my name, sort of like I had completed a pilgrimage home. (Later today, we will have a chance to see the actual foss in Sogndal from which the Norwegian side of my family takes its name.)

Flåm itself is like a dreamscape. It is this little quaint town plunked right in the middle of towering, lush mountain hills on all sides. Last night, the local Ægir Brewpub served us some delicious food, beer, and a much needed opportunity to relax and unwind.

Today, we will board the ferry that will take us to the Sognefjord, where I will meet the Norwegian side of my family for the first time (technically, I’ve met a couple of them before, but it was far too long ago and I was far too young for it to count).

But let’s get to the photos, shall we? I feel it’s only fair to point out that pictures can’t possibly do this trek justice, but I’m hoping I was able to capture even a fraction of the awesome beauty of Norway here.