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As we continued to cruise north along the Norwegian coast towards Flåm the days got longer until it was never dark outside. The sun did dip just below the horizon for a few hours in the middle of the night, but it remained dusk. For a moment I wished that we had an interior cabin so we could have darkness overnight. However, I quickly got over it as I stared at the stunning coastline taking us to Flam.

Flåm is considered one of the most beautiful spots in the world, and now we know why.  On our way, we had a full day at sea and woke up on the third morning to exquisite views out the cabin window.  It wasn’t until we went out on deck that the massive beauty took my breath away.

We typically do our own thing in cruise ports. Not today, not in Flam. There is too much to see, too little time, and an excursion that goes exactly where we want to go. Our excursion included a coach trip up the fjords with a stop at Tvindefossen waterfall (the fountain of youth) and two trains down, including the world famous Flam railroad. Interesting local guides joined us along the way, and they were all great – the crew from the MSC Opera are another story. 

Our group was allocated a train car, and to our surprise the crew from our ship hopped on first, grabbing the best window seats for themselves.  By the time we boarded, one of the crew members, who was sitting with his mate actually told my girls they had to sit with strangers as there were no more seats together.  Makes you roll your eyes and wonder if MSC offers any customer service training to its staff.

Don’t worry, you know we got it fixed, and it didn’t spoil our day.  Here are a few of my photos of this magnificent area of Norway that they call Flåm, none do this place justice:

Flam Norway shot from the cruise ship
Our first view of the Fjords, from the deck of the cruise ship.

Flåm, Norway and the Ride to Voss

Flam Norway shot from ship
In port at Flam, also shot from the ship.
Hairpin turns on a bus tour from Flam to Voss in Norway
This is one of the 13 hairpin turns on the road through Norway’s Stalheim Valley. We were on a bus tour from Flam to Voss.
Bus tour from Flam to Voss in Norway
From the bus window
Bus tour from Flam to Voss in Norway
Another shot from the bus

The Fountain of Youth

The fountain of youth – myth or reality? According to folklore and our extremely youthful looking Norwegian guide, Tvindefossen Falls is it. Located somewhere between Flam and Voss in Norway, we stopped, climbed and drank, using our hands to cup the water. Did it work? Maybe yes, maybe it’s just silly, but either way, it was one impressive waterfall.

A better-known legend regarding the fountain of youth gained popularity in the 16th century. It is said that the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, first Governor of Puerto Rico, was searching in 1513 (in the area that is now Florida) for a fountain that could restore youth to anyone. Is this another myth, or reality? Either way, he never found it. Maybe that’s because he should have been looking in Norway.

Tvindefossen waterfall is the fountain of youth in Norway
Is Tvindefossen waterfall the fountain of youth?
Tvindefossen waterfall is the fountain of youth in Norway
Our girls stop their climb for the photo.

Voss Norway and the Flamsbana Train back to Flam

A church in Voss, Norway
A church in Voss.
Flamsbana train from Voss back to Flaam
A snowy landscape, seen from the train as we passed.
Flamsbana train from Voss back to Flaam
As we got lower in altitude, the lush green landscape returned.
Flamsbana train from Voss back to Flaam
The girls in front of the Famous Flam Railroad which climbs steeply up from sea level to 867 meters high over a distance of just 20 km.

The Myth of Huldra

Can you see the “Huldra” in orange on the lower ledge – she is a mythical creature that attacks men to either kill them or make them do work. You can identify her as she has a cow’s tail under her dress.

Norway is spectacular. Kjosfossen Waterfall is one of many sites we stopped and saw on the world famous Flamsbana train from Voss to Flam.
Kjosfossen Waterfall is a stop on the Flamsbana train from Voss back to Flaam.

Practical Information on Flam Norway: 

  • Flam was our first of three ports in the Norweigan fjords. It was the northernmost fjord we visited, followed by Bergen and Stavanger.
  • Our cruise originated in Southampton, England. While I am not a big fan of MSC, I believe cruising in the best way to see the fjords.
  • Norway is expensive. If you are planning to stay overnight, check Booking.com for the best prices.

What do you think of Flam? Do you think we really found the fountain of youth?

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About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

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Comments

  2. Michele {Malaysian Meanders}

    Those are beautiful falls. I like how it just keeps splitting into smaller falls as it makes its way down. I think I’d drink from these falls but my hubby would be convinced he’d get some sort of illness from it. I would love to visit Norway sometime.

    Reply

  5. Sharon Himsl

    And you could get so close, too. That last shot is incredible! Missed this in 2008 when visiting Norway.

    Reply

  8. sandy

    WOW…what a waterfall sounds like it took some doing to get there. Perhaps you’re not old enough to know if the water worked, lol.

    Reply

  12. Mstraveltipsy

    Beautiful pictures! There are so many places in Norway I haven’t seen yet, and I live here!!!!??? The best way of getting tips for your Norway holiday (even as a Norwegian) is to read what other tourists say, especially read what bloggers say. You get some great tips from travelling books but people who write about their travels see it in a different way 🙂 Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply

  13. Hilary

    Hi Rhonda .. incredible waterfalls – especially the 2nd one with that mass of water pouring over .. I’d love to visit Scandinavia sometime .. you wouldn’t want to wait to drink from the Fountain of Youth would you .. sadly I think my youth as wandered off! Beautiful shots .. cheers Hilary

    Reply

  14. ServicefromHeart

    Thanks Rhonda Albom! Love your photos & travel insiprations. I have been to Bergen once. Hopefully in the future, we will also travel to other parts of Norway, including Tvindefossen Fall – to drink the fountain of youth water, with our baby Ren. Do you have favorite destinations for traveling with toddlers / young children to recommend?

    Best wishes
    ServicefromHeart.blogspot.com
    #AtoZChallenge 2014 participant

    Reply

    • Rhonda Albom

      Bergen is a beautiful city. It’s been a long time since my girls were toddlers and I think they liked anywhere that allowed them to be kids. Before they reached the age of five I think we only traveled in North America, Caribbean, and the South Pacific. My favorites with Toddlers – city: Toronto; tourist destination: Legoland near San Diego; and resort Island: Fiji. We traveled and moved to New Zealand when they were 3 and 5 and they have always loved it here.

      Reply

  15. Eli

    Aaaaaa – Rhonda – you made my day today !! Taking me back home to my motherland:-) Of course I loved every single word of your post and the pictures are so great (see u were lucky with the weather too, thats awesome..:-) See you have a post on my hometown Bergen too – will pop over to that one…

    PS: The fountain of youth – OF COURSE it works – Of course!!:-) 🙂 He he

    Reply

  16. Chris

    More amazing pictures! I’m so jealous that you went to Norway. I’ve never been, but my best friend and in-laws have (for very different reasons). Drinking from the Fountain of Youth is something that I’d probably scoff at from home, like “I’m not going to climb a mountain just to drink a handful of water.” But then I’d get there and see everyone else doing it and think ‘I’m sooo going up there!” When in Rome, ya know? 🙂

    Reply

    • Rhonda Albom

      It’s far from Brisbane, I know because Brisbane was our first stop on the way. Of course we went the long way, taking about 3 months before we got to Norway.

      Reply

  19. Barbara Radisavljevic

    All this time I thought the Fountain of Youth was in Florida! I would have enjoyed seeing the falls, but don’t know if I would have made that climb. It’s beautiful, but knowing me I would have slipped and broken my neck.

    Reply

    • Rhonda Albom

      LOL – My mother-in-law lives in Florida. We have been many times, I can’t believe I didn’t know they claim to have the Fountain of Youth. I will have to drink from there too. Just in case it’s the correct one 🙂

      Reply

  26. Tony Payne

    Wow this looks amazing, I would love to go there one day. Be sure to give a thorough rating of MSC and their crew, I am sure you will. Having spent all that money passengers deserve better.

    Reply

    • Rhonda

      LOL – the comment form left only three small lines for comments and I had to write about the safety issues we had at the beginning. It was all a shocker, but it was really cheap – I guess you get what you pay for 🙂 As for the excursion, the staff was shamed into getting up and giving the girls the seats, so in the end it all worked out ok.

      Reply

  29. Lisa

    Wow. I want to go. Photos never really do landscapes justice, so I’m sure it’s even more beautiful in real life. Looks gorgeous all the same.

    Reply

    • Rhonda

      It was amazing. Plus to get to Flam, which is deep in a fjord, the ship traveled for seven hours where we had spectacular views. It was mostly overnight, but this time of year in that part of Norway, it is never dark. Gotta love midnight sun.

      Reply

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