The Fjords of Norway

The countryside of Norway is pristine and beautiful. This is a scene near Loen, Norway, in the fjord country. The homes, farms and villages are at lower elevations, near the water, because the Atlantic Ocean causes the temperatures to be warmer.
When we sailed into Oslo, we saw this sailing ship in Oslo Fjord.
The captain of one of the ferries we took in the fjords looked exactly what one would expect of a Norwegian ship captain.
This is a small, traditional church in the small town of Balestrand, which is located on Sognefjord. Scandinavian use of wood in construction is artistic and charming. The design of this church is reminiscent of the design of the ancient stave churches.
Sadly, there are very few stave churches remaining. They used to tear them down until they realized that they are n architectural treasure. This church is 800 years old. It is remarkable that a wooden structure would last that long. The design of the wood is intricate, although it is virtually impossible to photograph the interior because they lack windows and are very dark.
This photo is typical of the views of villages in the fjords. This photo was taken in Aurlandsfjord, a little west of the end of the fjord in Flam.
Bergen is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a seaport that was one of the towns of the old Hanseatic League. Half of the area around the harbor has old streets and buildings such as this photo. The other half of the harbor is surrounded by buildings built after World War II because a German ship loaded with munitions blew up and destroyed the buildings on the other side of the harbor. The new buildings lack the charm of what you see in this photo.