40 Spring 2020 LOCALadk Magazine
LOCALadk
just how big most of the fjords are. There are also many op-
tions for taking a day or half-day cruise to visit several fjords
and the many small villages along the way. I loved seeing the
brightly painted homes along the shores, each one unique
and with its own stor y to tell.
After enjoying time on the water, we headed inland to the
beautiful valley of Utladalen in Jotunheimen National Park.
Farming has always been the mainstay in this area but, as in
many places, farmers have moved to the cities. We hiked up
the valley along a raging river of cr ystal-clear water being
fed by a giant waterfall. The roaring sound and sheer power
of that falls were heard and felt throughout our hike. Our
destination was a special place called Avdalen Gard, which
was last inhabited in 1960, and is part of a local effort to keep
traditional Nor wegian heritage alive. There, we found an old
farmhouse that has been refurbished and offers visitors an
opportunity to spend the night and fully embrace the magic
of it. We only stayed long enough to hear about the histor y
of the farm and to enjoy a homemade lunch prepared by its
caretaker. If I were to go back, I would spend the night for
sure.
We arrived in Bergen after a gorgeous five-hour cruise
from Aurland. The ferr y offers a comfortable and scenic ride
through Sognefjorden, Nor way's longest fjord. Bergen is a
Aurland Photography
