Fjord

"Fjord" means "Fjord" in Norwegian.  Fjord is quite possibly the only word in the English language that comes from Norway.  So...what's a fjord, you ask?

 

Webster's tell us:

fjord

noun \fē-ˈȯrd, ˈfē-ˌ; ˈfyȯrd\: a narrow part of the ocean between cliffs or steep hills or mountains.

 

This is NOT a fjord. 

 

This is Rozenkrantz Tower, a fortress in the Norwegian city of Bergen, which happens to be situated on a fjord.

 

 

This is NOT a fjord.  It is a funicular train in Bergen that takes you part-way up a mountain.

 

 

When you reach the top of the funicular train, here is the view of the city of Bergen.

 

 

From the top of the funicular train, you could go even further up the mountain and we decided to take a hike.

 

Hiking...doot-da-doo....

 

This is NOT a fjord.  This is a pile of rocks, sometimes called a cairn.

 

cairn

noun \ˈkern\:  a man-made pile (or stack) of stones.

 

Sitting by a foggy pond.  Doot-da-doo.

 

This is NOT a fjord.  These are old wooden houses called the Bryggen in the old town of Bergen. 

 

 

They used to be part of the old wharf trading district in Norway.

 

Goodbye, Bergen...sailing on to the next fjord.

 

Sailing....doot-da-doo.

 

You can see the cliffs starting to get a little higher.

 

The further north you go, the more dramatic it gets.

 

Our next stop was Andalsnes (say that ten times fast...)  We started from sea level here, and hiked all the way up a crazy big mountain.

 

Ta-da!  At the top!

 

Standing on a cliff.  Doot-da-doo.

 

My mom sleeping on a cliff...Doot-da-doo.

 

Yup.  It was a pretty good view.

So good that it required lots of pictures.

 

From different orientations.

 

Or in black and white.

 

THIS is a fjord.  See cliffs?  See ocean?

 

Then, yes.  This IS a fjord.

 

This is NOT a fjord.  This is a life preserver, in case you fall into the fjord.

 

Goodbye, Andalsnes.

 

Sailing further north to Gieranger.

 

This is NOT a fjord.  This is a goat.

 

And, this, my friend, is an Epic Goat.

ep·ic goat

\noun \ˈe-pik ˈgōt\: 

a: a small animal that is related to the sheep, extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope. 

b :  a heroic small animal that is related to the sheep.

 

 

We saw these goats on our Geiranger hike. 

 

THIS is a fjord.  I am sitting by the fjord.

 

You can see our cruise ship down there in the fjord.  "Wait for us! Don't leave us!"

 

Check out the zig-zag road leading up from the fjord on the right.

 

Good.  They didn't leave yet.  That wasn't our cruise ship.  Phew!  You might be surprised to see these huge cruise ships right up there in the inlet, but the fjords are so deep that it's not a problem.  In fact, even though it's super cold in Norway in the winter, the fjords never freeze because they are so deep.  They were cut from the slow movement of ancient glaciers, and are now filled with water.

 

Flowers on a hill.  Doot-da-doo.

 

Norwegian flags.  Doot-da-doo.

 

This is a pretty scary-looking waterfall.

 

If you don't believe me, just check out this sign warning you about it...

 

 

It's just like a total cruise ship party in the fjords in summertime, since it's pretty much the coolest way to see the fjords.

 

Moods of Norway...Doot-da-doo.

 

THIS is a fjord.  (See the cool waterfall?)

 

Now you do.

 

This means lots of pictures!

 

The view from our balcony was pretty amazing!

 

See?  We had a balcony!  Fjords moving past our window!

 

See ya next time.  Doot-da-doo!