This week is winter vacation week all over Norway. It is a time for students to escape the perils of education from daycare to university. It is a time for family and friends. Time to relax and also a time to travel. I did just that and set out from Bergen on a wet Sunday morning to make my way from the "Westland" to the "Eastland" by rail.
Travelling by train anywhere is an experience I have almost always enjoyed. In these modern times a journey by rail can occur in nearly the same timeframe as a journey by air, with many of the same comforts and luxury. However, travelling the twin steel includes an entire uniquetravel dimension in this era of high speed and blurred reality. Rail travel is about the need to understand how you arrived at your destination in order to truly appreciate where you have arrived. It is about appreciating all that is between leaving and getting there. Developing a true understanding of the small changes along the way that lead to the often stark contrasts between two points.
NSB or "Norwegian State Railways" is an institution that has shaped this small country in many ways. The journey from Bergen towards the capital of Oslo is one of the most prized stretches of railroad history in this part of the world with its incredible sophistication in the form of endless tunnels, exposure over vast mountainous regions and beauty as well.
As I started out from Bergen I observed wet, fogged, mystical fjords and mountains alive in lush green late winter foilage. This gradually gave way to frosted fjords and powdered peaks. Then on to white out conditions at altitude and the Finse station. This last bit resulted in a 4 hour delay, not atypical of this time of the year. Eventually, we broke the the wind blown white to reveal endless expanses of scattered peaks, quaint valleys, brightly coloured snowed in cabins, gleeful holiday makers on xc skiis with rosy cheeks and pack sacks full of whole carbs, oranges and other treats with children in tow on sledges. This scene gradually shifted to ice and slush, urban inspirations and rolling forest covered terrain as we neared Drammen and the trains ultimate destination in Oslo. Westland to Eastland. Understanding the destination via the journey.
The NSB railcars leaded into the many curves along the way with the precision of a world class Super G. Skiis and packs were stacked tall in the baggage racks while Norwegians in skipants and multicoloured knitted wool sweaters enjoyed newspapers, strong coffee and overpriced openface sandwiches in a beachwood and deep red appolstered environment inspired by the wooded landscape and vibrant winter sun gliding by beyond smoke tinted windows.
Travelling by train anywhere is an experience I have almost always enjoyed. In these modern times a journey by rail can occur in nearly the same timeframe as a journey by air, with many of the same comforts and luxury. However, travelling the twin steel includes an entire uniquetravel dimension in this era of high speed and blurred reality. Rail travel is about the need to understand how you arrived at your destination in order to truly appreciate where you have arrived. It is about appreciating all that is between leaving and getting there. Developing a true understanding of the small changes along the way that lead to the often stark contrasts between two points.
NSB or "Norwegian State Railways" is an institution that has shaped this small country in many ways. The journey from Bergen towards the capital of Oslo is one of the most prized stretches of railroad history in this part of the world with its incredible sophistication in the form of endless tunnels, exposure over vast mountainous regions and beauty as well.
As I started out from Bergen I observed wet, fogged, mystical fjords and mountains alive in lush green late winter foilage. This gradually gave way to frosted fjords and powdered peaks. Then on to white out conditions at altitude and the Finse station. This last bit resulted in a 4 hour delay, not atypical of this time of the year. Eventually, we broke the the wind blown white to reveal endless expanses of scattered peaks, quaint valleys, brightly coloured snowed in cabins, gleeful holiday makers on xc skiis with rosy cheeks and pack sacks full of whole carbs, oranges and other treats with children in tow on sledges. This scene gradually shifted to ice and slush, urban inspirations and rolling forest covered terrain as we neared Drammen and the trains ultimate destination in Oslo. Westland to Eastland. Understanding the destination via the journey.
The NSB railcars leaded into the many curves along the way with the precision of a world class Super G. Skiis and packs were stacked tall in the baggage racks while Norwegians in skipants and multicoloured knitted wool sweaters enjoyed newspapers, strong coffee and overpriced openface sandwiches in a beachwood and deep red appolstered environment inspired by the wooded landscape and vibrant winter sun gliding by beyond smoke tinted windows.
I witnessed this all in incredible sequence, but most astonishingly of all the most dramatic influences came while enjoying Røyksopp`s "Eple" through my white audio buds. The video for this track was featured this summer on pdotproductions, but now is the perfect time to share this masterpiece yet again. It is pure genious and is inspired by all that is typical in this quirky, quaint and energizingly quiet corner of the globe. A corner I now proudly call home. I love this place.
Royksopp
Eple
Enjoy!
2 comments:
Godt du kom frem til Drammen til slutt!
Forresten er det en usannhet pa dette oppslaget ditt. Universitetet har dessverre ikke noe vinterferie!!! :)
Gro
Hvis det er flere som deg så skaper de ferie:)
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