Today was one of the most exciting days I had long been planning for. A popular day trip from Bergen is the 'Norway Nutshell' train and fjord cruise. There are various options and I had chosen the longer Sognefjord Cruise which sails 5 hours thru the fjords all the way to Bergen.

I had paid $240 for the 12 hour long day trip which was the going rate for these trips but well worth it when you see the stunning valley photos of those that have gone. Unfortunately a massive rain system was blanketing the region my entire time.

I was lucky on Friday as this weekend is when the Sognefjord option closes down for the season leaving the shorter mini fjord cruise and return to Bergen by bus.

I left the hotel at 8am stocking up on another cheese burek from 7-11 for 35K ($7). The train to Myrdal I was booked on left at 8.44.

It was a 2 hour ride to Flam arriving at 10.51 passing thru smaller towns and river deltas. I was hoping for the rain to clear for the afternoon cruise.

Surprisingly for a $240 ticket there was no guide on the trip to co-ordinate the tourists and explain the itinerary.

On arrival at Flam we crossed to the Flam train waiting on the other side of the platform. It was an older style carriage and had tv monitors to explain the route in lieu of a guide.

There were technical references to the elevation and type of gauges though I didn't understand any of this. Nobody tends to sit on this train and the tourists keep rushing to windows on either side snapping shots of the passing valleys

There was then a scheduled stop for a scenic waterfall but we were all rainsoaked and rushed back in. I had made friends with a Chinese lady in the row ahead of me as I recognized her from my hotel. She was studying English at Cambridge as I wondered how someone from China could afford to come all this way and pay local prices.

Originally from Shanghai she was doing a different cruise option so would not be sailing with me. She had chosen the more popular shorter cruise with return by bus. I thought that would be tiring with so many changes and it would be more scenic to sail to Bergen and see the sunset.

On arrival at Flam there were massive warehouse size souvenir shops more designed for peak tourist season. Also advertised with the ticket was 'free entrance' to the Flam Museum though it was free anyway and nothing special.

Everyone hung out in the tourist shops to keep out of the rain and I ate one of my fish burgers that I had got from the supermarket, as well as getting some souvenirs.

My boat was scheduled for 3pm so I had a long wait. The Chinese girl left on a 1pm boat so I saw her off.