Eidfjord, Norway

On Saturday morning, we cruised into Eidfjord, built about 8,000 years ago during the last ice age. Not a bad view to enjoy over breakfast!

From the port, we took a minibus tour to the Fossli Hotel for views of the Voringsfossen waterfall and surrounding valley. The road to the top of the Mabodalen Valley was actually constructed so that horses could carry building materials for the hotel; prior to the 1880s, there was only a walking track up to the waterfall. The waterfall is one of the most famous in Norway, though not the highest. And of course there was hot chocolate and a troll at the top, so we were all happy.

Måbødalen Valley- the waterfall is just to the left of the frame. 

We had planned to either hike along the Eio river to see a lake and beach or hike to some viking graves, an old church, and the workshop of a famous fiddlemaker named Anders in Eidfjord, but a bout of carsickness for our Anders on the way up to the falls left us all wanting to call it a day after returning to the port.

As a side note, while in Eidfjord, we were no more than 2.5 hours from the birthplace of Mat's great-great grandfather, Oscar (Skaanevik, Norway), and his great-great grandmother, Inger (Suldal, Norway).

Next up, Stavanger!