European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 21, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Norway camping next to a fiord in the summertime is a popular Way to see Norway right this wooden Church in Borgi ind near Bergen was built Between the 10th and Lith centuries below. Alone boat enjoys the Solitude on a fiord. Packed inside one Small Corner of Norway is some of the most Beautiful scenery in Europe. Known for its picturesque Fords and rough mountains Southwest Norway offers the traveler divergent vistas and much More. For those who enjoy the outdoors there is much do during Norway s Short summer season. A great Way to see Norway is via private automobile although there Are excellent rail and bus connections most focus on major cities. You la need a car to explore the real treats Norway has to offer. Norwegian distances Are deceptive. On Germany s autobahn a 120-mile journey usually takes Well under two hours. In Norway roads Are narrow winding and rapidly change Elevation. The norwegian journey of the same distance takes three hours or More. Further virtually every Road trip requires at least one ferry ride. Unless you have norwegian ancestry the average _ tourist spends a week or less in Norway. Common Points of entry Are the Oslo Airport arid ferry Landing Points in Bergen Stavanger or Kristiansand. For those travelling from the continent the ferry from Hir Sthals Denmark Kristiansand offers fast and convenient Access to Norway s treasures. Scandinavian ferries consistently provide on time. Superior service. With morning afternoon and overnight sailings the ferry departs from Hir Sthals with a crossing time of approximately five to six hours round trip costs Are about $400 for a passenger car and a group of four  accommodations with Bath Are available for a modest Price. For information Contact color line Post oks 82, n-4601 Kristiansand Norway or Tel Eph 47 042-78888. Travellers from Britain often ferry from Newcastle in Northern England to Stavanger or Bergen. The journey 12. Stripes Magazine april 21, 1994 a ferry crosses the Sone Norway s largest fiord. Wooden houses line a narrow Road in Bruggen the oldest part of Bergen. Takes approximately 14 hours and costs about $800 for an automobile and four passengers the color line sails three times weekly whether the tourist arrives in Kristiansand Oslo Stavanger or Bergen the Loop through the Vest Agder Aust Agder Hor Daland and Ragaland provinces will provide the visitor with a glance at just about everything Norway has to offer. Beginning in Kristiansand travellers head North on Highway 39 through the Setescak Sites Valley. This Highway follows the general course of the Otra River. As the Valley Narrows Valley Walls become steeper and More rugged. Waterfalls and snowfields begin to appear with increasing regularity. From sea level at Kristiansand the Highway crests at 3,000 feet before terminating at Hauke Legrend. Approximately 135 Miles from Kristiansand Highway 39 intersects the adventure Road Highway e76which runs Between Bergen and Oslo. This Road rises to an Elevation of 3,600 feet and runs adjacent to the Harding Ermidda National Park. The numerous Small inns that hot the Alpine Lake shores and snowfields make the stretch of Road Between Hauke Legrend and Bre Fonn an excellent overnight rest Stop. Travellers can watch Mountain Midnight sunsets and Waken to a Brilliant Sunrise four hours later. As the Road begins its descent toward Bergen it shoulders a series of Fords combined with Short ferry ride. Bergen Norway s second largest City is a Seaside town worthy of an overnight stay. Once the capital of Norway Bergen is More than 900 years old but does t show its age. Since Timberland exist nearby most construction Over the years was of Wood. On More than one occasion Large sections of Bergen burned and were rebuilt. Today s Bergen is a City of abundant cultural Pride playing Host to numerous music and theater festivals. For a High Mountain Road overlooks Europe s largest Glacier the Josted Asbreen above. A wooden Unicorn adorns a House left. Is photos by Peter Jaeger those whose interests Are More pedestrian the Bergen fish Market along the shores of the main Harbor is open daily from 8 . To 3 . For More information on Bergen events Contact the Bergen tourist Board Torga Menning Post oks 4055 Reggen n-5023 Bergen Norway or Telephone 47 05-321480. V -,. I a in Bergen tourists can Book cruises aboard both ferries and coastal steamers All the Way to the russian Border in the far North. Those lacking time or Money choose instead to take the ferry from Bergen to Stavanger. This Inland passage takes approximately six hours and meanders through islands dotted with tiny fishing fleets and houses clustered at water s Edge. One Way transit Cost for a car and four passengers is about $220. For More information Contact rut Laget Askov Bergen a a , Box 114, n-5300 Kleppesto Norway or Telephone 47 05-141100. There Are three sailings daily Early morning late afternoon and overnight during the summer season. Arrival at the Stavanger terminus of  a Good third Day Stop. Just three Miles from the Randeberg ferry exit is the Viste strand hotel. Settled next to one of the few Flat Sandy beaches along the norwegian coast the Viste strand hotel is typical of most norwegian accommodations scarcely decorated rooms Good breakfasts and pleasant staff. Most of the 5 7 rooms provide Ocean views. Address Viste strand hotel n-4070 Randeberg Telephone 47 04-417022. The landscape flattens near Stavanger providing Norway with most of its level Farmland. This stretch of the coast gives travellers a glimpse of open Fields for cattle flanked by Broad Ocean panoramas. Terrain begins to become More rugged As the Road nears Eger Sund approximately 25 Miles South. For those with extra time the Day trip from Stavanger to lyse fiord is a pleasant diversion. Here one can travel by ferry straight up the Throat of the lyse fiord viewing modern Day Cliff dwellings carved into the Valley s vertical Rock faces. The one hour ferry ride departs Lauwick and concludes at lyse Botn where one can drive Back toward Stavanger or head South to Ege Sud the coastal Highway from Ege Sud to Kristiansand is winding sunny and studded with Small fishing villages. A Day s journey should end at the Small Village of Flek Efjord. Here is Norway As seen in guidebooks Small Seaside towns crowded by nearby numbered mountains. With whitewashed siding the hotel Bond Heimen sits both in the Center of town and within a Stone s throw of the Harbor. A room costs about 300 Kroner $60 per night. Address hotel Bond Heimen Elevett. 9, n-4400 Flek Efjord or Telephone 47 043-22171. From Flek Efjord it s a leisurely three hour drive Back to the Kristiansand ferry. For those interested in Fine dining the Best norwegian cuisine emphasizes food gathered from the nearby mountains and sea Dairy products Salmon Elk and Reindeer Are readily available. When exploring for a restaurant look for the det Norske Kook Ken sign the profile of a sign of d red White and Blue casserole soup Tureen. Expect an excellent meal at these establishments. A few words of advice for travellers to Norway although breakdown service is available roads Are not patrolled As thoroughly As those in other european nations. Pack the car with emergency essentials if you plan to motor along the More Remote stretches of Roadway. Sparse traffic Means Long Waits for help. Also Norway is expensive for tourists seeking a bargain. There Are excellent campgrounds Many with Well stocked grocery stores and permanent huts equipped with kitchens and electricity. Consider roughing it most norwegians do. Daniel Yake worked As a civilian in Heidelberg. Germany he has returned to the Stales. Apr 1121,1994 stripes Magazine 13