Outstanding Olden

Sometimes it is the places you least that make the biggest impressions. Olden is one of those places. I went to this town twice and each time I thought it would be another quaint, charming, and beautiful Norwegian town. With a population of only 800, our ship was the biggest thing to be seen for miles. My books of Norway tell little of this town other then that it is a jumping off point to see the Jostedal Glacier and its various fingers such as the Bricksdal Glacier. However this town has stole the marker of quite possibly being possibly my favorite port stop in Norway.

I have never seen such vivid colors in such a serene and peaceful setting. Nestled in a valley the town only has a block or two and a main street. There are not many stores or restaurants. The main industry in the town apart from the tourist industry has campgrounds dotting the valley and river shores. There are two churches in the town, both built with wood. As it is a small Norwegian town, these are small Norwegian churches. However, the feel inside is quite peaceful and humble. A far cry from the Cathedrals of Rome, Florence, or even Seattle, these two churches feel like a meeting place to get together as one and become more then the individual. The town of Olden is humble by nature and a walk through it really enables one to capture that sense. From the small conversation with a farm owner, to a small town grocery purchase Olden epitomizes the understated beauty of Norway.

On the previous visit here, I had the opportunity to take a magnificent boat ride on Lake Olden. Lake Olden is glacial lake that stretches throughout the valley and is dotted by farms and campgrounds. The color of the water is fabulous turquoisesish, greenish, bluish color that I have never seen before. It is very still and reflective. Reflecting the mountain backdrop as if it knows that reflection demonstrates beyond adjective the symbiotic nature of the two and that their coexistence is meant only to be enjoyed. Fellow boat trippers stood or sat on the bow just amazed at each waterfall, house, and element that surrounded us. We truly were surrounded because once I felt that I was looking at the most beautiful sight I would turn around and be struck by another. The sound of the engine was the only sound beside the gasps at this glorious beauty around us. After getting off the boat we all just sorta looked around taking photo after photo knowing that we had just been bestowed and experience that we would never forget.

This most recent visit I had the opportunity to go to Brickdal Glacier, and arm of the mammoth Jostedal Ice Plateau that spreads across the Nordfjord district for 783 sq. miles and can be over 1,300 feet thick. To get to the Bricksdal Glacier I hiked an easy mile that was quite gorgeous in and of itself. The hike took me past a thundering waterfall that sprayed the trail with a delightfully refreshing mist. As I got further up the hill and look back into the mist the sun and water treated me with a rainbow. Further along the trail the river of glacial runoff stormed past me begging for the attention of my camera. Then upon arrival at the glacier I was struck by the wide array of colors contained therein. The greens, blues, whites, browns, and purples were strikingly beautiful and almost made me forget about the throngs of tourists all around. At one point the glacier calved in a sort of avalanche creating an excited buzz and flurry of camera snaps. I ran to waters edge to touch a piece of glacier for myself. It can be quite a striking moment to touch ice that is over 6000 years old.

As I enjoyed this pristine environment aware that my days in Norway were coming to an end I was reminded of a line from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, “Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around you may miss something.” So true. I have been away about five weeks now and time has flown. But when I stop and look around to take in the beauty that surrounds me, envelopes me, and drives me life becomes timeless.