"Norwegians, as visitors quickly learn, don’t mess about when it comes to getting around. Mountains made of seemingly impenetrable gneiss rock are simply one more thing to go straight through. Anywhere else, the Bergensbanen or Bergen Line would be heralded as a wonder of the world. Here, it’s a matter of fact way of linking the country’s two most important cities." ~ Tom Hall, Lonely Planet

Do you remember that feeling the last few days before Christmas holiday while in school?

The promise of empty days filled with blissful nothingness.

Like summer but with the added bonus of Christmas cookies and presents.

Well,

I have the same feeling at this very moment.

Four days after returning on Monday from Norway...

we were headed back for a second Christmas celebration this weekend, until snow...

and lot's of it...

intervened.

So, when Ren Man texted that the trip had been cancelled...

visions of three days empty of schedules or responsibilities...

 began to envelope me like a warm blanket.

Hot chocolate and a crackling fire are involved,

 and I feel a great big l-a-z-y coming on.

Meanwhile...

the photo diary of our train ride and visit to Gol, Norway continues.

As you can see I am obsessed with the dwindling daylight hours and am compelled to document just how few there are.

Now, the actual sunset was 3:31 in Bergen but the mountains bring dark thirty much earlier.

The train trip to Gol...

 provided stunning views...

of the intricate landscape that captures a tiny example of why Norway has recently been crowned the best place to live.

Also spotted were points of reference...

for future visits.

As the altitude increased...

so did the height of the snow...
until we reached Europe's highest mountainous plateau where the village of Finse...

offers summer and winter activities.

   The Finse Mountain Lodge provides nature lovers quite the experience and if you enjoy snowkiting...

this could be your playground.

My window was like a projector advancing frame after frame of peaceful winter scenes until we reached Gol...
our destination...
but only a stop for the train bound for Oslo.

Happy Thursday!