My Travel in Time to the age of the Vikings

In April 2018, I traveled to Bergen Norway, a place of timeless landscapes and ancient secrets. 

I, of course wanted to write about my entire experience, but I knew immediately that the presence of my journey through the Fjords, would over power the rest of my story.

I knew before my trip to Norway, that the fjords would be one thing I had to see before leaving, but my excitement didn't peak until I heard about "Viking Valley" Gudvangen.
Partially because of my obsession with the TV series "Vikings" but also because of my own viking bloodline (which I know very little about), I became giddy with excitement for this journey that I knew would take me through such ancient lands and waters...I could only imagine the secrets that the fjords held.

The day of our adventure, it was a mere high 45 degrees out with a wind chill of "red noses and purple lips."

We left the harbor in Bergen, Norway at 8am and began our 5 hour cruise up through the Norwegian Sea and into Sognefjord, Noway's longest and deepest fjord.

It...was....breathtaking....

I wanted nothing more than to share in every moment of the experience, but 5 hours in the cold, very strong wind, was a little much. So we sat in the kids play area inside the boat and drank hot coffee, beside overly large windows, keeping warm and enjoying the sights from inside. Every few minutes, when the scenery changed just enough, we would run to the top of the boat and snap another handful of pictures.

It was hard not to feel like we had entered an entire other world.

The 5 hours flew by and before we new it, we we docking into the town of Flam.

We scanned the souvenir shop and then ate a quick and yummy lunch (veggie burgers) at the restaurant, before hopping onto our next boat that would lead us into Gudvangen...Viking Valley.

The following 3 hour boat ride was something, that no images or words would be able to fully describe.

The stillness and silence of the NÆRØYFJORD was enough to drown out the sounds of the "Oo-ing" and "Aw-ing" tourists on the boat.

No matter if you believe in a higher power of one god or many gods and goddesses, the ancient energy within these mountains almost brought tears to my eyes. You could almost hear the prayers of the past echoing through the valley of the fjords. You could imagine the flow of knowledge and wisdom that would be whispered into your soul if you could sit among the stone walls, or drifting alone in a hand carved boat.

To say I was in awe, is an understatement as my mind and soul were instantly thrown back into images from so many years ago.

I was beyond thrilled that I could share this experience with my 4 year old son, Ayden Orion.

Before long, we had entered in Gudvangen.

The name Gudvangen (Old Norse: Guðvangir) comes from the old farm name. The first element is gud meaning a "heathen god". The vang(en) word is still in use referring the open space in front of a place of worship like Aurlandsvangen and Vossevangen. 

I felt like I was walking straight into the TV series "Vikings" and if I had waited for my trip until May, it would have REALLY felt like it, since Gudvangen goes into full Viking mode between May and October, when everyone dresses, eats, and plays like the Vikings did. A seemingly amazing way to step back into history for a "one on one" look at the way of life....something I will for sure be doing in the years to come.

All in all, my experience through the fjords and to Gudvangen, were even better than I could have ever imagined and something that I highly suggest to anyone and everyone....especially if you have a deep seeded love for ancient energy and timeless landscapes.