Name: Peter and Evelyn Fostekew
Age: 66 years
Nationality: British

Reason for visit? We are here on organized holiday with the British Camping and Caravanning Club. We came to Bergen on the ferry from Newcastle.

Length of stay? Three weeks.

Seen so far? We have seen a lot and been many places. We have stayed at Flåm Camping, Prinsen Camping and Lone Camping.

In Flåm we travelled with the Flåm Railway. I (Peter) walked from Myrdal to Flåm. We took the boat to Gudvangen, visited Undredal and Otternes. At Otternes Bygdetun we were served a traditional meal of sour cream porridge. This visit was special and we were presented to real Norwegian culture.

We joined a musical evening at Fretheim Hotel and visited the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre in Lærdal. We drove through the Lærdal tunnel which was about 25 kilometres long, and we visited Borgund Stave Church. Then we visited Skei and I (Peter) also did some walking on the Jostedalsbreen Glacier. That was really great!

At Sunnmøre we visited Ålesund, Stranda, Hellesylt and Geiranger. We drove on the hairpin roads – the Eagle Road and the Trollstigen Mountain Road. We also visited Sunnmøre Museum. Then we drove on the Atlantic Road and we went to Giske. 

When we came down again we drove over Nordhordalandsbrua. We thought it was a great bridge. In Bergen we have been on the Fløibanen and we have seen Bryggen.

Best experience? There have been so many highlights on this trip. The Golden Route® was definitely one of them. Walking on the Jostedalsbreen Glacier was also a great experience.

The camp site in Flåm was great. The family who owns it are lovely people. They organized a lot of things for us, and they came with us on some of the trips.

Worst experience? We have had a really nice holiday, but were a bit disappointed though about the Flåm Railway. It was crowded with people and there was nothing at the top.

Biggest surprise? The warm weather! We brought a lot of warm clothes, but have only had one day of rain.

Suggestions to other visitors? Bring your own car. Don't worry about the ferries. They are not a problem. Do like us – travel with a caravan.

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Name: Roy Smith and Susie Kramer
Age: 68 and 62 years
Nationality: American

Reason for visit? We are doing a “tourist package” including Hurtigruten, a stay in Bergen and some fjord tours.

Length of stay? Two weeks.

Seen so far? We have travelled from Oslo via Geilo and Myrdal. We have taken the Flåm Railway to Flåm and from there taken the boat on the Sognefjord to Bergen. In Bergen we have been on a sightseeing tour where we have seen Bryggen, the city centre and Grieg’s home. We have also been at the Aquarium.

We are taking Fløibanen to Mount Fløien where we are going to have a picnic. We are going on Hurtigruten up to Kirkenes.

Best experience? The Flåm Railway and Flåm were very beautiful. We also enjoyed the Sognefjord and the many waterfalls we have seen. We were lucky to be here now when the snow has just melted and the waterfalls are rich with water. Norway is really beautiful.

Worst experience? We have not had any bad experiences. The food has been good and the people are friendly.

Biggest surprise? We brought a lot of thick clothes and not enough thin clothes - the weather has been really warm.

Suggestions to other visitors? People should come to Norway on holiday. It's fascinating to see the landscape here since it's so different from southern California where we are from. People should travel to Bergen because it's a historic, quaint and beautiful city.

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Name: Rhodri Evans
Age: 27 years
Nationality: Welsh

Reason for visit? My girlfriend and I wanted a more active holiday than just lying on the beach in for example Spain. 

Length of stay? One week.

Seen so far? We have been to Oslo and Voss. We did some sightseeing in Oslo, saw the islands in the Oslofjord and we went to the main art museums.

In Bergen we have been to cafés and we hiked between Mount Fløien and Mount Ulriken. We are going to visit the Sognefjord, the Nærøyfjord and some other fjords. Then we are going to do some sports like kayaking and maybe rafting.

Best experience? The park in Oslo with the statues – Vigelandsparken. Yesterday we went to this nice café in Bergen by the water. It is called Kafé Kippers and it was really nice to sit there and watch the sunset.

Worst experience? Finding accommodation when everything is booked up is stressful.

Biggest surprise? The biggest surprise is that it is so much snow still in the mountains and on the hills. I did not expect that. The hot weather now is also a surprise.

Suggestions to other visitors? I would like to advise people to read their Lonely Planet, Rough Guide or any other tourist guide closely beforehand so that they have a good idea what to see and what to do. 

Interviews took place in June and July 2007.