Trondheim, situated in Central Norway, was beautiful. Our trip, in June, from Ore bro to Trondheim was through Stockholm. It is the third largest town in Norway and is close to Stockholm. It is a town which gives the impression of expanse along with the spectacular sights which it offers. The city is an administrative centre and lies on the southern side of the ford, at the mouth of river, Adelaide. The river meets the famous Trondheim fjord with a beautiful harbour. A narrow inlet in the sea between cliffs is a unique feature of the fjord. A beautiful drive along this with the hills on one side presents one of the most remarkable sights which I had ever witnessed.
Trondheim developed into an urban centre in 1700s when rich merchants from Denmark, Netherlands and Germany entered this region. The next few years saw it growing and developing into an important education centre. To say that it is urban centre sounds false. Modern Trondheim offers a combination of science, research and other important centres of learning.
It took us some time to get used to the all night light. During summer, the sun rises at 3:00 and sets at 23:40. It hangs near the horizon not disappearing completely so that no artificial lighting is required from late May to Mid June. At two, with evening like glow outside, we had to ‘pretend’ that it was night time. Our journey from the quaint station to the city was bordered by green mountains on one side and the ford, on the other. The houses were made of timber with freshly painted slanted roofs and small balconies. I soaked in the amazing and spectacular sights with the vast expanse of sea on one side and mountains on the other. The breathtaking beauty around made the choice of photography difficult. Looking at the tranquil surroundings I was reminded of the opening lines of Aster ix and Obelisk comic: “Peace reigned in the little Gaulish village”
We visited a few famous places in the city. One was the famous Ni dares Cathedral in the middle of the city centre. It is Scandinavia’s largest medieval building and was built in 1070. It is the most important Gothic monument in Norway and is the northernmost medieval Cathedral in the world and the second largest in Scandinavia. A pilgrim’s route, approximately 640 kilometres long, starts in Oslo and ends in this Cathedral. The structure has huge Biblical characters along with Norwegian bishops and kings sculpted along its walls. The Archbishop’s residence of the twelfth century lies besides the Cathedral. Another memorable visit was the beautiful ride with the fjord on one side.
The journey back from Trondheim to Oslo was a seven hour ride by train. Our host laughed when we suggested that air tickets would probably have been better than the long train ride. He assured us of a unique, beautiful experience and it turned out to be more than that. As soon as the train pulled out of the station, we were to witness the most beautiful ride ever. Having planned to take a long nap, I found myself hurriedly clicking away the spectacular moments. The river Adelaide followed us until Oslo. Sometimes when the river disappeared we could see the vast expanse of greenery beyond which were snow covered hills glistening, majestically. We saw a rainbow over the mountains showcased till the train moved on.
The river bank was flanked by wooden, bright coloured houses, clusters of boats, and picnicking people. The landscape was dotted by big bundles of sacks which were fodder for winter months. Occasionally, one saw a variety of deer staring in surprise at the moving train. The houses were very close to the river and we saw an abandoned house where water had entered its front porch.
The colours of summer, the tranquillity and harmony of nature made me envious. My seven hour train ride has left behind a lifetime of memories of a place which I visited, where it is never dark in summer.
