Trip Stavanger Norway

Stavanger, Norway is situated on the southwestern coast of Norway (in the county of Rogaland); 600km from Oslo, the capital of Norway, and lies on a line of latitude level with the southern tip of Alaska.

   I was sent here because work related. I have been in Stavanger several times but for short trip, one or two nights the most. I did squeeze some time off to do some tourist thing.

  A historic highlight for the last half of the 20th century was when oil was found under the ocean that once provided large fish-canning industry. Now, this part of Norway is the nation`s richest. Because of Stavanger`s healthy economy and good standard of living.

   The post-war years proved difficult until the 1960's when Stavanger became the oil capital of Norway. Today, after 30 years of economic growth, it has developed into a modern cosmopolitan, multi-cultural and prosperous city. Breiavatnet is the small lake with fountain situated in the center of Stavanger.

   A large percentage of the Stavanger populous is oil workers from numerous companies and countries (the UK and US inhabitants are the large percentage of the foreign workers).

  You can't leave Stavanger without to see the Gamle Stavanger, the ancient Stavanger. This is the oldest side of the town and you can see many old white wooden houses built in the 18th century with small streets with rocks. To make a walk in this part of the town is like to come back to the time.

   Gamle Stavanger (Old Stavanger)
Most of the city’s old town sits on one of two small hills which partially surround the old harbor. The houses are partly in private ownership, and partly owned by the City. There is no fee to visit the site. The city is full of artists and you can buy paintings, potteries, jewels and much more.

   Old Stavanger consists of more than 150 old timber houses built in the late 18th and early 19th century. The site, being the best preserved collection of timber houses in northern Europe, is preserved by law as a historical monument, and gives a real impression of the old city.

   The Bybrua suspension bridge over the Stromstein-sundet to the island of Buoy, Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway. The bridge is 1067 metres long, the main span is 185 metres, and the maximum clearance to the sea is 26 metres. Stavanger City Bridge (Bybrua) was the first larger cable-stayed bridge in Norway. It was opened in 1978.

   Go on a fjord cruise in one of Norway's most breath-taking fjords. Passing the regular ferry along the way. The trip starts from Stavanger downtown harbor. Several trip options offered but since my back was in pain, I just took an easy one (no climbing involved).

   A big beautiful cable-braced bridge strung above fjord near Stavanger. I was on the sightseeing boat and getting ready to get in the fjords.

   Sightseeing boats stop on the Lysefjord to see Hengjanefossen fall. The captain sail right up to the fall and fill a bucket so that passengers can taste the pure mountain water. I declined the offer.

   This picture of the fjord was taken from the car park area along the highway. We managed to take a time off to drive around the country side.

   View of Fjord from the highway.

   Stop at the rest stop to take a break. The scenery is speechless.

Dorga Bridge.
   Dorgefossen is special because you have an undisturbed and spectacular view down the fall from a secure platform in order to observe how the erosion power of the water has created this fall and has carved a vertical canyon into the rock.

Dorga Bridge.
   Very deep water flow formation thru the canyon. Very impressive and massive rock. We were told about water fall (Dorgafossen) but can’t see much water or may be dry season.

   The Norwegian coastline is 21,000 km long with hundreds of fjords and inlets. It is a rugged, mountainous country with limited rail and road when away from the main centers of population.

   Travel between Stavanger and Trondheim normally requires transportation via ferry or by tunnel. The city of Bergen is 125 km north of Stavanger but will take up to 6 hours by road. Olso is 9 hours away by road (12 hours in the winter snow). Air travel is increasingly important and is the only really practical method of covering the large distance between the major cities.

   The cost living is pretty high in Stavanger. I think food is expensive compare to USA. Mac combo meal cost more than US$12, a decent dinner cost about US$40, a glass of Coke or water or beer cost almost the same. I found two Thai restaurants in town and few Chinese places. Rental car with automatic transmission cost unbelievable and difficult to get one. Hotel room is small with small single bed (I am too big !!!!).