The Norangsdalen valley is easily one of the most enchanting places in Norway!
It’s one of those places that looks and feels like nowhere else you’ve ever visited.
Crystal clear lakes, jagged impossibly-high snow-clad mountains and road that wind off with the promise of more amazing sights ahead.
Seeing as we had several hours free before dinner, we left the Hotel Union Øye made our way through the valley stopping first at that lake I told you about – you know, the one that used to be a village before it got flooded.
The lake is called Lyngstøyvatnet and till this day, you can still the houses underneath the lake. It’s particularly great from divers/snorkelers but you don’t have to get wet to see them (more on that further down).
A little drive down the valley led to prompts (from both of us) to just keep driving a few minute more… and then a few minutes more… and then some more…
It also doesn’t help that every few minutes, one of us would either blurt out a loud and very distracted “Wow!” or an abrupt “Stop the car!” (depending on who was driving) – the photo ops here are absolutely endless.
Even regular things like these houses (which I reckon is more for the farm than properly residential) are a sight to behold.
Actually rather than listening to me gushing – let me just show you…
Stunning right?
Eventually it was time to head back to the hotel (we were already running late for our dinner reservation) but not before a quick stop at the lake to check out the houses properly (can you see the start of one in the photo below?)
Despite several distractions, we made it back to the hotel on time and hotfooted it right to the restaurant, where a 3 course meal awaited us.
Starting with scallops and cured meats…
All accompanied by delicious wines, of course…
We then moved on to mains – deliciously tender beef! (Seriously, it was absolutely perfect!)
…and a raspberry cheesecake for dessert – which we finished off with gusto (and a glass of dessert wine – can’t remember which one right now, a Muscat perhaps?)
The rest of the evening was spent doing something I’d wanted to do for weeks before – absolutely nothing.
We got ourselves a couple of bottles of the local beers and headed to the veranda where we sat soaking in that cool Norwegian breeze with nothing but the sound of birds and the waterfalls crashing in the distance.
There really is no plan quite like having no plans! 😉
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