Waterfalls

Can a waterfall be ordinary? I don't know about you, but falling water is always attractive, intriguing, and nearly mesmerizing. The sound is amazing too, and quite variable depending upon it's size. I think most of us feel this way because it's not uncommon for people to make it a special point to visit them.

Norway has a lot of waterfalls... I mean really a lot. With all of these magnificent mountains and cliffs, rainfall, and snow it's no wonder. And the fjord is the perfect receptacle for all of that water. Again I wonder, can a waterfall be ordinary?

Waterfalls

That's my question because yesterday we rented a car and took a road trip. Luckily the driving is identical to America... although the road signs were a mystery! We drove a long distance traveling the most scenic road I've ever been on... and passed through 45 rough-cut tunnels in the process- ONE WAY! There were many stops to capture video and gape at the scenery. Then we had lunch in the town of Aurland where we chatted with a local man, and then a bit of ice cream in Flam. We followed one road as it snaked along the mountain edge, became gravel with switchbacks a plenty, and when it finally turned into a hiking trail we were forced to turn around. At that point the solitude was complete, as there were no other people, cars, or homes for miles. But the waterfalls... the waterfalls were nearly everywhere you looked. And not just in those remote locations, they were frequent for the entire outing.

My best friend and I often wonder if the ocean would loose it's specialness if you lived at it's shores. Would you stop to notice it with the same delight, seeing it day in and day out? That's why I wonder if a waterfall can be ordinary. Gosh, I hope not. I suppose that can be extended to all of the beautiful things we see on a daily basis.

Currently I'm writing to you from a ship. We left Bergen behind and are now on a voyage traveling north. This is the best way to experience the coastal scenery and the cities and towns that lie scattered along it's banks. We'll share more about that, and who we are traveling with, as we go along.