La versión español está después de la versión inglés.
THE NAME IS Saltstraumen. It’s a small strait southeast of Bodø in Norway. It’s made up of two words, “Salten,” which is the name of the district, and “straumen,” which I’m told means “the stream” or “the water flow.” But if I type “straumen” in Google Translate, I get another word, which I like even better: “Maelstrom.” That’s probably useless information. But it’s where my brain went when I began to write about the strait, which has one of the strongest tidal currents in the world.
The narrow channel connects an outer fjord to a much larger fjord between the islands of Straumøya and Knaplundsøya. It’s been like that for 2 to 3 thousand years. The remains of a 10,000-year-old hunter settlement were found there, one of the oldest archaeological discoveries in Norway. (I hope you’re taking notes. This will be on the exam.)
So, what did we do? We walked. With cousins Inger, Andreas and Anette, and nearly 3-year-old Ellinor, across the bridge (and back) and then had lunch at the restaurant/visitors center.
We didn’t actually walk all the way across the bridge. That would have taken too long and we were hungry. I went the furthest (a total distance of 768 metres/2,520 ft) but everyone was waiting. San Geraldo doesn’t like bridges. He tried twice to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. One time he thought he might even make it off dry land to where the bridge was actually suspended above the water. It didn’t work out. He tried again at Salstraumen. What a trooper.
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EL NOMBRE ES Saltstraumen. Es un pequeño estrecho al sureste de Bodø en Noruega. Se compone de dos palabras, “Salten”, que es el nombre del distrito, y “traumen”, que me dicen significa “la corriente” o “el flujo de agua”. Pero si escribo ” en Google Translate, obtengo otra palabra inglés, que me gusta aún más, “Maelstrom”. En español, obtengo “remolino.” Esa es probablemente información inútil. Pero es a donde se fue mi cerebro cuando comencé a escribir sobre el estrecho, que tiene una de las corrientes de marea más fuertes del mundo.
El canal estrecho conecta un fiordo exterior con un fiordo mucho más grande entre las islas de Straumøya y Knaplundsøya. Ha sido así durante 2 a 3 mil años. Allí se encontraron los restos de un asentamiento de cazadores de 10.000 años de antigüedad, uno de los descubrimientos arqueológicos más antiguos de Noruega. (Espero que estés tomando notas. Esto estará en el examen).
¿Entonces, qué hicimos? Caminamos. Con los primos Inger, Andreas y Anette, y Ellinor (de casi 3 años), cruzando el puente (y de regreso) y luego almorzamos en el restaurante/centro de visitantes.
En realidad no cruzamos todo el puente. Eso hubiera tomado demasiado tiempo y teníamos hambre. Llegué más lejos (una distancia total de 768 metros / 2.520 pies) pero todos estaban esperando. A San Geraldo no le gustan los puentes. Intentó dos veces cruzar el puente Golden Gate en San Francisco. Una vez pensó que incluso podría llegar a tierra firme donde el puente estaba suspendido sobre el agua. Eso no sucedió. Lo intentó de nuevo en Salstraumen. Que soldado.
Justo antes de que San Geraldo se volviera. Ver autos estacionados debajo era demasiado.
En espera de mi regreso.
Después de un tiempo, a Ellinor le pareció un poco aburrido.
Mirando por la ventana mientras almorzábamos (un puente diferente).
Norway is so beautiful. It just looks washed clean. Even the air seems brighter if that makes sense.
Susan:
Well, it gets WASHED a lot!
Looks like a wonderful bridge, great views.
David:
I love walking across bridges. There was one near our hotel in Sortland that had great views, but every time I planned to walk over (a couple of miles), it would rain and blow! Maybe next visit.
So many great things to show us from this trip!
Judy:
I can’t believe how much I have from less than two weeks. What a wonderful trip.
It would make a great walk, the views are stunning. Poor SG…. I don’t care a great deal for heights, but bridges, and being over water, never bothered me.
Bob:
Interestingly, SG doesn’t like heights but has no problem climbing a ladder to a roof. I, on the other hand, have no problem with heights, but I come close to panic if I have to step off a ladder onto a roof (or the reverse).
Scoot, were we hatched out of the same egg, or what!? I have no problem with heights either, as long as there is some kind of barrier or rail to give me a false sense of security. Only made it halfway to Moro rock because the railing ran out. I can’t do ladders at all.
Push over Rick Steves! Here comes Mitch Block!!
You are SO good at this whole ‘touring thing’.
Norway is now on ‘my list’ thanks to you……..I found out recently that a few of my ancestors were from Finland….since they are next door almost, why not!
Jim,
And, unlike Rick Steves, I make an effort to pronounce the names correctly! Anyway, yes, visit Norway!
Yeah, I’d throw in the towel and go for lunch too.
Debra,
I would have roamed for hours. The views and the power of the currents were incredible.
Poor SG! I have no problem with walking across bridges, as long as they’re not those rickety, swaying rope thingies. Funny though, the only time I think about earthquakes is when we are driving across the Bay Bridge or the Golden Gate. I’ve probably mentioned this before, Scoot, but you take wonderful photos!
Deedles,
Oh he hates those rope bridges. We never really worried about earthquakes in California. We were as prepared as we could be and stayed calm. But when we moved to San Francisco and commuted to Berkeley every day, that changed. Being on Bart we would both breathe a sigh of relief when we came out from under the water. And on those days we would drive, we hated being on the Bay Bridge, which still hadn’t been replaced after the Northridge Quake. So unsafe. And still so many very tall buildings and so much landfill.
OK OK how come no one has yet asked the question: WERE THERE ANY TROLLS UNDER THE BRIDGE?
Urspo,
I forgot to include the troll photos. I promise to share soon… and the Vikings, too. I saw them all.
Norway is so unspoiled
anne marie:
I would imagine it’s not ALL unspoiled, but I’ve only seen beautiful places. And so advanced in so many ways. If it weren’t for the weather — even the mildest places don’t meet our delicate constitutions — we would have moved there!
Just beautiful! Does SG have the same problem driving over bridges?
Walt the Fourth,
He used to for a time. He would do it but it would be hell for him. He doesn’t love driving across them now but he doesn’t have a panic attack.