Quest to find the Fosmark family farm

A day and a half between meetings in Europe led to a bright idea from Heidi - "what about making your first trip to Norway?"

With a little encouragement from her (along with some from cousins Eric & Brian), I grabbed a cheap ticket to Bergen and started planning.  

Fossmark (spelled with two S's in Norway) is about 30 minutes outside of Bergen - a beautiful port town on the western Fjords of Norway.   

Flying in gives an awesome view of the raw beauty of a Norwegian Winter.  

The port fish market buildings are beautiful.  

As is the funicular in the center.  The weather was sunny and warm and families were out in droves enjoying the 40 degree weather.  

As beautiful as Bergen is, it was time to drive up the coast towards Voss and the village of Fossmark.   

Village would be generous.  I almost blew by the farm the first time.  Luckily, it's marked by a sign for the Fossmark tunnel, and the farm is just beyond the exit to the tunnel.  

The old family farm is only about 10-15 acres (no wonder they emigrated - it would have been hard to live beyond subsistence here).  The land drops right into the Fjord and today there are 4-5 structures.  I have to admit, I was so excited to be just standing there.  If it hadn't been 9a on a Sunday morning, I would have knocked on the door of the farmhouse. 

Proof that we are related - XC skis leaning against the barn:

The view over the Fjord from the farm to the right:

And to the left:

The Fjord along the route to the farm is beautiful. 

 Looking up the Fjord towards the farm:

Brian & Eric - definitely worth adding this to your May itinerary.  It's beautiful and easy to get to from Bergen. 

Grandpa and Grandma Fosmark loved to take us for fish and chips, so in honor of that memory, I headed back to Bergen to cap the day with some.  

It was a lifelong dream of my dad's and mine to go here together.  I could feel his smile today.