We had to wake early to get our luggage out by the door to be ported down to the ferry. This didn’t matter as I was awake by 5:00 a.m. I think the lack of darkness is starting to get to me. Where have all the stars and moon gone? It will be good to see them when I get home. Linda K.’s son said we should be able to see the Aurora Borealis but with only two to three hours of darkness between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. you would probably never get to see it.
With breakfast finished, we walked down to the ferry pick up location. The van arrived with our luggage. After claiming our bags we got in line but apparently this line didn’t matter. People were pushing their way onto the ferry. Linda K. was observing this, waiting for the din to die down and described it as a herd trying to move in one direction. I do believe this is an accurate description. We settled in for our four and a half hour ride to Bergen.
The scenery was spectacular. A little more rocky than yesterday’s views but the mountains were just as grand. The sky was heavy with dark clouds that threatened to rain any minute. The houses in the village along the fjord were very colorful: yellows blues, greens, reds and white with decorative tiled roofs in reds, browns and greys. The houses all appeared to be of the same shape. A box with a high pitched roof and dormers. I am sure the pitch of the roof is to keep the snow from piling up on it. Some of the roofs had wires going across that could be heated up to melt the snow. We did see a few grass covered roofs.
With breakfast finished, we walked down to the ferry pick up location. The van arrived with our luggage. After claiming our bags we got in line but apparently this line didn’t matter. People were pushing their way onto the ferry. Linda K. was observing this, waiting for the din to die down and described it as a herd trying to move in one direction. I do believe this is an accurate description. We settled in for our four and a half hour ride to Bergen.
The scenery was spectacular. A little more rocky than yesterday’s views but the mountains were just as grand. The sky was heavy with dark clouds that threatened to rain any minute. The houses in the village along the fjord were very colorful: yellows blues, greens, reds and white with decorative tiled roofs in reds, browns and greys. The houses all appeared to be of the same shape. A box with a high pitched roof and dormers. I am sure the pitch of the roof is to keep the snow from piling up on it. Some of the roofs had wires going across that could be heated up to melt the snow. We did see a few grass covered roofs.
Just when I thought I could settle in to do a little reading, an announcement came over the loudspeaker that we would be changing ferries at the next stop. This meant that at least 90% of the passengers would have to collect their luggage and move to the connecting ferry. We waited until near the end mostly because people were lined up in the aisle blocking us from getting out of our seats. It worked to our advantage. Several of us had a little help from the ship’s staff with our suitcases.
The second ferry was not as crowded, it being much larger than the last. As we traveled along the fjord the landscape began changing. No longer were there majestic mountains covered with pine trees and the occasional cascading waterfall. It was very rocky for awhile which slowly turned into low rocky outcrops and small islands covered in a variety of trees and shrubs. The ferry passed by one village that had a statue of Olaf V looking out on the fjord. We reached Bergen just about noon.
The second ferry was not as crowded, it being much larger than the last. As we traveled along the fjord the landscape began changing. No longer were there majestic mountains covered with pine trees and the occasional cascading waterfall. It was very rocky for awhile which slowly turned into low rocky outcrops and small islands covered in a variety of trees and shrubs. The ferry passed by one village that had a statue of Olaf V looking out on the fjord. We reached Bergen just about noon.
Pulling into port, we spotted the hotel. It looked only one block away. As we walked in the direction of the hotel, we realized there was a docking area and we had to go around it. It was quite fun pulling suitcases uphill over cobblestones. After dumping our luggage in the room, we met up with the three Lindas, and Victoria in the lobby to head out for lunch at Vista. This was a recommendation from the hotel clerk. It was on the 4th floor of the mall two blocks down and overlooked the waterfront. The food was pretty good but the service was terrible. Linda H. had to practically inhale her food since it had to be remade. We hurried back to the hotel to meet our guide for the two hour walking tour of the city.
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Our guide, Cecelia, met us in the lobby. She was originally from San Francisco but grew up in Australia and landed in Bergen due to her husband who is from France. She spends her summers as a guide. Eight of us headed out. Mom and Lee decided to stay back at the hotel
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. Our afternoon was filled with learning all about Bergen.
- There are 266 days of rain in the average year. This year is well below average.
- Norway was a poor country until it found oil.
- Norway is not part of the European Union. It is part of the Single Market.
- Bergen’s light rail recently opened and runs from the waterfront to the airport.
- There is a whole area of the city dedicated to Ole Bull, the world famous violinist.
- There have been many fires that shape the city of Bergen.
- 90% of the citizens of Bergen died due to the Black Death in 1300s.
- There are two main areas around the Bergen waterfront. The new side, Strandsiden, which means beach side, has new higher end stores and shopping malls. Bryggen is the historic area where “from 1370 to 1754, German merchants controlled Bergen's trade. In 1550, it was a German-run city of 2,000 workaholic merchants — walled and surrounded by 8,000 Norwegians.” (https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/a-bite-of-bergen)
- A little history of Bergen, Norway
- Norwegians are not allowed to buy any more than 250 kr over the internet. They are charge a very high tax if they go over by even 1 Kr.
,Places we visited.
- The Wall
- Svaneapoteket, today Pharmacy 1 The Swan, Strandgaten 6, is considered the country's oldest pharmacy, established in 1590 when the Dutch-born merchant Nicolaus de Freundt received a royal license to operate a pharmacy in Bergen. (http://www.bergenbyarkiv.no/bergenbyleksikon/arkiv/1425205)
- Henrik Ibsen Stature
- Den Nationale Scene, (The National Opera House) with an angel watching over the actors. It is one of the oldest permanent theaters in Norway
- Walking Street areas that were created to make fire breaks. This didn’t work as planned. A fire once jump to the other side of the street.
- The Government building with four statues that stand for Justice, Mercy, Strength, and Temperance
- The Blue Stone is a common place for the population of Bergen to meet.
- St. John’s Church
- Ole Bull’s Place
- The City Garden
- A statue of Edvard Grieg, a Norwegian composer and pianist.
- A local grocery store; Cecilia pointed out some of Norwegians best foods.
- The Sailor’s Monument
- The fish Market
- Bryggen: the Oldest section of Bergen.
- St. Mary’s Church which is the oldest existing building in Bergen.
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Cecilia left us on the street in Bryggen. Right across the street was a food wagon that sold Norwegian pancakes and was recommended by Cecilia before she left us. Karin and I each bought one. Mine was filled with the brown goat cheese, sour cream and raspberry marmalade. I would never have thought that combination would be good together but it was.
Back at the hotel I found Mom reading in the room. I took a ten minute nap and began working on this blog. We went to the hotel restaurant for dinner. Tomorrow we catch a plane to Stockholm. |