Beautiful Bergen

11-06-24

(P:- Best back up till yesterday 10th it was my birthday and what an enjoyable country to celebrate it in. Not sure this Troll infested country has done anything for my ageing (refer to the selfie below).

After arriving into Bergen yesterday afternoon, we transferred to the Clarion Admiral Hotel in the city centre. Then a walk to orient ourselves. (P:- Priorities I walked out onto the balcony to an up close view of Ferries and boats on Bergen Harbour – a perfect start)! We decided to take the funicular railway up to the lookout as it is a gorgeous afternoon. We walked straight onto it without any wait and started the climb to the top. After photo ops at the top we just sat and enjoyed the lovely view. And did some people watching for the next 3/4 hour, soaking up the sun. Then back down to sea level and more wandering before heading to the hotel where we met up with Helen and Ian for dinner.

Tuesday (11th). We enjoyed a delicious breakfast (P:- Can’t beat a European Breakfast and the Norwegian’s Breakfasts are at the top of the list, delicious and healthy) at the hotel before putting on our walking shoes and heading out to enjoy this city. Once outside we walk up to a church that is overlooking this part of the city. It’s not open to view until midday so we continue wandering the streets. (P:- Close call! Benefits of early touring, already seen 3 or 4 churches this week that’s ample)! Quaint houses, narrow alleys, lovely flower baskets, small parks, a swimming pool and swimming area in the sea and boats of all sizes.

We walk out past the museum and gardens and through back streets until we find the fish market area along the waterfront for some lunch. It all looks fresh and tasty but we finally decide on some Paella for Philip and a Prawn and Salmon roll for me.

After lunch Philip wants to visit a fishing industry museum so we walk out around the base of the Bergenhus Fortress, where I leave him to go his way and I walk back through the fortress and grounds then along the warehouses, now souvenirs and handcraft stores. I stop for an icecream (P:- I missed out on Icecream)! and sit and people watch for a while. There are two cruise ships in today plus there are hundreds of young people here for part of the Bergen Fest. (Been a big concert here this morning). Just near the museum is an old church with cemetery outside. Here the graves are cast iron and sitting partially in the ground. Quite unusual. Across the road and part of the museum is the remains of St Catherine’s Hospital. Norways first hospital for women built around 1250. The building was in use until it was destroyed by fire in 1527. The ruins of the hospital were excavated in 1986 and reopened for viewing in 2003.

Bryggen is the historic harbour district of Bergen. It’s one of North Europes oldest port cities. It was established as a centre for trade by the 12th Century and is now a UNESCO world heritage site. For centuries it was the privilege trading place where dried cod, cod liver oil, hides, furs, butter and tallow from the North were exchanged against flour, grain, salt, beer, hemp and fabrics.

Some of the old warehouses are now being restored using the old techniques. Walking through the tiny narrow alleys with walls leaning in all directions was intriguing. Huge beams, overhanging balconies and steep stairways crowd the alleys and from the front all the buildings lean various ways. The warehouses/tenements structures are based on a 1000 year old tradition. The tenements as they appear today are a medieval origin.

(P:- I walked about 2 klm around to another bay, past some beautiful old warehouses to the Norwegian Fishing Museum which was housed in an old dried Cod storage warehouse. It was an informative and interesting museum which gave me bonus tickets to the Salmon Farming museum. Salmon farming is the 3rd largest Industry in Norway).

Meeting up with Philip we head back to the hotel for a half hour rest before heading out again. This time in a different direction. Towards the railway station and then taking more narrow winding streets, climbing up the hillside. Here houses are stacked together. Walls touching walls, roofs joining, gardens at odd angles. All making a quaint mish mash of houses, stairs, roofs and gardens. It’s a lovely walk and view over the city again. (P:- Bergen is as neat as a pin, a great walking city, especially the crazy hillside “streets and stairs” As quirky as)! Back at the hotel we rest up and then meet Helen and Ian again for a well earned dinner.