August 27, 2014
Bergen, the city of seven hills and seven fjords, is often known as the gateway to the fjords. Oslo may be the official capital, but Bergen might be the tourist capital, as the scenic city draws visitors from all around the globe. We only spent one day in the city, as we were more interested in getting out to the countryside to see some of the natural attractions. Nevertheless, it was a good looking city with nice people and pleasant architecture. We stayed in a quaint little apartment/hotel just behind the famous waterfront, though it required some tough maneuvering through narrow one-way streets/alleys and a few stops to ask around for directions through the convoluted array of lanes and sidewalks snaking up the hill behind the harbor.
After a nice night in the city, we awoke at 5 am the next day to get a good start and drive the 3.5 hours over to Trolltunga, our next stop on the journey.
Bergen, the city of seven hills and seven fjords, is often known as the gateway to the fjords. Oslo may be the official capital, but Bergen might be the tourist capital, as the scenic city draws visitors from all around the globe. We only spent one day in the city, as we were more interested in getting out to the countryside to see some of the natural attractions. Nevertheless, it was a good looking city with nice people and pleasant architecture. We stayed in a quaint little apartment/hotel just behind the famous waterfront, though it required some tough maneuvering through narrow one-way streets/alleys and a few stops to ask around for directions through the convoluted array of lanes and sidewalks snaking up the hill behind the harbor.
After a nice night in the city, we awoke at 5 am the next day to get a good start and drive the 3.5 hours over to Trolltunga, our next stop on the journey.
(The funicular entrance up to the top of the mountain overlooking the city is hidden within the white building. As we didn't have much time in the city, we skipped this part and mostly just wandered the old streets of the central/historical/touristy area.)
(Most of these buildings were built in the early 1900s, and they make up the iconic row of buildings known as Bryggen (which means quay in Norwegian)).
(Some of the cute little shops don't look all that stable, but they've been at that location for quite a while, so it doesn't seem that they're going anywhere.)
(A classic shot of Bryggen. This area is tourist central, with many shops and outdoor cafes lining the waterfront.)
(The fish market offers a variety of different seafood where the vendors claim to speak 6 or 7 languages, though I mostly just heard Spanish. The dark meat near the salesman is actually whale meat, as Norway is one of the few places that still hunts/fishes for whale. I talked to the vendor about it, and he said it's not really that special and instead gave me a fresh slice of raw salmon, and it was delicious.)
(The iconic waterfront of Bergen/Bryggen.)
(Just a few minutes inland from the harbor, we stumbled upon this pleasant park, where we took a break from walking and enjoyed the fresh air and perfect weather.)
(Meatballs, potatoes, carrots, mashed peas and a cup of cranberry sauce comprised my typical Norwegian meal. The restaurant was a nice mix of a bar, restaurant and library, filled with tables, standing areas and little nooks, so I had a nice little stand near the front for my dinner. Craig opted for a kebab down the road instead.)
(Sunset along the harbor.)
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