enjoying the Bergen sunshine
walking back from Mount Fløien

Ok, so when I suggested that we go to Bergen, I guess I didn't read the part that it rains most of the year. One Bergen-ite told us that they have had only seven days without rain this year. Since I live in Seattle, I recognized a weather martyr when I heard one (even in Norwegian), so I'm guessing it is more like 14 days, but still. Well, the total went up to 8 (or 16) while were there, our last day turned out to be beautiful. 

Among other things we did during our stay in Bergen, we rode the Funicular (cable car) to Mount Fløien, the top of the hill behind the city . It is a fun ride, a 26 degree grade, moving about 8 mph.  The car is designed specifically for the angle - all the places that you expect to be rectangular are a squashed parallelogram.

We also enjoyed hanging out by the fish market and had a great lunch of fresh prawns and crab while we sat out by the harbor. The prawns they sell there are the peel-your-own variety, smallish and briny, but very tasty. Traditionally, the Norwegians eat them dipped in mayonnaise - in fact, at the market the vendors all had tubes of it for sale. I know what you're thinking - "Mayonnaise"? That's right baby, they just slather 'em in it. We, on the other hand, did not. But that's what I like about Europe, the little differences.

Let's see, what else in Bergen? The beauty of traveling with Lisa is that she will seek out what more, how shall I put it?, traditional tourists might otherwise ignore. Like for example, The Leprosy Museum. Oh you didn't know Bergen is famous for its Leprosy Museum? Well, it turns out a few sharp Norwegian doctors fought the good fight against leprosy in the 18th century. To find out more about leprosy, try a web search on, "Armauer Hansen", and see what falls out.

Oslo

We had a last day and a half in Oslo after Bergen which was a nice way to finish our time in Norway. As a bonus, the weather was perfect and we had a chance to go back to Frogner Park, this time at sunset. I got myself sucked back into photography mode even though I swore I would just walk the park and enjoy the sights. The sky was just amazing that night. Mostly I shot b&w film, so you are spared another full round of web pictures except these few.

-- rob

the view of Bergen 
from Mount Fløien

Frogner Park at sunset

Back to the top