Bergen August 24-25, 2006
August 24
Last night was a watery version of the train the night before with the Vesteralen docking at several ports to offload and take on freight and passengers before slipping her lines and steaming south.
A breakfast buffet was included in our passage and we wandered down to the ship’s restaurant around 8. The rest of the morning was spent reclining topside, in a lounge or preparing to disembark once we reached Bergen. The scenery continued to amaze as it flowed by giving us an unending panorama of the Norwegian coast.
The Vesteralen’s lines were secured at the Bergen docks at 2:25PM, 5 minutes ahead of schedule. We had bought a bus ticket to the town “sentrum” early this morning as it looked as though it may be raining in Bergen and it is about a 20-30 minute walk from the boat to the town center where we were going to try and book a place to stay for the night. The bus let us off a block from the info center and even if it wasn’t raining we were glad we had taken advantage of the transportation.
Bergen is a town with a history. It served as Norway’s capital in the 12th and 13th centuries during which 70% of its population was wiped out by the Plague. It really came into its own when it became part of the German Hanseatic Trading League. The Hanseatic League at one time had over 150 member cities and was at its zenith northern Europe’s most powerful economic entity. Bergen was considered one of four major centers for the League. The city prospered in the League for almost 400 years and continued as a major trading center until the end of the 19th century.
The information center was packed when we walked in. They have a number queue so we took a number and yikes we had 118 and they were serving number 104. From experience we knew that the average time per customer is like 5-7 minutes (We do things like time studies to amuse ourselves as we stand and wait.) and there were three attendants assisting people. We found a place to drop the packs and started collecting information brochures about things to do in this area. Once again patience and a nod from Odin made our day a little better. Numbers 109 through 116 did not answer so our wait lasted only around 30 minutes. I believe that Odin did this because he couldn’t wait to see our faces when the attendant helping us said “there are no rooms in Bergen tonight!” She then rectified this by saying “Well there is an apartment but it’s the last one and it costs NOK1150 per night” (approx US$175). We asked again “you’re sure there’s nothing else available”. “This is the only thing in town” she replied. We told her to book it and after a minute or so on the phone she said “it’s no longer available”. We asked her if there was anything outside of town. She said “there is one apartment left”. We asked “how far from town is it”. “It’s in town she replied, not far”. I have to tell you that the Norwegians speak excellent English but we have no idea what they are saying about half the time.
We walked the ten minutes or so to the apartment and were greeted by a nice lady named Leev(?) who is the owner. The apartment is the ground floor of her three story town house that was built around 1900. We have a sitting room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, not very stylish, but homey and with more room than we have had in quite a while. The neighborhood is a mixture of homes and apartments and Leev’s house sits near the top of the hill which is always the way when you’re on foot and carrying large heavy packs.
After settling in we explored part of Bergen and ended up at a movie theater. We saw “Miami Vice” (only one we hadn’t seen or cared to see) and for those of you who have not seen it; save your money and popcorn calories for something, almost anything else. They should have named it “Gratuitous Sex and Violence Movie”. Not that there’s anything wrong with that but you at least need some story line glue and decent acting to pull it off.
August 25
I woke up at 10AM and then only because Holly woke me up. I can’t remember the last time I slept until 10. It tells me this trip is turning into work. We have decided when we get through Scandinavia we are going to stop for a week or so and take some time off. Believe it or not the daily grind of finding a place to stay, actually FINDING the place that you found to stay, deciding what you’re going to do today where you’re going to eat, how you’re going to get to where you’re going etc. You’d be amazed at the effort it takes to do the smallest task when you have no idea where anything is and no way to get there. You get the picture even if you don’t believe how tiring it can be.
Today was a work day with setting up the next few days activities and places to stay. The area around Bergen is a playground for the Norwegians and Europeans. We have opted to go sea kayaking on the Naeroyfjord tomorrow with an expedition company. They had advertised a two day kayak camping trip but when we tried to book it we found out that the next “overnighter” would not begin until Monday. Our Scan Pass (rail tickets) run out on Tuesday and we want to be in Oslo by then. After the kayak tour we are staying in a town named Voss for a couple of nights and will hopefully find more Nordic fun on Sunday. Monday we are taking a scenic railroad to Flam (pronounced Floam) and staying there Monday night before catching the train to Oslo on Tuesday.
Bergen is advertised to have about 90 sunny days a year. We’re 0 for 2 as I write this. Most of today we wandered around in the rain attending to our chores and squeezing in an occasional sight seeing side trip when we could. We finally gave up about 7:30 and headed back to the apartment. We have to catch the 7:58AM train in the morning and we have a 20 minute walk to reach the station. Odin, if you’re listening, how about easing up on the rain for an hour or so about that time.
Last night was a watery version of the train the night before with the Vesteralen docking at several ports to offload and take on freight and passengers before slipping her lines and steaming south.
A breakfast buffet was included in our passage and we wandered down to the ship’s restaurant around 8. The rest of the morning was spent reclining topside, in a lounge or preparing to disembark once we reached Bergen. The scenery continued to amaze as it flowed by giving us an unending panorama of the Norwegian coast.
The Vesteralen’s lines were secured at the Bergen docks at 2:25PM, 5 minutes ahead of schedule. We had bought a bus ticket to the town “sentrum” early this morning as it looked as though it may be raining in Bergen and it is about a 20-30 minute walk from the boat to the town center where we were going to try and book a place to stay for the night. The bus let us off a block from the info center and even if it wasn’t raining we were glad we had taken advantage of the transportation.
Bergen is a town with a history. It served as Norway’s capital in the 12th and 13th centuries during which 70% of its population was wiped out by the Plague. It really came into its own when it became part of the German Hanseatic Trading League. The Hanseatic League at one time had over 150 member cities and was at its zenith northern Europe’s most powerful economic entity. Bergen was considered one of four major centers for the League. The city prospered in the League for almost 400 years and continued as a major trading center until the end of the 19th century.
The information center was packed when we walked in. They have a number queue so we took a number and yikes we had 118 and they were serving number 104. From experience we knew that the average time per customer is like 5-7 minutes (We do things like time studies to amuse ourselves as we stand and wait.) and there were three attendants assisting people. We found a place to drop the packs and started collecting information brochures about things to do in this area. Once again patience and a nod from Odin made our day a little better. Numbers 109 through 116 did not answer so our wait lasted only around 30 minutes. I believe that Odin did this because he couldn’t wait to see our faces when the attendant helping us said “there are no rooms in Bergen tonight!” She then rectified this by saying “Well there is an apartment but it’s the last one and it costs NOK1150 per night” (approx US$175). We asked again “you’re sure there’s nothing else available”. “This is the only thing in town” she replied. We told her to book it and after a minute or so on the phone she said “it’s no longer available”. We asked her if there was anything outside of town. She said “there is one apartment left”. We asked “how far from town is it”. “It’s in town she replied, not far”. I have to tell you that the Norwegians speak excellent English but we have no idea what they are saying about half the time.
We walked the ten minutes or so to the apartment and were greeted by a nice lady named Leev(?) who is the owner. The apartment is the ground floor of her three story town house that was built around 1900. We have a sitting room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, not very stylish, but homey and with more room than we have had in quite a while. The neighborhood is a mixture of homes and apartments and Leev’s house sits near the top of the hill which is always the way when you’re on foot and carrying large heavy packs.
After settling in we explored part of Bergen and ended up at a movie theater. We saw “Miami Vice” (only one we hadn’t seen or cared to see) and for those of you who have not seen it; save your money and popcorn calories for something, almost anything else. They should have named it “Gratuitous Sex and Violence Movie”. Not that there’s anything wrong with that but you at least need some story line glue and decent acting to pull it off.
August 25
I woke up at 10AM and then only because Holly woke me up. I can’t remember the last time I slept until 10. It tells me this trip is turning into work. We have decided when we get through Scandinavia we are going to stop for a week or so and take some time off. Believe it or not the daily grind of finding a place to stay, actually FINDING the place that you found to stay, deciding what you’re going to do today where you’re going to eat, how you’re going to get to where you’re going etc. You’d be amazed at the effort it takes to do the smallest task when you have no idea where anything is and no way to get there. You get the picture even if you don’t believe how tiring it can be.
Today was a work day with setting up the next few days activities and places to stay. The area around Bergen is a playground for the Norwegians and Europeans. We have opted to go sea kayaking on the Naeroyfjord tomorrow with an expedition company. They had advertised a two day kayak camping trip but when we tried to book it we found out that the next “overnighter” would not begin until Monday. Our Scan Pass (rail tickets) run out on Tuesday and we want to be in Oslo by then. After the kayak tour we are staying in a town named Voss for a couple of nights and will hopefully find more Nordic fun on Sunday. Monday we are taking a scenic railroad to Flam (pronounced Floam) and staying there Monday night before catching the train to Oslo on Tuesday.
Bergen is advertised to have about 90 sunny days a year. We’re 0 for 2 as I write this. Most of today we wandered around in the rain attending to our chores and squeezing in an occasional sight seeing side trip when we could. We finally gave up about 7:30 and headed back to the apartment. We have to catch the 7:58AM train in the morning and we have a 20 minute walk to reach the station. Odin, if you’re listening, how about easing up on the rain for an hour or so about that time.
posted by Gary and Holly Davis @ 11:36 AM
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