Rain. That’s the #1 thing to know about this city. When talking with the activities director the other day he mentioned of the 50 times he has been here it has rained at least 40 of those.
While the city is on the same latitude line as Siberia due to the trade winds they rarely get snow in the main city. It also means this town receives the most rain in all of Europe. On average they receive 90 inches of rain a year. On the plus side, everything here is super green and lush.
My tour for the day meets at 1:30 though we get in at 8am. No way I’m sitting on the ship until then. The goal for the day sounds easy: walk the city while it isn’t raining, get lunch, rush back the ship then join the excursion. Simple right? Let’s do it.
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| The plan is to see everything in this photo today |
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| The inner sleeves for backpacks are great. Keeps everything separated |
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| 8am – let’s start this |
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| Pretty little town |
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| Public art is a big thing here |
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| Flowers are everywhere |
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| Tons of tiny parks too |
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| The famous old waterfront |
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| If I ever get a boat I know the name of it |
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| 9am – fish market getting setup |
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| Locally grown salmon fillet |
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| So many choices for lunch – we;ll come back |
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| Their version of what Mother Nature looks like |
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| The Bergen Cathedral. Originally built in 1181 but rebuilt after 1537 |
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| This is painted on 5 foot tall wooden planks |
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| What do you have to do where someone wants your head literally on a plate |
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| You can see the transformations made through the years |
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| These openings are maybe 5 feet tall |
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| Roughly cut staircase |
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| It is beautiful |
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| Seems a very thin wall |
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| Ah, it’s a toilet wal |
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| How small were their feet? I’m half hanging off the step |
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| Give you an idea how large the slate roof tiles are |
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| Gorgeous view |
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| Quick climb down and head to the other building |
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| State dinner, 1943 |
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| The arrow shows the ship that exploded |
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| 11:30am – need to head back but I guess I can see this church |
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| One more church on the way back to lunch |
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| Noon – what to eat |
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| Let’s go with the mussels |
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| So delicious |
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| Some other options for you to sample… |
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| City monument dedicated to all those lost at sea over all of history |
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| This panel captures the time when people though creatures lived in the sea and ate ships |
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| The square is abnormally large to aid in stopping building fires jumping roofs |
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| Very first Norwegian-spoken opera house |
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| Onward with our hike |
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| We need to catch a ride up the mountain |
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| Great view from the first peak |
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| Local goats just come here to chill |
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| Our hiking goal today, all of this picture |
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| So much beauty to see while hiking |
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| An hour in and we see the final summit |
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| “Oh it’s just another 15 minutes” – LIES! |
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| Finally reached the peak! |
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| Old nuke bunker? |
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| I was on top that peak! |
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| Can you see the small white house in the opposite hillside? |
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| What a view it must have |
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| And with that it’s 6pm. Everything in the photo was visited |
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| 15.5 miles – this may be a record |