An entry in The TFS Travel Journal
While listening to “Miserlu” coming in the windows from the harbor
Bergen is called the City of Seven Hills, since it is set in the base of said hills, and its light-colored houses rise part way up the hills looking very much like the Amalfi coast.
Two observations:
1. They sure love jazz here is Scandanavia, as there are jazz festivals in numerous large cities and small, most attracting some impressive names, as well as a plethora of hopping jazz bars;
2. There are sure a lot of Asian tourists here.
We dined at the hotel’s breakfast buffet. I’m really getting to love their flatbread selection — all shapes and flavors.
We began with a leisurely stroll along the harborside to see the Bryggen (several-hundred-year-old wooden Hanseatic buildings declared a UNESCO world heritage site) with stops in many shops to buy a tape of Peer Gynt (this was E. Grieg’s hometown), some troll memorabilia, and to sample some moose sausage and reindeer sausage. (the latter was much sweeter and tastier).
A stop at the gazebo in town center surrounded by beautiful flowers for a photo session, and then to a few local museums, all the while sampling the plentiful offerings of the local bakeries. The Rasmus Meyer collection and the Stenersens collection contained mostly Scandic works, with, of course, substantial E. Munch offerings. Definitely worthwhile pastoral country scenes, plus the requisite shipwrecks and other sea stuff. We strolled the fish market (actually a dozen or so large stands set up under tents) which also had fresh fruit stands. What gorgeous fish! Plus, salmon sandwiches to go, crab meat wrapped in crab shells and celephane with spoons, and plenty of caviar (with samples!), all really cheap! We indulged judiciously.
We then made a new friend in the sporting good store while buying a much-needed fanny pack, and set off to the Floyen Funicular, a railcar that ascends one of the seven hills. The ride is about 7 minutes, with two stops for locals to get on and off, and the views from the top are truly idyllic. A sweeping birds-eye panorama of water, the steep hills, a lovely city and many boats. Commuted back down and returned to the Admiral with a stop to stock up on fruit, including some of the best strawberries imaginable.
Relaxed in our room, feeling like we were in the harbor, then set off for Peppe’s Pizza (not to be confused with Jeppe’s Pizza down the block. Must have been a family fight or something). The pizza (spicy chicken w/mushrooms) looked better than it was, but, again, it satisfied our craving. We ambled home enjoying a frozen yoghurt in a waffle cone (that was more like frozen custard) dipped in chocolate sprinkles and nuts, through the activities set up for the Bergen Sailfest, which runs through tomorrow night. Sort of like Spring Fling, or a Manhattan street fair in miniature with many small tents of grilled foods, kids activities, slush drinks, a couple of bands (last night’s American Rock and Roll band with their Elvis impersonator), and large boisterous, but quite civilized, crowds speaking innumerable languages. We came up to the room to enjoy the views, including that of the myriad boats jamming the harbor, and to enjoy the myriad sounds, including some Bowie, Simon & Garfunkel, CSN, etc.