Ireland, Greenland, Iceland and
Norwegian Fjords
30th June 2008 - 18th July 2008
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15th July Bergen (Norway)

A former ‘European City of Culture’ with a string of fascinating art galleries facing its Lille Lungedgardsvann Lake, Bergen cruise port nestles amongst the magnificent mountains strung along Norway’s western coastline and is a gateway to Fjordland.

This 13th century Hanseatic – and now World Heritage - city was built on the site of an original Viking settlement and is full of historic sites, the best known of which is Bryggen. A collection of 11th century wooden buildings along the harbour front, this is a World Heritage Site in its own right and has its own museum to tell its fascinating story.

To enjoy the best views of this picturesque city, take the funicular railway to the top of Mount Fløyen, which overlooks both Bergen and the surrounding region.

Also the birthplace of composer Edvard Grieg, Bergen is easily walkable and has a lively fish market and an even better general market along the harbour front as well as many attractive bars and cafes.
 

Photo Gallery:
 
Well, for the morning at least, Bergen certainly lived up to its reputation for being the wettest place in Norway.
 
A must see site for a visitor to Bergen is the quayside (Bryggen), an area of brightly-painted wooden warehouses reminiscent of medieval times. Closely packed together, these tall and narrow buildings are now used for a variety of purposes - boutiques, antique shops, souvenir shops and restaurants.
 
It was here that the Hansa merchants set up their factory and lived, quite separately from the other inhabitants of the city. Not surprisingly fires in the past have had serious consequences and the 1702 conflagration destroyed most of the buildings of Bryggen.
 
Many of the buildings were restored and are not as old as they might look. Nevertheless Bryggen is included in UNESCO'S World Heritage List as one of the worlds most important monuments to the culture and history of medieval Europe.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The harbour at Bergen penetrates right into the centre of the town.
 
One of the stalls in the busy fish market. Located at the head of the bay and apart from selling fish the market also has a wide selection of flowers, fruit, vegetables, handicrafts and traditional souvenirs.
 
 And then the sun started to put in an appearance.
 
 
 
 
 
Bergen plays host to Scandinavia's only cable railway, The Floibanen Funicular. The seven minute journey is in itself a great experience, made all the better if you manage to get a good seat or standing place.

This photo was taken as we left the tunnel leading out of the station.
  
 About half way up the track splits, allowing the up car to pass the down car.
 
 
 
Without the rain drops on the window this time. From the top station you get an incredible view of Bergen and its surroundings.
 
A close up of Aurora.
The buildings and the lorries on the quay side give an impression of just how bit the ship is,
 
And of the fish market.
 
And also of one of the parks in Bergen.
 
"What do they call your friend"?
"I'm not sure".
"Sorry, I was talking to the Troll".
 
Heading back down to the town now.
 
 
 
 
 
 "Who are you calling a Sardine".
"No, I wasn't calling you a Sardine. I said you were packed in there like sardines".
 
"If you want to take a photo of the city you'll have to move down a bit cos I'm not moving for anyone".
 
That was fair enough I suppose, so I did move down a bit and got this view from the side of the ship into the city. The fish market is found at the end of the harbour.
 
A close up of the top station of The Floibanen Funicular.
 
Well it looks like we may be for awhile after all. Somehow the ropes had managed to get stuck and even though the front of the ship was free and swinging away from the side of the quay the back was stuck firmly in place. After ten minutes shouting between these guys and the ships crew we were under way.
 
 
 
"I knew you'd move in the end".