This morning we drove to 1,200 metres elevation is, the highest we’ll get to on this trip. I couldn’t help thinking that it looked remarkably like Greenland.
As you can see, I could have saved myself a fortune if I’d only realised!
This countryside is so reminiscent of the hikes that we went on, though the forests are slightly taller. Greenland’s birch forests are only 3” high!
Driving through this scenery brought back so many memories of Greenland. The colours, the lichen on the rocks, and the chill in the air. It was 8C when we first set out.
Glaciers lined the road. It was stunning.
We saw one of the biggest waterfalls in Norway, at over 180 metres high. It rained last night, so there was plenty of water. Voringsfossen Falls
This secondary fall was a bit tricky. I had to hang over the fence a bit. You’d better believe I was hanging onto my phone like grim death! I’m sure you’ll remember Morgan’s obsessive love for waterfalls from when we were in Iceland. so I sent these videos to him. I know, I’m a giver…!
The scenery was spectacular. You can see how the ice gouged its way through.
People are so kind to solo travellers. It’s funny how it looks like the water is emerging from my finger, though!
While we were here, Jan googled to check the road and found that a tunnel we needed was closed, adding an hour’s detour to our trip. In beautiful places like this, it’s not a great hardship.
Here’s another waterfall I shot from the bus window. It’s hiding behind a cloud, and the clarity of the water is incredible.
Can you see that there’s living roofs on these buildings? I suppose it’s done for insulation, but it looks very pretty too.
We stopped in a little town for lunch. It was located at the edge of a fjord, with mountains all around.
As we drove out of town, this tree caught my eye. Brilliant colours.
We needed to stop to top the bus up with water and this was at the side of the road.
Not bad, hey?
We drove into Bergen 2 hours later than scheduled, because of the closed tunnel, but the town was worth it. This was the first thing I heard when I stepped off the bus.
Bergen is surrounded by 7 hills, just like Rome. It began as a beautifully sunny day, which is apparently unusual for this town. The seven hills trap the clouds and hold them in place above the city.
A local guide showed us around. Any quotes are hers.
Bergen is the 2nd largest city in Norway. It used to be the capital until 1294. The king died here and his brother lived in Oslo so he moved the capital here. The people of Bergen are still unhappy with him about this.
There are 292,000 people living here, and 40,000 are students.
In 1349 a ship from England brought the Black Plague and 60% of Norway’s population died. Germany decided to come and use this town as a trading port after this happened, and they stayed for a couple of hundred years.
There were 200 German men here, and they weren’t allowed to bring women with them, as this would mean that they’d eventually settle here and keep money in Norway instead of sending it back to Germany. The men would go back to Germany to marry.
While they were here, they weren’t allowed to “date” Norwegian women either, for the same monetary reason. They were fined a barrel of beer to be given to the rest of the men if they were caught seeing a Norwegian lady.
“Beer was very expensive, so it would have been a very unhappy day for him, but a very happy day for the rest of them!”
In 1702 the buildings of the old harbour were built, which are these colourful ones. This shot is of an alley, where I brought a picture of the buildings. I love them. Unfortunately, they’re slowly sinking, as they are built on reclaimed land from the fjord.
They are slowly being rebuilt. Because they’re UNESCO protected, the restoration has to be done by hand, using the old tools that the original buildings were built by. This takes each building around 6 years.
Look at how crooked the door of the building next door is! This one will probably be next…
Our guide was talking about how when they take tours up into the hills above the town, they have to count the men twice to make sure they’re all accounted for.
There’s a beautiful woman who comes out and dances, enticing the men away with her. She’s so gorgeous and seductive, men don’t seem to notice that she’s actually a troll, with the tail of a cow. Every time she dances, a man or two goes missing.
“Every time I take people there, I have a woman look sideways and then she says, “ (sigh) Mine’s still here…””
The guide was talking about how fit and healthy the Norwegians are, and how it’s crazy to think that anyone else can keep up with them. “These people have the blood of Vikings. They start hiking when they wear diapers and they don’t stop until they are wearing them again!”
These white houses were built in the 1750s. This is how the city used to look.
“Norwegians only have one rule. That is to follow all the rules!”
I was taken by Bergen. It’s a very pretty place.
Such a lovely side-street!
Statue of Ibsen. How funny. I’m guessing the sculptor wasn’t a fan of his plays?
After our city tour, I was determined to walk back to the old harbour were, because I saw a print I wanted to buy. As soon as I reached my room, I dumped my bags and set off.
Of course it started to rain as soon as I left.
As I walked, I saw this sculpture in a park near the library. The guide had told us about it.
It was of King Olaf Kyrre, who reigned in the 11th century. The sculpture, made of stainless steel, is of the king riding on his horse. When the sculpture was finished, the people of Bergen hated it. They kept it hidden in a building for 20 years, until the sculptor took the city to court to force them to display it outside. Apparently, he was the first king who could read, so the library is now his home.
It’s lucky hotel rooms have hair dryers. One thing about flared jeans I’d forgotten about since the 70’s was that when they get wet, they really soak up the rain and puddles. It took about an hour of blow drying to get them almost dry again.
But I’m happy. I bought my print of the beautiful Old Harbour buildings, Mum’s birthday present and a Norwegian Christmas tree decoration, so it was worth it.
Dad joke of the day:
Beautiful pictures! I’ll be in Norway in March so it’s nice to see your preview.