We unpacked and relaxed once we checked into 193 Strandgaten, an 8th-story apartment building.
We brought in our suitcases and relaxed for a brief moment.
Since we were hungry (from our long and tedious journey from Balestrand), we decided to eat at the closest restaurant that Lars (our host) recommended. This was "De Stefano" - a small, local Italian restaurant.
We sat down inside and ordered our dinner. Alex ordered a small "Margherita" pizza, Inna ordered a "Tortellini" entree, and I ordered a "Quattro Stagioni" pizza.
All of the dishes were delicious and tasted homemade. We really liked it all - and ate all of it. Alex ordered some gelato - cookies and cream flavor - that he said was the best he ever had.
For dessert, Inna ordered a Tiramisu recommended by the waiter - and it was also delicious.
We really liked the food here, but it was expensive (746 NOK). However, we ran into one problem. The owner's credit card machine would not accept my card - as none of the U.S. cards have chips and pins (This was the first time I experienced this problem in Norway).
I went out to look for an ATM and eventually found one. Google Maps kept guiding me to a non-existent bank! After I paid the bill, we took Alex back to bed and strolled around Bergen's fish market.
Even at around 11:00 p.m., it was very bright. We strolled around the Fish Market, marveling at the fabulous stores and taking many photos.
Many Norwegians were partying and watching FIFA Football (Go USA!). The nightlife was alive and well here - even on a Wednesday night! Since it rains 250 days a year, Norwegians make a special effort to enjoy the sunshine.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
We got up around 8:30 a.m. and walked to the nearby Dromedar Kaffebar Avd Strandgata. I ordered a decaf mocha for Alex and me and a latte for Inna. We also ordered a couple of sandwiches and a muffin for Alex. The sandwiches were tasty but a bit pricey.
After lunch, we walked to the Bryggen Museum for an English-speaking guided tour with a Belgian guide (who is an expert in Scandinavian cultures).
He explained the founding of Brygge (modern-day Bergen) by a Viking king, Olaf, and the subsequent trade in dried fish between Bryggen and other cities as the foundation of Norway. Bergen was Norway's capital in the 13th century before becoming a bureau city of the Hanseatic League (after the Black Plague wiped out much of Norway's population).
The guide also took us to the Hanseatic Museum and Shotstuene. It was interesting to see how native Norwegians used a communal kitchen for cooking and how they stored all of the dried fish destined for export markets.
Since they were afraid of fires, the only fire allowed was in the kitchen, so they slept without any heat, frequently two people per bed (no women were allowed in Bergen)!
The Hanseatic Museum had many exhibits regarding the sale, canning, and shipping of fish - mostly herring.
After visiting the museums, we strolled into the Fish Market by the wharf. Alex ordered fish and chips from one stand.
I ordered a fish curry soup, and Inna ordered crab legs, shrimp, prawns, scallops, and mussels.
The seafood was delicious, and even Alex (who usually does not care for seafood) commented on his fish's taste. Inna somehow negotiated a double portion! Afterward, we returned home to let Alex rest while we returned to explore Bergen.
We tried the locally grown cherries and strawberries. Bergen's cherries compared favorably to the Rainier cherries in the United States. Local strawberries were delightful and delicious - much better than California-grown strawberries. We were told that the non-stop sun in Norway makes strawberries especially sweet and delicious. All I know is that I really liked Norway's strawberries much more.
Inna and I looked at some local Crate N' Barrel-type home stores and found many fascinating designs and attractive cooking utensils.
There was a certain amount of flair to these utensils that was missing in the U.S. Inna even tried some bewitching hats.
We stopped by a small quaint cafe/bookshop called Krok og Krinkel Bokcafe on the way home. We liked the atmosphere and the delicious apple pie that had just come out of the oven.
We played some chess, and I beat Inna, although she came close to winning! We enjoyed our tea and promised to come back again.
We returned home, picked up Alex, and went out for dinner. The restaurant we first intended to patronize - Zupperia - was super busy - and they suggested we go to another location. We found the other location in the art museum, but the restaurant was closed. Consequently, we ended up going to the "Peppes Pizza" chain. Inna and Alex ordered a "Little Italy Vetricina" New York-style pizza to share, which was mediocre (and was not sliced ahead of time).
We were provided pizza scissors to cut the pizza ourselves. I ordered an Avocado & Mozzarella vegetarian sandwich (which was not bad at all). The pizza overall was mediocre and much worse than we had the day before at Da Stephano Italian restaurant. Alex ordered a Chocolate Milkshake and liked it.
However, we vowed never to eat at Peppes again (at least when other, better pizza restaurants are available). The service at Peppes was sluggish, and the 25% service charge did not help matters (but this is true of all Norwegian restaurants). We paid 452 NOK for our dinner (which was cheaper than other restaurants).
For a city with an average of 250 days of rain and deep snow, I was surprised to see the high number of expensive motorcycles (BMWs, Ducatis) on the street. I can't imagine what it's like to ride in torrential downpours or snow. Lars told me that when taking his driving test, he had to prove that he could drive his car on ice and snow, so Norway's driving standards are much higher.
After dinner, we decided to explore the top of Bergen, by riding the Floibanen funicular elevator to an overlook.
Here is a video of how it feels to ride the funicular.
Even at around 11:00 p.m., it was very bright. We strolled around the Fish Market, marveling at the fabulous stores and taking many photos.
Many Norwegians were partying and watching FIFA Football (Go USA!). The nightlife was alive and well here - even on a Wednesday night! Since it rains 250 days a year, Norwegians make a special effort to enjoy the sunshine.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
We got up around 8:30 a.m. and walked to the nearby Dromedar Kaffebar Avd Strandgata. I ordered a decaf mocha for Alex and me and a latte for Inna. We also ordered a couple of sandwiches and a muffin for Alex. The sandwiches were tasty but a bit pricey.
After lunch, we walked to the Bryggen Museum for an English-speaking guided tour with a Belgian guide (who is an expert in Scandinavian cultures).
He explained the founding of Brygge (modern-day Bergen) by a Viking king, Olaf, and the subsequent trade in dried fish between Bryggen and other cities as the foundation of Norway. Bergen was Norway's capital in the 13th century before becoming a bureau city of the Hanseatic League (after the Black Plague wiped out much of Norway's population).
The guide also took us to the Hanseatic Museum and Shotstuene. It was interesting to see how native Norwegians used a communal kitchen for cooking and how they stored all of the dried fish destined for export markets.
Since they were afraid of fires, the only fire allowed was in the kitchen, so they slept without any heat, frequently two people per bed (no women were allowed in Bergen)!
The Hanseatic Museum had many exhibits regarding the sale, canning, and shipping of fish - mostly herring.
After visiting the museums, we strolled into the Fish Market by the wharf. Alex ordered fish and chips from one stand.
I ordered a fish curry soup, and Inna ordered crab legs, shrimp, prawns, scallops, and mussels.
The seafood was delicious, and even Alex (who usually does not care for seafood) commented on his fish's taste. Inna somehow negotiated a double portion! Afterward, we returned home to let Alex rest while we returned to explore Bergen.
We tried the locally grown cherries and strawberries. Bergen's cherries compared favorably to the Rainier cherries in the United States. Local strawberries were delightful and delicious - much better than California-grown strawberries. We were told that the non-stop sun in Norway makes strawberries especially sweet and delicious. All I know is that I really liked Norway's strawberries much more.
Inna and I looked at some local Crate N' Barrel-type home stores and found many fascinating designs and attractive cooking utensils.
There was a certain amount of flair to these utensils that was missing in the U.S. Inna even tried some bewitching hats.
We stopped by a small quaint cafe/bookshop called Krok og Krinkel Bokcafe on the way home. We liked the atmosphere and the delicious apple pie that had just come out of the oven.
We played some chess, and I beat Inna, although she came close to winning! We enjoyed our tea and promised to come back again.
We returned home, picked up Alex, and went out for dinner. The restaurant we first intended to patronize - Zupperia - was super busy - and they suggested we go to another location. We found the other location in the art museum, but the restaurant was closed. Consequently, we ended up going to the "Peppes Pizza" chain. Inna and Alex ordered a "Little Italy Vetricina" New York-style pizza to share, which was mediocre (and was not sliced ahead of time).
We were provided pizza scissors to cut the pizza ourselves. I ordered an Avocado & Mozzarella vegetarian sandwich (which was not bad at all). The pizza overall was mediocre and much worse than we had the day before at Da Stephano Italian restaurant. Alex ordered a Chocolate Milkshake and liked it.
However, we vowed never to eat at Peppes again (at least when other, better pizza restaurants are available). The service at Peppes was sluggish, and the 25% service charge did not help matters (but this is true of all Norwegian restaurants). We paid 452 NOK for our dinner (which was cheaper than other restaurants).
For a city with an average of 250 days of rain and deep snow, I was surprised to see the high number of expensive motorcycles (BMWs, Ducatis) on the street. I can't imagine what it's like to ride in torrential downpours or snow. Lars told me that when taking his driving test, he had to prove that he could drive his car on ice and snow, so Norway's driving standards are much higher.
After dinner, we decided to explore the top of Bergen, by riding the Floibanen funicular elevator to an overlook.
Here is a video of how it feels to ride the funicular.
The view of Bergen from the top is truly spectacular, especially in the evening when the sun sets.
I wanted to get there late to take pleasing photos, while the sun was about to set. It was a bit colder on the top (but not windy), and there was a nice restaurant and a children's playground.
I took many photos, trying to keep the sun out of them, while Alex tried to rock climb. The cost to Floibanen roundtrip was 213 NOK for two adults (children ride free).
We returned late, after 11:15 p.m., but it was still very bright outside. Since we were exhausted, we went to bed.
Friday, June 27, 2014
We woke up late, around 9:00 a.m., and decided to eat breakfast near the Floibanen funicular. First, however, we stopped by the local Tourist Information office to see what we could do for half a day in Bergen (as our flight out was scheduled at 8:10 p.m.)
The agent there recommended seeing the Aquarium and the beautiful houses nearby and eating the USF. Norway has so many natural wonders that we were overwhelmed by all the fabulous trips we could have done.
We decided to explore the Aquarium and USF after riding the Floibanen funicular to the top once again. We walked past the Fish Market and the groups of tourists (from the recently docked cruise ships).
We looked at a few coffee shops and ate lunch at Godt Brod Floyen. Inna and Alex ordered sandwiches, while I ordered a Danish. Inna and Alex ordered lattes while I drank a mocha.
After breakfast, we took the Floibanen funicular to the top of Bergen. Alex played on many children's playgrounds, and we took scenic photos of the surrounding Bergen area.
Here is a short video of Alex riding the train tracks:
We decided to hike down to the city center. There are many trails here and multiple children's playgrounds that we did not know about. Alex played a couple on a couple of playgrounds.
Alex had lots of fun on these moving bridges, and Inna also tried to climb them.
Here is a short video of Inna and Alex climbing the suspension bridge.
Bergen's children's playgrounds are much more challenging than American playgrounds.
We had a fantastic hike to the city center, marveling at the beautiful Norwegian trees and the city's scenic views. We saw lots of Norwegians jogging up and down the paths for exercise. Norwegians like to stay active.
After we walked down to the base of the Floibanen funicular, we decided to get lunch,
We looked at a few places, but nothing struck our fancy. As Alex was tired from the long hike, we considered taking the ferry to the Aquarium. This turned out to be an expensive mistake. The ferry was very slow and went literally nowhere near the Aquarium. For the cost of 130 NOK, we made very little progress. We could have walked there in less time and for free.
We decided to skip the Aquarium due to the high cost - 250 NOK per adult, 150 NOK per child. We did not have much time, so we just explored the area. We found a swimming pool and a lovely park with nice overlooks into the Fjords.
We decided to explore the Aquarium and USF after riding the Floibanen funicular to the top once again. We walked past the Fish Market and the groups of tourists (from the recently docked cruise ships).
We looked at a few coffee shops and ate lunch at Godt Brod Floyen. Inna and Alex ordered sandwiches, while I ordered a Danish. Inna and Alex ordered lattes while I drank a mocha.
After breakfast, we took the Floibanen funicular to the top of Bergen. Alex played on many children's playgrounds, and we took scenic photos of the surrounding Bergen area.
Here is a short video of Alex riding the train tracks:
We decided to hike down to the city center. There are many trails here and multiple children's playgrounds that we did not know about. Alex played a couple on a couple of playgrounds.
Alex had lots of fun on these moving bridges, and Inna also tried to climb them.
Here is a short video of Inna and Alex climbing the suspension bridge.
Bergen's children's playgrounds are much more challenging than American playgrounds.
We had a fantastic hike to the city center, marveling at the beautiful Norwegian trees and the city's scenic views. We saw lots of Norwegians jogging up and down the paths for exercise. Norwegians like to stay active.
After we walked down to the base of the Floibanen funicular, we decided to get lunch,
We looked at a few places, but nothing struck our fancy. As Alex was tired from the long hike, we considered taking the ferry to the Aquarium. This turned out to be an expensive mistake. The ferry was very slow and went literally nowhere near the Aquarium. For the cost of 130 NOK, we made very little progress. We could have walked there in less time and for free.
We decided to skip the Aquarium due to the high cost - 250 NOK per adult, 150 NOK per child. We did not have much time, so we just explored the area. We found a swimming pool and a lovely park with nice overlooks into the Fjords.
From there, we took a long route to USF - which houses a pleasing shoreline cafe. We had a delicious lunch there. Alex had a Norwegian burger again, Inna had a chicken with couscous, and I had an open sandwich. All of the dishes were delicious.
The USF cafe had a fascinating ordering system. One had to find a table, reserve it, and get its table number. Then, one ordered the food, giving the table number, and the waiter would deliver the food to that table. This was a way to avoid the 25% eating-in tax that usually applies to restaurants where people eat.
After lunch, we returned to our room, packed our bags, and taxied to Bergen airport. The taxi ride cost 430 NOK and took 30 minutes.
We had a great time in Bergen, loved the beautiful hikes and scenery, and hope to be back someday soon.
After lunch, we returned to our room, packed our bags, and taxied to Bergen airport. The taxi ride cost 430 NOK and took 30 minutes.
We had a great time in Bergen, loved the beautiful hikes and scenery, and hope to be back someday soon.
1 comments:
Nicely written and loved the detailing of the things presented. Really helpful for someone who is planning to visit Bergen. :)
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