The ferry ride itself was very scenic and enjoyable, though there were some choppy parts due to weather. The stops were in both villages and towns, and it was almost like a postcard seeing the winter scenery. We also passed several lighthouses - always a favorite in this household!
We arrived in Bergen to - big surprise - snow! This year has been a very odd year for Bergen as well, with abnormally cold and snowy weather. The snow was quite heavy on Monday, then cleared out for Tuesday, and came back again Wednesday. They probably had over a foot of new snow while we were there.
The ferry docks in the most scenic part of the city, just across the harbor from Bryggen, and right next to the shopping district. Many historical buildings are visible, and many of the other attractions are within walking distance. This building is Haakon's Hall, where an early king of Norway was crowned in the 1200's. It is just beyond Bryggen, and very close to St. Mary's Church (also pictured), which is the oldest remaining building in Bergen, dating to around 1200.
Sidney and I checked into our hotel, passing some narrow streets along the way. We stayed at the Rica Bergen, and found the room comfortable, the staff friendly, the location convenient, and the breakfast outstanding (like a smaller version of the Rica in Tromso.) We then went out to see the Aquarium (Akvariat in Norwegian.)
The Aquarium was nice for kids. They didn't have a huge amount of specimens on display, but they did have a nice penguin exhibit and three harbor seals. We were there for the feeding of both, though we were in the brunt of the snowstorm for much of the seal show. There is a 3-D movie, but it is only in Norwegian, so we didn't try it. The Aquarium also hosts a large display of crocodiles and alligators.
In all fairness, as this is the off-season, they are preparing the Aquarium for summer. There is a lot of construction going on and they are developing new exhibits. I am sure it will be much nicer once it is complete, as it already does a good job displaying what is there. There is an exceptional display of the sea life native to the area, and some of the fish are HUGE!
I should also mention that our admission was covered with our Bergen Card. Bergen, like other large cities with a tourist trade, offers a card that covers admission to most museums and attractions, discounts on dining and shopping, and public transportation for a much lower cost than paying for those things out-of-pocket. We bought 48-hour cards for Sidney and I, and it was about 350 NOK ($65). We used the card at three museums, rode the bus a few times, and rode the Floibanen (more in a minute on that) and more than made up for our cost. I always recommend these cards when you are going to be in a city for a couple of days (check out New York's CityPass for huge savings there!)
After the Aquarium, we walked back up to the Sentrum and caught the Floibanen (the funicular that goes up one of the seven mountains surrounding the city.) We were joined by several people going up with cross-country skis and sleds. There were several trails at the top, and the fresh snow was a major draw for locals. Even with cloudy weather and some light snow still falling, the view was wonderful. We had cups of hot chocolate while watching the skiers, then headed back down for dinner (TGI Fridays - we couldn't resist!)
Bergen is a city very much in love with music. Several famous musicians come from here, including Ole Bull (violinist) and Edvard Grieg (composer). Even today, Bergen is known for hosting outstanding music festivals and concerts. Lynard Skynard was in concert this week, and Depeche Mode will be playing this summer.
Tuesday's weather was wonderful, with amazingly clear skies. Bergen gets about 270 days a year of precipitation, so a clear day is very rare. We headed for the Ulriken, a cable car that goes to one of the highest points surrounding the city (another of the seven mountains.) We were again joined by skiers, and this time there were some down-hillers as well. We saw them coming down the mountain in what I would describe as more of a fall than actual skiing. A few landed on parts of their bodies other than their feet.
After Ulriken, we went into the Sentrum again for a walk around Bryggen, then to lunch. Oh, and we bought Kimber's birthday present, which will be in a future post of great significance. The buildings in Bryggen are wooden and a few hundred years old, so there are no square corners anymore. In fact, you can see in the pictures that the buildings are all pretty much leaning in various directions.
The snow did make for some interesting pictures of the roof lines from the backside of Bryggen, and the crowded nature of the buildings themselves could make one claustrophobic!
We did a bit more shopping, and I got my haircut (only 150 NOK/$25 in Bergen!) before returning to the hotel.
We spent some time on our last day doing some "Sidney" stuff. It was snowing heavily again, so we went to the Science Center. They have interactive displays and experiments kids can do, and she had a great time. She actually didn't want to leave when it was time to go to lunch.
We looked around the shops a bit more before heading to the ferry for our ride home. The scenery was even more beautiful than the trip up, as there was more snow. We also saw a few more lighthouses, as well as this oil platform being built.
We will be back in Bergen at some point, as there are activities we saved for when Kimber can come as well. We are especially looking forward to doing the Flaam Railway, which has the steepest continual incline of any railway in the world. If visiting Bergen for just one trip, I would certainly recommend at least four days to see the majority of the sights.
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