Jul 6, 2009 - Bergen

We woke in Bergen and had breakfast in our room this morning. While eating breakfast, I managed to connect to the Internet and got some of the web site updated. Far from being a problem, the connection was faster than usual. Perhaps I was the only one using it and had the whole bandwidth to myself! After the confusion of the last two days with ship's tours, we decided that I would go ahead and get our bus directions while Christine finished off tidying the room. I did so, and was no sooner seated ready for another long wait when our number...

May 14, 2009 - Norway

Our journey takes us back to the coast of Norway. This time we are about half way down the country at the Lofoten Islands, treasured by artists, photographers and painters for its picturesc portside towns with thier traditional, wooden fishing shacks and huge wooden and mesh A frames, covered in masses of dried, headless fish. We are excited to see the signs of warmer southern weather and the changing season, the snow snowly melting away and spring apparent at every turn. We cruise the length of the 6 or so main islands, all strung together...

Oct 22, 2008 - Bergen

so i got to bergan last night after my norway fjord tour, and everything was closed, including all of the hostels and pensions. luckily one of the pensions was connected to a bar and the bartender was able to give me a bed. i went on a hike above the city today which was great, but norway is in general just too expensive so tomorrow i am going back oslo and then moving on to stockholm, sweden

Aug 26, 2008 - Bergen and southeast by car

The sun shone in Bergen - evidently this happens on less than 100 days a year! The people came out in their droves. We were amongst it all, savouring the smells, tastes and sights of the fishmarket. Tried moose and reindeer, salmon, shrimps and crab. Viewed whale meat and wolf, seal and fox skins. Caught the Bergen funicular up for the views of this city with water every where - a boaters paradise. Walked back down eating raspberries. Strolled thru the 300yr old leaning wooden 4 story buildings of Bryggen - if one fell over they all would...

Jul 3, 2008 - Bergen

The hostel provided a typical Scandinavian breakfast consisting of 4 types of prepared herring, creamy shrimp salad, cold cuts, sliced cheeses, breads, and cereals. After which we took the bus to the center of old Bergen. We started right along the harbor at the fish market. It was already bustling with locals and tourists discussing and haggling over various forms of salmon (fresh, smoked, cured, dried), eels, crabs, lobster, shrimp, and other seafood we could not distinguish. Next to the fish market, farmers displayed fruits and...

Jul 2, 2008 - Hardanderfjord

Our tent was packed and we left Oslo by 10 am. We were headed west, to fjord country! We took our time meandering along the narrow two-lane roads. The fields of wheat gave way to pine forests and then, suddenly, to tundra. We reached the top of a plateau where there was still snow on the hillsides and ice on the lakes. We stopped at one point to get some ice for our little cooler in the car. In my shorts, t-shirt, and sandals (fitting for the Oslo heat!) I ran up the side of a snowdrift and collected a large ziploc worth of snow and ice....

Jun 13, 2008 - **New** Bergen, Norway

Enjoy our pictures from beautiful Bergen, Norway. This is the second largest city in Norway and has been called the "San Francisco of Norway (although, its sister city is Seattle)." If any of you visit Norway in the future and want to go on the famed "Hurtigruten" coastal sea cruise, this is where you will start your 12 day journey to the top of Norway. We came here because we were going to ride on the Hurtigruten, but, just until we reached Trondheim. And that's a whole other story and journal entry to come!

Jan 5, 2008 - Oslo to Bergen

We spent the night on the train from Oslo to Bergen. We had time to grab a coffee and croissant at the station and then hop on the train to Voss for our tour. When we arrived at Voss we found out that our tour had been cancelled due to a major winter storm in the mountains. On top of this the rail lines and roads are all closed between Oslo and us. We are now stranded in Norway. We decided to catch the train back to Bergen, as this is a larger city than Voss. It looks like we're probably going to be in Bergen until Sunday afternoon or...

Dec 20, 2007 - Heme

20. desember - kl. 14:35 - lander eg i Bergen. Endelig heme. Ikke bare fra Asia, men naa skal eg slaa meg til ro i Bergen for godt!! Du kan gjerne si eg reiste fra Oslo til Bergen, med en liten omvei gjennom Asia! Eg gleder meg! Over og ut, og takk for foelget!

Oct 6, 2007 - Flåm to Bergen

This is hard work. Not the journal updates, but keeping up to which day it is and where we are. Woke up this morning to an overcast day but no rain. Had the usual feast for breakfast, well Nowegian style anyway. Enough to get us through another hectic day. Went for a walk around the country side to see the waterfalls and mountains. Meet up with a Chinese student for the day. Ended up walking for 4 hrs through the country side. Fantasic mountain scenery and not a soul in sight. The tourist season ends 30 Sep so had nearly everything to...

Sep 3, 2007 - rained out in Bergen, Norway

When I mention norway, what do you think of (think then scroll down)? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | \|/ Was it any of these 1) blondes 2) super expensive 3) vikings 4) cold If it wasn't, it should have been!! Its no wonder the vikings (yes I know vikings came from all over scandinavia, but lets keep it with norway for now cause thats what I'm writing about) left norway and plundered and...

Jun 22, 2007 - Day 22 - Bergen

Today is 7 ½ hours of bus touring around the countryside. This is good as Lynne's back is sore after yesterday and my ankles are moderately sore, otherwise we recovered very well. Our tour guide is a little slow in speaking and hard to understand as he grapples with Norwegian to English in his head, but is very informative. For example, we pass a very long and old wooden building which he says was used to make "roe". Makes sense as the main industry used to be fishing, squeezing eggs out of fish would be a bonus. Then his says the thread...