6th June

This morning started off looking very drizzly and overcast so when the sun broke through we decided to make the most of it and go for a walk up to see the Skansen firewatch tower which is surrounded by parkland and overlooking the city.  It was quite a steep walk even for us Tasmanians.  There was a series of either ramps or steps forming a pathway past homes on the way up to the top.  The homes were all so beautifully kept.  We were disappointed to find that the pond that was pictured next to the watchtower was no longer and bulldozers etc. were busy working turning it into a parking lot.  That Jodi Mitchell song came to mind – ‘pull down paradise put up a parking lot’.  We went a bit further on up the hill side but decided we were getting closer to where the funicular would take us later in the week so we decided to head back to town for some lunch.

An organic bread shop took our fancy – Solbrod.  We shared a salad roll and then shared another Norwegian treat – a Skillingbolle – a scroll with lots of cinnamon and sugar – delicious.

So back down to the wharf area to go on board the ‘White Lady’ for our fjord cruise.  We got a great spot on the top deck.  The first part of the trip was like going up the Derwent River past the houses of Sandy Bay etc. but that soon changed as the hills got higher the rooftops more pointed and snow peaks appeared in the back ground.  The colour of the trees is gorgeous – so many greens.  The houses looked so tiny against the huge cliff faces.  The photos flatten everything but in reality the rocky edges, waterfalls were huge.  It had been cool but comfortable travelling along but once the ship turned to head back to port nearly everyone headed down into the protection of the covered dining area – coffees and wines were in great demand.   

5th June part 2

We headed back out in the late afternoon to enjoy the sunshine.  We headed down to the harbour.  We had just arrived when the ‘flagship’ of Bergen Statsraad Lehmkuhl came into to port.  It is a huge and beautiful ship which had been used as a training vessel for many years but now seems to be mainly there for decoration.

From there we wandered to find something for dinner – we had seen a ‘Hungry Jacks’ sign earlier in the day and thought oh well that will do…but along the way we came across a Norwegian fast food café.  We thought when in Rome etc….so we sat down to a plate consisting of mashed potato mixed with haddock and onion, bacalao which is all different fish, mainly haddock, onion garlic sliced potato all mixed together in a tomato sauce, and fried potato and haddock etc. formed into heart shapes and cooked like pan cakes.  It was really very tasty although mainly potato and haddock.

We wandered around other back streets of shops and houses.  It is a lovely city, clean, well set out and one where you feel very safe.

Statsraad Lehmkuhl

Our Norwegian fast food

a gorgeous street - reminded me of the Glebe in Hobart

June 5 Photos

this morning it was sunny

houses we passed on our walk up to the cable car - obviously it was 'bin day' in Bergen

the cable car 

the trees are many different greens - the photo just doesn't do it justice

view from the cable car

on the top - we could see this mountain range yesterday from the plane

you could see for miles and miles

our cafe mocca - very yummy

Den enjoying the views

the view in the opposite direction to the city

waiting to catch the bus - I had to photograph this beautiful florist shop - Den thought one motorist got beeped because he stayed stopped at the lights longer so I could get this photo

further along was this pretty garden shop

back in town the parks and gardens are beautifully maintained

a nice view of the rotunda with Mt Ulriken in the background

the lake just behind

the view we had while we ate our......

pizza

June 5 Bergen

Started the day with a very yummy brekky – the best scrambled eggs I have ever had – some ‘warm Norwegian Pate’ made with mushrooms and onion?? maybe but delicious. 

Off to the information centre to find out how and where to get the bus so we could go on the cable car to Mt. Ulriken.  We bought return bus tickets (seniors – was slightly unhappy we weren’t asked to verify we were aged but any way).  It wasn’t till we got on the bus that the driver told us that with return tickets you have to use them in 90 minutes.  He was so nice – no worries – he just left the bus idling away while he delved around looking for a biro that worked and then on a scrap of paper he could write a note on to explain to our return ‘chauffer’ (as he said) that we could use the tickets.  Everyone on the bus seemed to be quite content with this delay in their bus trip.  It was a really friendly way to start our trip.

From the bus we walked up a very steep street.  Finally we were there and managed to control our breathing to walk up another flight of stairs to reach the cable car.  We shared the cable car with a lady who lives in Oslo who had come to Bergen to visit with her daughter – the daughter was walking up the mountain but she chose to meet her at the top via the cable car.  There is a huge University in Bergen and students come from all around Norway to attend it.  We met up with this lady so many times she must have thought she was being stalked by two Australians.

The view from the cable car was great but even better views awaited us.  You could see for miles and miles.  It was sunny, no wind and so we felt very lucky to be there enjoying such fabulous scenery. 

We went into have a coffee but instead I ordered us “café mocca” a chocolate and coffee concoction that was delicious and just what we needed after our long walk up the streets and all around the mountain top.

We headed back down, found the bus stop, showed the driver our note from the previous driver – she just smiled and waved us in – and so back down into Bergen.  We wandered around some of the modern city.  It has beautifully kept parks and gardens.  The rhododendrons and tulips are out in flower everywhere – just beautiful.

We found a nice place for a pizza for a late lunch, then back home to charge our batteries and that of my camera as well.

Photos Flying Arriving

Our view from our Hotel in Melbourne watched the planes come and go all night

Orchids on display in Singapore Airport

Yum - ice cream

our first selfie - well after 24 hours flying you get a bit crazy

coming into Helsinki

coming into Bergen

our taxi ride to the Hotel

panoramic view of Bergen

our lunch from the Fish Market - so fresh and delicious

a quaint Florist shop

lovely old church

wandering old buildings

these old buildings are set up like Salamanca Market in Hobart selling lots of local Art and Craft

this photo was taken after 11pm - It still wasn't dark!!

the Fish Market

Flying and Arriving at Bergen

Day 2 – Travel, travel and more travel……….

Australia certainly is a long way from the rest of the world.

We got a wakeup call for 5.45am so that we had plenty of time to enjoy our breakfast and not have to rush over to the Airport – as it turned out the flight time had been changed and so instead of leaving at 9.45 it left at 11.45 – at least that meant we would arrive two hours later to Singapore and therefore 2 hours less to fill in there.

Something that made the flight interesting was the fact that when the Captain made his welcome he introduced his co Pilot who just happened to be the nephew of close friends - small world perhaps after all.

So now here we sit in Changi Airport waiting for our next flight that will take us to Helsinki – a longer flight than Melbourne / Singapore – we are planning on sleeping all the way - then another flight from Helsinki to Bergen – that one is only an hour – then check in to our Hotel and start our adventure in Norway. 

The flight was long but at least we were so tired we managed to sleep some of the way.  It was really exciting seeing land again as we approached Helsinki Airport.  We had to go through Customs again and this time they took Den’s shaving cream and toothpaste.  Then on to the transit lounge. Only had to wait a couple of hours and then boarded our flight to Bergen.  As the plane approached Stockholm we could see hundreds of tiny islands, it was beautiful. The plane stopped at Stockholm, like a bus stop with some passengers getting off and then others on.  Coming in to Bergen we could see snowy tops of mountains so very different to anything else we have seen.

We were delighted that Den’s suitcase was first off the plane and mine was only a few behind.  Not bad seeing we hadn’t seen them since Melbourne.

Off then to find a taxi and here to our Hotel. 

Later we were feeling hungry and so we headed out to the Fish Market.  There is a covered in building selling all things fishy but at the end of the harbour there are lots of tents up with different fish mongers selling their wares.  From there we wandered on through the quaint streets and buildings.  Tiredness was really taking hold so we came back to our room.  At 3.30pm we decided to have a rest – woke at 11pm and took some photos of the light sky, and then woke at 5am.  So now we are feeling really refreshed and ready to enjoy this beautiful city. 

2nd June 2015

DAY 1

So the day finally arrived – our house sitters are settled in – Ruby gave her wag of approval and so off to Hobart Airport courtesy of our son Matt.

Checked in to the Park Royal – just a short stroll from the Terminal.  We then wandered back to the Airport to the Irish Pub and had some dinner and a Guinness to kick off our holiday.