June 23
Bergen – Geiranger
“Officially” the first day of the cruise because the ship actually started moving with we tourists aboard. But we began the day with a couple of cruise sponsored land tours of Bergen. The first, here in Part 1, was Panoramic Bergen, a two-hour bus and walking tour in the morning. The second, in Part 2, was 4-hours in the afternoon of the Best of Bergen and Mt. Floien. (I should also note that while writing this I had reason to visit my camera bag, where I found 540 forints. Lest you aren’t aware (as I had forgotten) the forint is the unit of currency in Hungary, and I am now $1.81 richer than I thought I was.)
[After breakfast, the Super and Ole just waiting to begin our day’s adventures . . . ]
[First, a two-hour panoramic bus/walking tour of Bergen. A bus window shot . . . ]
[Because I wanted a photo of a classic Norwegian name . . . ]
[Translates to Bergen’s oldest cape . . . ]
[Our bus, lest you were wondering . . . ]
[That appears to be Hagelslund Bridge in the distance, but I’m just a tourist . . . ]
[We were driving around ISO views over Bergen Harbor . . . ]
[And here’s one with a stop and a walk outside . . . ]
[Tourists were everywhere. Oh, that’s our group . . . ]
[And back to our bus . . . ]
[We went back here later (see Part 2) . . . ]
[Apparently simply known as the Fish Market Mural – that Norwegian understatement again . . . ]
[But no golden arches?]
[Back in our hotel’s neighborhood . . . ]
[And there it is . . . ]
[Bergenhus fortress (Norwegian: Bergenhus festning) is a fortress located at the entrance of Bergen harbour, the castle is one of the oldest and best preserved stone fortifications in Norway (Wikipedia).]
[Grieg Hall (Norwegian: Grieghallen) is a 1,500 seat concert hall located on Edvard Griegs’ square. Grieghallen was named in honor of Bergen-born composer Edvard Grieg, who served as music director of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra from 1880 until 1882. It serves as the home of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. The building was designed in modernist architecture style by the Danish architect Knud Munk. Construction was started in 1967, with completion during May 1978 (Wikipedia).]
[Amazingly, I could find nothing on this wall-size mural? I assume Norwegians would name it Woman With a Blue Face?]
[One picture is that of a 30 ton Italian-made mosaic of Himmelfarten. Himmelfarten was Hardi Felgenhauer Sinohelberg, born in Bergen, Norway in 1753. For 30 years his occupation was to carry large fish bought at the fish market home for the shoppers. In 1870, someone dressed up like Himmelfarten and sold photographs to the tourists. In 1884, an American businessman bought the photograph as a trademark for his cod-liver oil “Scott’s Emulsion”. The trademark is still used today. S o go check your medicine cabinet and see if Himmelfarten is in your cabinet (http://www.mytripjournal.com/travel-741091-norway-himmelfarten-city-homes-area-bergen-cabinet-campsite).]
[Gamlehaugen is the residence of the Norwegian Royal Family in the city. Gamlehaugen has a history that goes as far back as the Middle Ages, and the list of previous owners includes many of the wealthiest men in Bergen. Today owned by the Norwegian state, the most recent private owner was Christian Michelsen, a politician and shipping magnate who later became the first Prime Minister of NOrway after the dissolution of the union between Swede and Norway. Michelsen commissioned the construction of the current main building at Gamlehaugen, where he would live for most of the rest of his life (Wikipedia).]
[Bergen Station, or where the trains come and go . . . ]
[The Grieg Academy (Norwegian: Griegakademiet) historically was the higher education music programs in Bergen, the birthplace of composer Edvard Grieg, as well as various collaborations across music institutions. However, as of mid-2016, due to mergers between several Norwegian institutions, the structure of Grieg Academy is changing and its remaining components are expected to be a doctoral research school (Grieg Research School in Interdisicplinary Music Studies) and various research groups (Wikipedia).]
[The Music Pavilion is located in Byparken (the city park). The pavilion was constructed in 1889, and was carried out in cast iron. It was bought in Germany as a kit, and was put together in Bergen. The statue in the background is a statue of the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. The Music Pavilion was given to the city of Bergen by the merchant, consul F. C. Gade (www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Norway/South/Hordaland/Bergen.]
[Torgallmenningen is Bergen’s main square . . . ]
[And back to the harbor . . . ]
[And our boat . . . ]
[Where I assume we had lunch . . . ]
[Before heading to Mt. Floien in Part 2 . . . ]
Norwegian racism is always a kind of racism that is not prepared to accept it being qualified as such. Because we’re the good guys, and racism is what bad people do. ~ Michael Booth
Up Next: Part 2?
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