The View From My Beer
First visit to Norway, requires a Norwegian beer. Here the beers are served in 0.5 litre glasses. I chose Frydenlund Pilsner, having found a bar in front of the UNSECO World Heritage site of Bryggen.
Bergen
Bergen was the first stop on my Summer Solstice cruise and represented my first visit to Norway. Bergen is Norway’s second-largest city (behind Oslo) with a population of 294,000. It sits on the peninsula of Bergenshalvøyen and Byfjorden, ‘the city fjord’. The city is surrounded by mountains, causing Bergen to be called the “city of seven mountains”.
My Walk
The cruise port was close to the centre of Bergen, allowing me to take a nice leisurely stroll into town. From there I walked around exploring, looking out for the many things that make Norway different.
The first thing that struck me as I walked into town was the distinctive style of architecture of many of the homes and other building. Usually made of wood, painted in bright colors and having triangular roofs.
Central Bergen
It didn’t take long to reach the central Bergen area. There were lots of call things. This included the phone booths that were also converted into mini community libraries. I’m not sure if the phones still worked.
Bergen Havn
Bergen is Norway’s second largest port. The central area of the city has water on three sides, providing a distinct feeling of a large fishing port and a nautical theme.
The harbor area contained a fish market, with all sorts of interesting foods on offer. In addition to many varieties of fish and other European specialties, it was also possible to indulge in reindeer sausage and moose burgers.
Bryggen
Close to central Bergen is, Bryggen, its best known street. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a historic harbor district with distinctive wooden buildings.
Rosenkrantz Tower
The Rosenkrantz Tower is considered one of the most important renaissance monuments in Norway. Parts of the tower are from the 1270s, but it has been extended on several occasions for the purpose of fortification and as a demonstration of power.
The Ice Bar
The highlight of my day was a visit to the Ice Bar. The room was kept at a chill -5° C, and pretty much everything was made of ice. The bar, the walls, the seats, and even the “glass” in which the drinks were poured. They provided gloves so your hand didn’t freeze holding your beer, and the seats had bearskins to stop you bum from freezing.
Photo Gallery
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