Bergen, Norway

Bergen is a sight to see. Nestled in the southern west coast of Norway, it is known for its fish markets, museums, and history. Starting back in the 1000s, Bergen was a trade center for Germans. I can just imagine old Viking-like ships, lined up in the harbor, and traders bustling about. A museum we went to showed what life was like back then and surprisingly enough, they made gold jewelry, wool outfits, and leather shoes. All the buildings were made without nails or bolts. We were able to see some of the earliest building foundations and the bones of an old sailing vessel.

The city itself it quite nice. The architecture and cobblestone streets give it a good European feeling. There are less immigrants here as well. Gabbie and I spent the day walking, observing statues both cool and weird, and window shopping. I almost bought her a bracelet made of reindeer skin, horn, and pewter. I didn't though because it didn't fit her. Unfortunately, Bergen is a seasonal city and some of the sights we wanted to see were closed until May. We still had an enjoyable time and even took a nap and later rejuvenated my sick self (I have had a cold this entire journey) by laying down in the hotel steam room and sauna. I love the feeling of a hot sauna and when I begin to overheat, I dunk my head into a bucket of ice cold water. The process did help my phlegm issue.

Later in the evening we walked to a bar that had one of my favorite, hard to find Norwegian beers Nogne on tap. I had their IPA, which isn't very popular here, but boasts an alcohol content of 7.7%, which allows one to get more bang for their buck, if you will. Of course we only had one each as they costed about $15.00 a piece (OUCH!!!).

Today, we headed back to Oslo for two more nights and then home. I am hoping to go to a few more museums and maybe the Nogne brewery...