June 14, 2017



    Today’s port is Bergen, Norway.  It is the second largest city in Norway. It lies between Sognefjord, Norway’s longest fjord, and the Hardangerfjord. Bergen was home to the Norwegian composer, Edvard Greig.  The morning was cloudy and the clouds were hugging the hill tops.  Bergen is located a bit south of Flåm but on the coast. Bergen is nestled among seven hills bordered by the fjord on one side and 330 meter Mount Floyen on the other side. Bergen was the capital of Norway in the Middle Ages. It started as a fishing village with enormous stocks of fish reported over 900 years ago and has roots in the time of the Vikings.  The harbour at the top of a small fjord and the historic Bryggen Wharf is overlooked by the 18th century buildings constructed after the destructive 1702 fire.  Today Bergen supports the North Sea oil rigs.
   The ship docked at 8 a.m. this morning. It was windy and 11 C, but by late this afternoon at the 5 p.m. sail away, the sun was shining and the temperature made it to 18 C.  After breakfast, we left the ship and walked the one kilometer along the harbour to the information office where they had free Wi-Fi, where could post the blog for the last three days.  We passed through the Fish Market with its endless choices of fish and seafood.
   We then walked a short distance along the cobblestone street to the entrance to the Fløibanen Funicular, to take the cable train to the top of Mount Fløyen for a magnificent view of Bergen’s seven hills and harbour.  After taking in the view we followed one of the paved switchback trails that wound back to the City Center. A one-way ticket was 45 NOK, or about $7.50 Cdn.
   We walked to Bergen Cathedral and were disappointed that it is closed for an extensive renovation.  We then sought out St. Mary’s Church, built in the Romanesque style, which is next to the Hanseatic League restored assembly rooms for the members of the trading company, known as Schotstuene.  They were the only buildings, centuries ago, allowed to have open fires for cooking and warmth.
   Then we went a few streets over back to the wharf to the Hanseatic Museum. From 1380 to 1761 the area known as Bryggen, in the town of Bergen, was occupied by Northern German merchants known as the Hanseatic League. This area has been designed a UNESCO World Heritage site.  The merchants bought the abundant fish of the Bergen area and dried it to trade with the rest of Europe.  Some of the original buildings which were constructed in 1704 are still standing, along with the original furnishings.  Fires were not allowed in the wharf buildings, which could be very cold in the winter.  Each building was owned by a merchant who had processing tables on the main floor where a journeyman oversaw apprentices in the process of drying the fish.  The men were not allowed to associate with the other citizens of Bergen.  The buildings had accommodation for the workers and merchant as well as his office and the journeyman’s office.  The beds were the typical box beds, where 18th century men slept sitting up.  The wooden houses are colourfully painted.
    After a stop for cappuccinos and sharing a cinnamon bun, as we returned to the ship we stopped at Bergenhus Fortress with its medieval Hakon's Hall and Rosenkrantz Tower.  We were not able to explore the fortress because the BergenFest music festival was setting up in the fortress for its four day celebration.
  Steps 11873
  Back at the ship, our room’s carpet had already been shampooed as we had been notified last evening. I had a nap since my cold is sapping my energy.  We went to dining room for dinner and sat by ourselves so as not to disturb other people’s dinners.  We selected either French Onion Soup or Beet & Red Cabbage Borscht followed by oven roasted Beef Tenderloin with potato, parsnip & carrot curls & cooked spinach or Rosemary Roasted Chicken with carrots and beans.  For dessert we ordered Berries Financier or a Blueberry Sundae. To end the meal we ordered tangerine cordials in souvenir glasses with a Holland America logo.
   Tonight’s show was Andy Bunger who played drums, pan flute, saxophone, and xylophone with the accompaniment of the house band.  After the show, there time to enjoy the casino.
   Steps 14,443













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