It was an easy flight and the Bergen airport customs and immigration was efficient. I ordered a uber to my Hotel, Home Hotel Havnekontoret. I chose it because it was right on the water, convenient to the sites and it had a beautiful lobby. It was sunny out so I dropped my things in my room and walked to the Funicular to the top of a mountain nearby.
My room had heated floors and a heated towel rack, which I have had at my house recently with the extreme heat. It’s in the 40’s here.
These are long narrow structures that have. Been located here for 500 years. They have burnt down at least 10 times.
I decided to hike down. It rained a bit but it was so beautiful and peaceful
Stopped at the famous Fish market for lunch
My location was perfect so close to everything. There are so many restaurants, tourist shops and textiles shops. Not sure which is more famous the trolls or sweaters
This store is in one of the long buildings. They sag in some places and seem to drift in others
Back to the hotel for a quick nap but before that I go to the tower on my hotel for the view
After a jet lagged nap, I went out after dark to find a place to eat. Apparently my hotel provided dinner and breakfast. I looked at the buffet dinner and ick!!
I walked for a long time and finally came back to the fish market. Ordered scallop sashimi which was perfect and fish and chips, which was just ok.
Time to go back to the hotel. The hotel is very busy with most likely people I will see on the boat.
I woke up early, had a great sleep. Again, why can’t America have the wonderful sheets and pillows of Europe.
I packed up, went down for breakfast. Probably the best hotel breakfast ever, especially if you have German heritage as I do. Smoked salmon, picked herring, sardines, perfect scrambled eggs.
There was a church nearby, St Mary’s built in 1070, so I visited. It was warm inside. It had also burned a few times but mostly made of stone.
This is Salome receiving the severed head of John the Baptist, painted by Elias Fiigenschoug in 1643. It also serves as a memorial to the merchant Hans Bonhoff, whose portrait appears at the bottom.
Next to the museum next door. Mostly about the Row houses and tapestry
Original floor from 1100’s
Here is the story from ChatGPT
These tapestries were woven by Norwegian textile artist Ragna Breivik (1891–1965), using designs by Gerhard Munthe. The ten-piece series took more than 25 years to complete.
They tell the medieval Norwegian legend Åsmund Frægdagjeva: a brave hero journeys to the trolls’ stronghold to rescue Princess Ermelin. He confronts the fearsome troll woman Skomegyvri, defeats her, breaks the princess’s enchantment, and brings her home.
Wandered a bit. Now at a cafe near the Opera house hoping to have a meal at a place that I saw last night. If not I have a Plan B and then I board the boat!
