Bergen!

So, since I haven't started working yet, I have been able to explore Bergen a lot by myself during the days and it is a great city! It's not very big, which, although different, I think will be really nice. It's strange, I feel like I am already recognizing people! There are not many people who live in my neighborhood, it could be called a suburb, but considering its history and layout, it is hardly a suburb. So I am recognizing some people on our bus and as I walk around the neighborhood, which I have been doing incessantly.

Bergen is situated around the harbor and has one main set of docks that make up the center of town, here it's called Bryggen. That is where the fish market is located, one of my favorite spots in the city! A great lunch for me has been to get a fresh, open-faced sandwich from the fish market, either smoked salmon, smoked whale (yup!), sweet shrimp, with cucumber, mayonnaise, and lemon, on delicious fresh bread. It's wonderful! And if I'm really going for it, I follow it up with a soft ice cream dipped in chocolate powder from a store right nearby. This ice cream was one of the things I always remembered about Norway, and it's just as good as I remember!

Anyway, after the fish market, to one side, the city goes directly uphill and is very steep. The city is nestled next to a mountain, Floyen (see my previous post) and then extends into the valley. But its a fantastic landmark, at any point, no matter how lost I am, I can look up at the mountain and see where I am in respect to different locations on the mountain. Very, very helpful! There are 7 mountains and 7 fjords around Bergen (I think it's famous for that) so no matter where you are in the city there are always fantastic views and scenery.

Many of my favorite things about Europe, coffee shops, cafes, bakeries, little neighborhoods bars, parks, abound in downtown Bergen, which makes a day alone in the city wonderful. From my last visit, I remembered a huge outdoor cafe/restaurant that was located outside of an old sardine factory. The factory has now been converted into artist's studios, performance spaces, concert rooms, and even a glass blowing studio. Fortunately I remembered how to get there and had a wonderful little sandwich and a beer and sat almost in the fjord, in a huge outdoor area that was very well populated, and looked at an amazing view of the city (pictures below). Then I went and spent about 30 minutes watching glassblowing and this woman made incredible wine and martini glasses of all shapes and colors. I loved it!

Anyway, below are pictures from my recent trips to Bergen!


Here is a picture down a street in the older part of the city


Another view of the city


The beginning of my transformation... new Euro shoes!


The view from my seat at the outdoor cafe at the sardine factory, and my Hansa beer (the beer of Bergen)


Another beautiful street in the older part of Bergen



This is the outdoor cafe at the old sardine factory



This is a big pond in the middle of the city, you can see the mountain to the right


Here I am! with my favorite dessert, the soft ice cream with chocolate powder... with the fjord in the background.


And here's Floyen, the mountain I use to not get lost, or find my way after I am lost...


And my favorite lunch! The open faced sandwich from the fish market.