Bergen is stunning, a magical town that caught me by surprise. Not always a good surprise, but it kept me on my toes. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway.
Arriving via MSC cruise ship, we opted not to do an official excursion from the ship, but rather to do things on our own. Visually, we were in love from the first moment we gazed upon the lovely seaport. It was easy to get ashore. For me, I struggle with Norway’s legal whaling practices, and Bergen was no exception so this beautiful coast is tainted a bit by the whaling ships that probably dock here.
Our research suggested we head uphill first before the organized tours from the ships can get there. However, but the time we purchased tickets from the visitors center and headed over the Funicular cable car, the queue was already quite long. Had we been smart, we would have purchased tickets online in advance.
After quite a long wait, we made it to the top for some stunning views of the city:
Bergen from the cable car (we are looking down, out the front window. Sarah has the headband, I don’t know the other women.
Bergen from top of the Cable Car
Then we headed to Bear, the old town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We read somewhere this town is sinking, and its appearance would support that.
Can you see the metal poles holding this building up?
Finally, the fish market where we found some of the best shrimp I have tasted sitting next to a free sample of whale meat, reindeer sausage, and whale sausage. Nearby we found pelts of fox, reindeer, and seals.
I have to admit I was taken aback when I saw the free sample of whale meat in Bergen. Looking at the signage, I don’t imagine the whale should be smiling.
The pelts also took me by surprise.
Bergen was the second port of three in Fjords in Norway on the MSC Opera. First, we stopped in Flam, then Stavanger, before we left awe-inspiring fjords and headed to Norway’s capital city of Oslo. If you sailing in the region, be sure to check out these 25 tips for cruising.
Have you been to Bergen? Did you go up the funicular? Did you visit the old town? Did you sample the whale meat?
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I have mixed feelings on this issue and won’t go into a long diatribe here. In a nutshell I guess I need to know more before I venture a firm opinion. As a Greenpeace supporter also I agree, but I’m not sure it is quite as cut and dried as that. I do find the smiling whale picture rather ironic though.
I totally agree on the smiling whale photo, and its ok to leave long comments. Debate is good. I suspected this post to be a bit controversial.
The idea of the buildings falling is quite scary. Seems like they’d do something more than planting a few poles in the ground.
It is more than the buildings falling, the town is sinking. It seemed to feel pretty safe for now as we walked around, but after reading your comment, it has made we wonder.
Interesting!!!!
🙂
Thank you for not trying the whale meat & for setting a great example for Melissa & Sarah 🙂
Thanks Debbie. I do my best 🙂
I think I couldn’t picture myself that I would taste any of those ‘delicious’ meals, although I know that they could be really tasty for the meat-lovers. I am also Greenpeace activist from the inside, but I understand that these whales have been fished legally and under the national fishing laws in norway. By the way, I really like your beautiful pics, Bergen must be a really wonderful city, I wish I could have the chance to get there.
I know they are fished legally, but I don’t have to like it, or try it. I will admit, there was a small part of me that was curious as to what it tasted like, but not enough to actually try it. Thanks for your comments, and welcome to my blog.
Today eating whale meat and killing whales seems wrong, but the Norwegians have been doing it for hundreds of years, and it’s hard to stop traditions unfortunately.
I know what you are saying is correct, but it is today.