A Taste of Bergen

Bergen, the gateway to the fjords or the city of seven mountains.

I didn’t care about the city’s nickname. Its history, culture, and famous Fish Market captivated me.

Bergen soared to the top of my travel destinations lists after I watched My Norwegian Holiday.

Gotta give Hallmark credit. Their annual holiday season movies have introduced me to many travel destinations that have yet to be added to any popular Google Top Ten lists.

The Best of Norway tour headed toward Bergen following the disastrous stay at the Brakanes Hotel.

Fortunately, the bus ride took us through many tunnels, allowing me to catch a few winks of sleep since I couldn’t sleep in the decrepit room at Brakanes.

STEINSDALSFOSSEN

I woke up when we reached Steinsdalsfossen, the majestic waterfall in the village of Steine in the municipality of Kvam in Vestland County, Norway.

Steinsdalsfossen

Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany visited Steinsdalsfossen each summer between 1889 and 1914. Tidbit of knowledge to mull over as I gazed mesmerized at this exquisite natural wonder.

The highlight was walking behind the waterfall, offering a unique and awe-inspiring perspective.

That was so cool!!

I was so mesmerized that I forgot to take a slow-motion video of the waterfall from underneath. I only remembered my camera had this function after I walked back down the pathway and returned to the bus.

Darn!

Still, it was a fantastic memory I am glad to share. I hope it inspires you to visit Norway and Steinsdalsfossen.

BERGEN

My heart erupted with joy when the bus rolled into Bergen. The town was beautiful. Yes, it was crawling with cruise ship tourists, but our bus didn’t stay in that area.

Our tour director was great at showing us the ‘real’ Bergen. She showed us where to shop and where to find less expensive restaurants, none of which were near the cruise ship area.

However, we had to check into our hotel, Scandic Ornen, before we could explore Bergen.

SCANDIC ORNEN

Overall, I had a pleasant one-night stay. I’m not sure why I was allocated a disabled/wheelchair room. Despite this, my room was nice and comfy. I made do with the lower-level towel racks because of the room type. Showering was a little worrisome due to the water leaking out, as the door was designed for wheelchair access. The bed was comfortable, and all the electric outlets worked. The hotel’s location was only a three-minute walk to the city center.

Eager to immerse myself in Bergen’s atmosphere, I set out to explore the city. The famous Fish Market was my ultimate destination.

But first, a photo safari.

Despite my excitement to explore, once again time was not my friend. So, I focused on capturing the sights and sounds of this beautiful city.

BERGEN FISH MARKET

Located in the heart of the city between the fjords and Bergen’s seven mountains, the Fish Market is a haven for seafood lovers.

My mouth was watering as I scanned the menus of the different eateries. I selected Fish Me Fishmark because their menu had a seafood platter with all my favorites at a reasonable price.

I ordered the North Atlantic Plate. The meal came with a selection of snow crab, crab claws, and fresh shrimp, served cold with a salad with vinaigrette, aioli, lemon and bread. Yummy!

I gobbled my food down and then gazed out at the exquisite view.

So peaceful!

NEXT TIME

This short Bergen visit wetted my appetite to visit again and explore more of this city. I want to check out a few places I researched on the Visit A City App.

The Fløibanen funicular offers a wonderful view of the city.
The Hanseatic Museum encourages visitors to explore Bergen like Hanseatic merchants. Visit the German merchants’ assembly rooms and kitchen/cook houses, Schøtstuene, and World Heritage Site Bryggen.
Bergen Hop On/Hop Off is an option. However, the $40 cost doesn’t seem ideal for a one-day, one-hour route. Nevertheless, the audio guide is Amalie Skram, a Norwegian author and feminist who gives the tour from a woman’s point of view.
The Old Bergen Open-Air Museum encourages you to experience life as it was in the “old days.” Visit the civil servant’s house in 1826 and the merchant’s house in 1886.

I wanted to explore this city so much. Unfortunately, tour fatigue and time constraints didn’t allow for much exploration.

CONCLUSION

My “Best of Norway” tour ended in Bergen.

Overall, I’m glad I did an organized group tour. I explored some sites I would never explore during a solo adventure.

I compromised a lot by forgoing a solo adventure for an organized group tour. However, I also learned a lot about the cities I visited, met great people who shared my desire to travel and explore this beautiful world, and visited a land I never thought I’d ever get the chance to visit.

Will I do another organized group tour? It depends.

I am looking forward to revisiting Oslo and Bergen at my own pace in the future.

Until then …

Have Passport, Will Travel!