The last leg of our trip was spending a few days in Bergen, Norway.
Despite being the second largest city in Norway, Bergen really does have small town charm with its houses in the hillside and small cobblestone streets. Bergen used to be Europe’s largest wooden city, but the many fires over the years led to almost all the original infrastructure being destroyed and rebuilt.
Fun Facts:
In Bergen it rains about 200 days per year.
About 10 percent of the population is students, so there is always something going on.
The Wharf: Formally an important trading post, today the wharf houses a museum, shops, galleries, and restaurants. Sandy especially loved the shopped here!
The Fish Market: Seafood is huge in Norway and the Bergen fish market has been around since 1276. In addition to seafood, you can buy other produce, souvenirs, and visit the restaurants. We went to the indoor Fish Market (Mathallen), since the outdoor market is only opened in the summer months.
Floibanen Funicular/Mount Fløyen: We took the funicular (mountainside cable railway system) up the steep mountain to enjoy the panoramic views of the city. At the top of Mount Fløyen there’s a lake, many hiking trails, a restaurant and café.
There’s also a group of ten cashmere goats, called Fløyenguttene, that live on the mountain top. These goats are super friendly and are bred to clear vegetation. They wear solar powered collars to keep them restricted to certain areas of the mountain.
We also had a wonderful meal at Frescohallen, a historical building and converted stock exchange. We’d recommend having a meal here if you ever find yourself in Bergen.
The Jo Show 