Bergen, Norway: A Norwegian
Gem
After sailing through the English Channel and into the North
Sea, the Ruby Princess entered the waters of Norway and into the fjord of
Bergen. It was now early Wednesday morning.
We had finally gotten over "jet lag". We had coffee in the room followed by a great
breakfast before going ashore. Our plan
was to catch the "Hop-On, Hop-Off" bus at the cruise terminal. We learned that the bus did not come to the
cruise terminal where we were docked so we took the ship's shuttle to the
center of town and quickly found the Hop On Hop Off near the Fish Market.
Bergen is known as one of the most alluring cities in the
world. It was founded in the 11th century and was once the capital of
Norway. It is considered the
"Gateway to the Fjords" and offers spectacular views of Mt.
Floien. Some of the famous sites in
Bergen are the "Fish Market" where not only fish is sold by vendors
but fruits and vegetable and souvenirs.
The old town is referred to as Bryggen, a commercial area founded by German merchants. We were told that the town had experienced numerous fires in the past and had been rebuilt more than once after which local commerce continued.
The old town is referred to as Bryggen, a commercial area founded by German merchants. We were told that the town had experienced numerous fires in the past and had been rebuilt more than once after which local commerce continued.
Our other venture after the Fish Market and the bus tour included
the ride up Mt. Floien on the "Funicular" or rail tramway. The train carried us up to the top where we
had a fantastic view of the city and the harbor. Later, after our bus tour completed the
circle of the city (with 11 possible hop off stops) we bid farewell to Bergen
and caught the shuttle back to the ship for a late lunch. The Ruby Princess departed Bergen and set a
westward course toward the Shetland Islands of Scotland.
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I like the photos of Bergen. I took the trip to the top of the mountain also along with the bus tour. The Hop On Hop Off bus sounds like a great way to see the city.
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