Bergen
day 12 - Thursday, july 16, 2015
Today we head to Bergen. This is the last day with the bus and our wonderful driver Mats. We boarded the bus and climbed the highest road in northern Europe at 4,600 feet to the windswept Jotunheimen with 8,100 foot peaks. Then we continued down the other side dropping to sea level to hop aboard a ferry for our 2 1/2 hour Sognefjord cruise. Then we board the bus again for our final leg to our destination in Bergen.
The bus ride up and down the Jotunheimen mountain (known as Giants Country) was very scenic. There were wonderful views of the mountains. People were still skiing in July. And there were some beautiful flowers. Below are a few pictures of the bus ride.
The bus ride up and down the Jotunheimen mountain (known as Giants Country) was very scenic. There were wonderful views of the mountains. People were still skiing in July. And there were some beautiful flowers. Below are a few pictures of the bus ride.
Now its time to hop aboard our ferry, the Skanevik, for our 2 1/2 hour Sognefjord cruise. The scenery was more beautiful with each new turn of the fjord. There were beautiful mountain gorges and waterfalls from melting glaciers cascading down the cliffs. This was such a peaceful journey. How was the Sognefjord created? About three million years ago a glacier 6,500 feet thick slid toward the sea at an inch an hour following a river valley. The glacier displaced enough rock material to form a mountain. When the ice age ended, the melting glaciers retreated and filled the fjord with water one mile deep. The mountains on the side of the fjord are 3,000 feet high. Below are a few pictures of the Sognefjord cruise.
It was off the ferry and back on the bus to Bergen. We arrived in Bergen and said goodbye to Mats our bus driver. We then checked into the Thon Hotel Bristol Bergen, our home for the next two nights. After checking in to our hotel, we had some time to explore the town before settling in for the evening. Below are some pictures from our evening stroll.
day 13 - friday, july 17, 2015
This Morning we met our local guide for a guided tour of the Bryggen Museum and the Hanseatic Museum. Then the afternoon is free time to explore on our own before our last group dinner together.
Bergen was Norway's capital in the 12th and 13th century. Its wealth and importance was the result of its membership in the medieval trading club of merchant cities called the Hanseatic League. The Hanseatic League's colorful wooden warehouses now stand in the Bryggen district along the harbor. Bergen is also one of the most popular cruise ship destinations in northern Europe. Its wealth mainly came from oil and fishing (codfish). There is a funicular that takes you up a mountain for great views of Bergen's harbor and old town.
Our first event of the day was the guided tour of the Bryggen Museum and the Hanseatic Museum. The modern Bryggen Museum showcases the 1950s archaeological dig that uncovered the earliest pieces of Bergen's history from 1050-1500. There are the foundations of the oldest wooden tenements dating from the 12th century. They are displayed exactly where they were excavated. Also on display is part of the hull of a 100 foot long 13th-century ship that was found there. Then there are exhibits of artifacts and explanations of the lifestyles of medieval Bryggen. The Hanseatic Museum was founded in the late 1900s to preserve a tenement interior. It is an old merchant house. It offers a look inside the wooden houses that are Bergen's trademark. It has creaky floors and narrow stairs and decorated with 100 year old cod hanging from the ceiling. Below are a few pictures of these two museums.
Bergen was Norway's capital in the 12th and 13th century. Its wealth and importance was the result of its membership in the medieval trading club of merchant cities called the Hanseatic League. The Hanseatic League's colorful wooden warehouses now stand in the Bryggen district along the harbor. Bergen is also one of the most popular cruise ship destinations in northern Europe. Its wealth mainly came from oil and fishing (codfish). There is a funicular that takes you up a mountain for great views of Bergen's harbor and old town.
Our first event of the day was the guided tour of the Bryggen Museum and the Hanseatic Museum. The modern Bryggen Museum showcases the 1950s archaeological dig that uncovered the earliest pieces of Bergen's history from 1050-1500. There are the foundations of the oldest wooden tenements dating from the 12th century. They are displayed exactly where they were excavated. Also on display is part of the hull of a 100 foot long 13th-century ship that was found there. Then there are exhibits of artifacts and explanations of the lifestyles of medieval Bryggen. The Hanseatic Museum was founded in the late 1900s to preserve a tenement interior. It is an old merchant house. It offers a look inside the wooden houses that are Bergen's trademark. It has creaky floors and narrow stairs and decorated with 100 year old cod hanging from the ceiling. Below are a few pictures of these two museums.
Our tour of the museums was over so it was time to explore Bergen on our own before our group last dinner together. Below are a few pictures of Bergen.
The last event of the day and tour was our last group dinner together at Finngarden in the Hanseatic Hotel. Pictures below.
DAY 14 - saturday, JULY 18, 2015
The tour is over today and we head back to Minnesota. But first, let me introduce our Scandinavia Tour Family in the photo below.
Our tour family from left to right: (photo credit to John)
Bob, Suzanne, Stan, Jan, Ron, Nancy, Jeff, Mike, Phyllis, Malinda, Barb, Asa (guide), Tina, John, Judy, Joe, Steve, Andrea, Steve, Angie, Steve, Marjorie, Randy, Cheryl, John, Shirley, Susan
Bob, Suzanne, Stan, Jan, Ron, Nancy, Jeff, Mike, Phyllis, Malinda, Barb, Asa (guide), Tina, John, Judy, Joe, Steve, Andrea, Steve, Angie, Steve, Marjorie, Randy, Cheryl, John, Shirley, Susan
The tour is over. It was a great tour! We enjoyed our wonderful tour family. And finally, Asa, our guide and friend made the tour memorable.
Rick, thanks for making the memories possible!
Rick, thanks for making the memories possible!