From Gatwick to Bergen - part 2

So we got on a plane and did flying

What will the weather be like when we land ? This?

This?

Oh, look it's this

Velkomme Bryggen!

Smooth flight, nots really anything entertaining to shar apart from me getting wedged in my seat with my rucksack when I first sat down and then having a mid flight incident with my water bottle and finger getting stuck in the net thing on the seat in front of me.  Landed, through passports and baggage collection.  All the Norwegians travellers bought loads of stuff in duty free next to the baggage reclaim - odd you might thing but we know why now!

A very helpful man who was very smiley and polite loaded our cases onto the Fly buss and we set off for Bergen centre (FYI, £12 single for @30 minutes journey).  We got off at the fish market as instructed to find out hotel and this happened.

All the rain came :-(.

So, checked in and off to explore hurrah!

We consulted the guide that we picked up at airport info; most of Bergen is shut on Sundays or closes at 4pm so we needed to get a wriggle on.  Off to the Hanseatic museum via the fish market.  Did I say that it was raining?  It has done some very good heavy downpours and we've been in and out of waterproofs and sunglasses. First wander from hotel was through the famous fish market; lots of nice looking fishes and huge crabs legs and things.  Em decided we needed a fish cake snack but they were Scandiwegi and the texture was a bit too spongy for me.  Fishcakes scoffed, learning time at the museum.  

It's a UNESCO world heritage site, smelt a bit fishy too.  The Hanseatic league were a German trading organisation that operated from 1361 to 1761; all male community, no fire or candles allowed and all the trading with fish and grains.  Very interesting things and facts learnt well done us.

From fish to more wooden Bryggen houses that also form part of the world heritage area.  Jolly nice arty crafty things things to peruse but nothing that jumped about and we're still getting used to everything being a million pounds! Some things pretty much London prices but others mega bucks!

Just as it started to chuck it down again, we found ourselves outside the Schotstuene, the old Assembly rooms that were used for cooking and heating and eating for the people from the tenements in the Hanseatic area.  Decided to go in, tried to pay but our other tickets got us in for free, bonus!

Lots of learning and looking very interesting things. If you were a naughty apprentice, the apprentice boss had a pointy finger stick that they pointed at you and your name was written on a blackboard ooo err.

Once we'd done that we were off again, in the rain, to the fort! Unfortunately it was shut but we did get to wander round the grounds.  Vistas of all the cruise ships, are we glad that we're not on one yet????

So, rain, rain, and rain wandering purchase of crisps, cheese and rolls for pre-meeting snacks. YUM. Dried off a bit and popped to reception to meeting with our fellow travellers for the week, Keli (the guide) had quite mad staring eyes, American family of 3 from California and then 2 English Australian ladies.  Not much info provided just a hello and see you after breakfast tomorrow, hmmm, we'll see what happens with that, I haven't got an itinerary, apart from one that the English Australians had that Keli photocopied.......

So undeterred, em and I went a wandering again, via a fountain paying tribute to sailors for a photo shoot, up a hill to a large Church, off round the university area (connected to Eduroam - it's marvellous) wander, wander, dither, rain.  

Should just have gone to The Gin and Burger bar and we should have gone to the pick and mix sweet shop but we didn't.  Wandered instead and bough mega expensive postcards and stamps then rain rain rain before tea in a restaurant called Pygmalion next to ymca, yum . Sleep time for tomorrow's adventure!