A Fresh Start : My Norwegian Holiday Thumbnails

Show photos from June 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, July 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th

Photo 4: Day One, then, and I start with a trip up the Fløibanen to Mount Fløyen. This, 320 metres below me, is the Mediterranean beauty of Bergen. Well, it's how it looks, anyway. Photo 5: Ooh look - that's my hotel! It's handy having that great Big Wheel outside my window ... Photo 6: I'd bought a single, deciding to walk back down to the city. On the way I met this curious character. Photo 7: Ah. What you can't see (because it was so bright and sunny) is that both signs said Photo 8: Another view of Bergen, from slightly lower down the mountain. Let's say ... um ... 280 metres up. Photo 9: Ah, a mountain stream. I've got a fascination with running water, fountains and the like (in case you hadn't already noticed). Photo 10: I have no idea who Ole Irgens was or why his bust was about halfway down (or up) Mount Fløyen. I should have googled him before writing this, shouldn't I? Photo 11: Bliss - a cold, cold drinking fountain. This was most welcome, I can assure you. Photo 12: See - I made it all the way back down. This is the bottom of the funicular. Photo 13: Time for a wander around the city, then. In the park near Haakonshallen I found someone who, in my opinion, was a little optimistic about the temperature (although it turned out that she was right, judging by my sunburn). No, I didn't get any closer - what do you take me for?! Photo 14: Some of the ships in the harbour have obviously travelled a fair way ... Photo 15: This sailing ship is a beauty ... Photo 16: ... although I'd rather not have his job, doing something or other to the prow thingy. Photo 17: Bryggen - the old wharf area - is delightful if a little on the touristy side (as should be expected). Buildings were a little tightly packed, weren't they? Photo 18: That moose must have been going at quite a speed ... Photo 19: Excellent - my most exciting find of Day One: Viva Las Vegis, the Elvis-themed vegetarian restaurant I'd be frequenting a fair bit. Rather ironic, isn't it, theming a veggie place after Elvis even if they do sell cracking burgers? Photo 20: Back in the city centre I happened across a group of young ladies practicing what I took to be cheerleading routines of some sort. The lady being hoist aloft was certainly keen, given the treatment she was getting ... Photo 21: ... and I had less confidence than she in her friends' chances of catching her! Photo 22: Back in Bryggen there's restoration work ongoing - and they'll be at it for a while, too. They're using traditional methods, down to the hewing of treetrunks into planking using just a broadaxe or two. Sooner him than me. Photo 23: Yes, it's that sailing ship again, this time from the Fish Market ... Photo 24: ... where the fishwives(?) are certainly more attractive than I'd expected ... Photo 25: ... and the seafood was certainly colourful. And smelly. Photo 26: More running water, this time on the Ole Bull statue you'll see again later. Photo 27: I had a bit of a birdwatching afternoon in the park. First chap to come and say hello was this rather friendly magpie ... Photo 28: ... but then I spotted the terns, doing their acrobatics just above the surface. I soon realised they were fishing. Photo 29: Photo 30: Photo 31: *gulp* Photo 32: This is how close I managed to get myself to the terns - it was fortunate for me that they always seemed to return to this spot after a successful catch.

Show photos from June 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, July 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th