Time to Fly!
It’s the day after Thanksgiving, we pack our bags and head to the airport. Even with the holiday weekend, the lines are not long and we are able to pass quickly through security.
The plane boards late but we make the transfer to Frankfurt with no problems. We did have to pass through passport control but the line moved quickly and we didn’t have too far to go to our gate. The flight to Bergen was uneventful.
Bergen
Once we cleared customs in Bergen we went outside of the main terminal to catch the Flybussen (bus) to the old part of the city center where we were staying. It was cold and windy and we had to wait for a little over half an hour for the bus to arrive. The bus itself was immaculate, the seats were comfortable and we were taken to the front door of our hotel.
Radisson Blu
We stayed at the Radisson Blu hotel in the old town. The rooms were small compared to their US counterparts but they were clean and charming. We stayed on the fifth floor and had a dormer window. You had to be careful went entering the bed on the dormer side and the roof sloped and we hit our heads on the slope a time or two. The bathroom was large and functional. The shower did not have a tray at the bottom which sometimes causes the room to flood when showering but that did not happen this trip. The Radisson provided toiletries and a hair dryer.
The hotel had a huge breakfast buffet each morning. Absolutely anything you could want was available. The food was fresh, the coffee was hot, and the servers were pleasant.
Vegan Vacation
After settling in we went to dinner at the Vegan Vacation which was about two blocks from the hotel.
We had researched vegan restaurants in Bergen prior to our trip and the Vegan Vacation received high marks.
The restaurant was small but full of charm. Our server was prompt and the food was delicious.
We ended up eating here again on the second night of our trip.
We walked around a little after dinner but we were tired from the day’s journey so we went back to the hotel and called it a night.
Bergen, Norway - Day 2
After breakfast at the hotel, we hit the streets.
We stopped at several shops
The weather was a cloudy and drizzly day but we made the best of it. We explored the local Christmas Market. The weather kept the crowds light so it was easy to get around. The market was nice but much smaller than those we have visited in other cities in Europe.
After the Christmas market, we wandered around the side streets of Bergen. Some area’s had little narrow roads that have been limited to pedestrian foot traffic. The neighborhoods were charming and hilly! We got our aerobic exercise in today.
To take a break from the outside elements, we stopped by a local art museum and checked out the gingerbread house exhibit. It was touted as the world’s largest gingerbread town. Every year local schoolchildren, local businesses, and lots of volunteers construct gingerbread houses, trains, cars, boats, and local landmarks. The proceeds from the exhibit are donated to a relief agency that works with children in need.
At lunchtime, we stopped at a McDonald’s as they were advertising a McVegan burger. As you can imagine, fish is very popular and if you don’t eat meat or fish, finding a quick meal can be a little tricky. We are not big fast food fans but were curious about the McVegan. Although the french fries were as expected, the burger was lacking in taste.
In the evening, we are at a Chinese restaurant. The service was very slow and the food uninspiring. The restaurant itself was pretty and appeared clean. There was a fishpond in the center of the place that children seemed to enjoy.
After dinner, we went to a light show at the fortress. Although it was still cold and raining, we had a nice time walking through the light exhibits.
Bergen, Norway - Day 3
We had breakfast at the hotel and did a little more shopping before packing up and heading to the port to catch the Havilla Capella for our cruise up the Norwegian coast.
We really enjoyed our short time in Bergen and have planned another trip in the summer. Make sure to take your raincoat and an umbrella when traveling to Norway!
