Intermission Bergen

... a lot of tourist places were closed, so, for example, we couldn't do a fjord tour as they only run May to September. We went out to the castle area, through the traditional area of Bryggen and afterwards had a wander through the residential areas, as the buildings were so pretty!

Later, we went for a beer in the Irish bar (well, you have to, don't you?!), and it had such a bad atmosphere - very weird for an Irish bar!

For dinner we ...

... most everyone smokes! haha. I so blend in....in fact, most people speak to me first in Norwegian....but I am easily accomodated when I ask them for English. When they ask where we are from.....I am pleased to say Canada, as always.....we get a good nod.

This area reminds me alot of Northern Canada except less populated. Lots of greenery, lakes and rivers. It was raining again.....but bursts of sunshine would happen and it was so pristine. it wasn`t like ...

... event being held for the 55th time this year having first been organized in 1948. The Walk is 30km long and has a total ascent of around 2400m. Today, the 'Bergen Turlag' (Bergen Hiking Association) stages the event along with 'Bergens Tidende'- Norway's 4th largest newspaper. Starting Cards are available at the Hiking Club, most Sports Shops and can be brought at Gravdal. When referring to the Seven Mountains Range as a group, you can also ...

We went to Bergen and I actually have some family there so I could stay there for free, but otherwise I've heard that the Montana Youth hostel should be nice and cheap! In Bergen it was raining so we went around the "brygge" and did not go for the mountain tops this day. I think Bergen is known for it's rain and so we did need to experience it. If you haven't seen Bergen in rain you ...

... and the fjords first-hand. We were overwhelmed. Here is some of Norway's beauty through the bus window ...

... end, we walked amongst some local sheep and grilled our lunches (delicious on the river!), and then paddled back in a double kayak and posed for some more candid shots. The beauty of the area is amazing, with waterfalls appearing around every turn from the cliffs. When we got back to the city of Voss, we explored the tiny city and headed up the mountain to our hostel. Unfortunately I didn't realize the mountain side hostel was two miles away (my eyes betray me) so we ...

... of Bergen with its crooked wooden buildings and alleyways. The rain was coming down hard now and we lost an umbrella to the wind and my shoe started to leak! We walked on to the Rosenkrantz Tower and did the walking tour of the tower taking some photos of Hakons Hall and the harbour area from the top of the tower. We then walked back through Bryggen to the hotel ...

... anyone being in the streets. But still we were not the only ones jumping the tour bus. We were among the youngest ones, though. A kind of elderly people day trip. Fortunately, there was also two young chinese girls among this touring group formed by coincidence otherwise we might have thought we were in the wrong film. Under the overcast sky every landscape in Norway seems to have certain dramatic elements. And soon the signs of civilisation got more sparse. It was not long until we ...

... I couldn't see anything until we were almost at the runway. The first thing I saw was the choppy ocean, then rocks, then immediately the runway right on top of the rocks. You see, if there's one word I would use to describe that section of Norway, it would be "rocky". There must be very shallow topsoil in that region because there were rocks everywhere. Now I had heard that Norway is very expensive (probably the most expensive country ...