Cruise to Norway

[McClef]

Monument in the Holy Cross churchyard commemorating the Battle of Alvøen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Alv%C3%B8en



"Living Statue" in Torget.



Another Bryggen shot.

[sydnie7]

More great photos. "Another Bryggen shot" does bring up a question: How much snow falls in this area? I'd assume quite a bit, from the pitch of the roofs -- but they are so close together, I'd also think a lot of snow would pile up in the "vees" between each building.

Any locals who can comment?

[McClef]

I couldn't tell you Sydnie - Norway does get a lot of snowfall but they are very good at dealing with it (unlike here in the UK!). I have been in Oslo in February and most urban areas were cleared. The snow was where the people wanted it - on the mountains so they could ski!

[Heming]

More great photos. "Another Bryggen shot" does bring up a question: How much snow falls in this area? I'd assume quite a bit, from the pitch of the roofs -- but they are so close together, I'd also think a lot of snow would pile up in the "vees" between each building.

Any locals who can comment?

I'm a local

Bergen has very little snow. It doesn't even snow every year in this area, because of the gulf stream running up the coast heating the sea and air. There will of course be sleet and hail, but any frozen downfall will melt rather quickly as Bergen is the most rainy area of Norway.

[McClef]

A view of some of the Bryggen buildings from Torget.



And a shot from Torget looking back towards the Domkirke. The Mountain in the background is Mount Ulriken which has a chairlift to the top. Alas time did not allow me to ride it this time. I think the lady with the camera in the foreground was capturing my kilt!



Bergentoget (the Bergen Train) - very touristy but still a fun way of touring round the city centre.

[sydnie7]

I'm a local

Bergen has very little snow. It doesn't even snow every year in this area, because of the gulf stream running up the coast heating the sea and air. There will of course be sleet and hail, but any frozen downfall will melt rather quickly as Bergen is the most rainy area of Norway.

Thanks, Heming, I figured there would be some logical explanation!

[McClef]

And more Bryggen buildings!

Heming asked if the building with a Unicorn was a pub. I did some googling of the other name that appears on the building (Sjøboden) and found out that it is indeed a pub!

http://www.travbuddy.com/Sjboden-v3181



View of Mount Ulriken over rooftops.



Church on C. Sundts Gate on Nordnes.

[Oddern]

I love your pics Trefor. Hope you got more.

[McClef]

Men selvføgelig, but of course Oddern.

As Boudicca departed, another look at Mount Ulriken.



Old warehouse on the tip of the Nordnes Peninsula. The "& Co" bit is interesting, given that it's English rather than the Norwegian equivalent of "A/S."



By 1 am (yes it really was!) we were sailing up the Sognefjord. Although still too far south for the Midnight Sun, it never gets completely dark in Summer.

[McClef]

How is this for a picture postcard view?

By daylight we were anchored off the village of Skolden on Lusterfjord (an arm of Sognefjord).



And a zoom towards the mountain in the previous picture.



How tiny the houses look against their dramatic background.