This is thursday, when we board the Hurtigruten ship Polarlys ("Polar Light") for a 36-hour ride up to Trondheim. But we can't board before 5pm. (The ship sails at 8pm.) By 10am we'd breakfasted, packed, and checked out of our hotel, leaving our bags in their storage room. Now to fill the middle of the day with improving activities.
The main thing undone in Bergen is a cable car ride to a mountain top, but since there was heavy overcast and occasional showers we started with a visit to a "stately home". That's our generic term, from our England days, for any private mansion now open to the public.
Unfortunately we got off the bus at the site in a light rain at 11, and found the place didn't open until 12. We took refuge in a local gas station mini-mart where we found they were having a promotion, "Waffle Thursday", and we each got a waffle with strawberry jam and a coffee for kr 34 (about $5).
"Jordbaer" (pr. yoord burr) is strawberry.
This particular stately home is Damsgård Manor, built by a shipping magnate on a hill overlooking the docks. We were told the owner had admired Versailles and wanted his own version. However, lacking that kind of funds or space, he settled for a lot of fakery. For example, he used fences each side of the building to make it look wider than it is.
The fences, which don't show clearly in this shot, extend past the hedges.
The fancy fronts on the main house are faux, too.
The Bergen Museum has painstakingly restored the place to its early-1800s condition. Inside there were lots of classical cherubs and such, all white-painted wood, not marble. And the grand rondel around this chandelier is painted-on.
But the place has a nice view of the port.
Here's a panorama of the view from the front lawn.
The weather had improved a bit and the overcast was clear of the hilltops, so we headed for the Ulriken cable car, which climbs higher (to the top of 643-meter high Mt. Ulriken) than the Floibanen we rode a couple of days ago.
There were gleams of sunlight flitting around below. In this shot of central Bergen, the little blue boat upper right center is the Polarlys coming in to port.
Sailing, Sailing...
So we came down the hill, retrieved our bags, and took a cab to the Hurtigruten terminal. Bergen is the line's base.
The check-in process was quick and handled with brisk professionalism. Indeed everything about the Hurtigruten organization impressed us with efficiency and professionalism. We very quickly made ourselves at home.
In the snack bar, with coffee and internet.
The Hurtigruten ships make the bulk of their money from tourists like us, probably, but they also carry freight, autos, and local travellers.
Freight- and auto-loading hatch.
As departure approached there was dramatic light on the Bergen waterfront. Marian went to the stern sun-deck and took this panorama. Showing against the skyline,left to right, are the Floibanen (funicular) above the second crane, radio tower on Mt. Ulriken (cable car ride) above the deep pink building and the spire of Johanneskirk (where we attended an organ concert).
Worth a click-through.
This closes the Bergen gallery at smugmug. We will open a new gallery for cruising and fjord pics.
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