Bergen

The Bergen Train Station

Bergen, Norway's second largest city, is quite infamous here. I cannot tell you how many times I've heard the phrase "It always rains in Bergen." And yes, it did live up to its reputation. While it wasn't actually raining right when our train got in at 7 in the morning, the whole city was damp - sidewalks, benches, trees, streets - and we had to keep a keen eye on our feet, lest we step square into a puddle.

Hugo at our cafe

The heavens were at least kind enough to hold off until we made it to our hostel (YMCA Bergen :) to drop off our bags. After that, however, it sprinkled, it drizzled, it poured, it misted. Thank goodness for umbrellas....and waterproof jackets. We stopped at a cafe for a cup of coffee (yes, I drank most of mine, and yes, it was disgusting) and a light breakfast, before taking a short stroll around Bergen's city centre. 

Our walk was quite eventful. Rasmus found 100 kroner (~$17) in the street, following quickly by a discarded (but still working) umbrella. Then we saw a bunch of women doing yoga in the rain on the wet ground with their babies in tow, which, I think, is an excellent show of what "Bergenites" are like. Weather, especially rain, just does not phase them at all. I don't even like to go outside when it's raining, and if I'm going to chill in the park for an hour, it better be a nice day. Watching the yoga mommies, I realized that this probably was a nice day to them -- the rain wasn't too heavy, and it really wasn't that cold. Still, I definitely prefer sunny and dry   : D

Rasmus looking out over the rainy sea -- with his new umbrella!

Bergen mommas doing yoga in the rain

The boys during our stroll

After strolling around, stopped by the information center and then headed up to the Fløibanen Funicular, apparently Scandinavia's only cable railway. It's a short, 7-minute ride that takes you up to a panoramic view of the city:

Riding up on the Funicular

Riding up the Funicular

View of Bergen from Fløibanen

After our mini-photo shoot, we decided to go hiking along one of the many trails up in the low mountains. The hike was, well, it was wet -- very, very wet! The trails provided excellent drains for the multitude of rain water seeping down the mountain, which means we were often walking up little streams, dodging squelchy mud and attempting to keep our footing on slippery rocks. The worst part was that one misstep meant trudging along in soaking socks and shoes for the rest of the day (actually, since my shoes were incredibly absorbent, it ended up being for the rest of the trip...Drat).

However, we finally made it to the top, and it was definitely worth it. The fog was so dynamic; one moment we could see clear all around (except the peak of the mountain we dubbed "Mount Doom"), the next we were surrounded by a thick fog....which soon turned into a steady rain.  Here are pictures but they hardly do it justice at all:

Me in front of "Mount Doom"

Rasmus

The boys after the fog had rolled in -- Where did Mount Doom go? :P

Once the rain started, we decided to head back, caught the Funicular back down to sea level, stopped by the supermarket, and cooked frozen pizzas for dinner. MMmmmmm.

Bergen -- Day II, complete with clockwork boat trips, weird roommates, and tacos, will follow soon.

Hope all is wonderful. Missing my Huskers,
jennywren