So, I’ve been here for about 36 hours, and two main things have made themselves known:
a) It’s incredibly expensive here. Like, twice as expensive as London. Almost £10 ($15) for a dessert. Beer and some nuts at the concert hall cost £10. Basically, everyone here is fairly rich, and there’s a vast amount of money in the economy, so it’s all inflated — to them, it’s not very expensive. To tourists like me… I feel like a frickin’ poverty-stricken student.
b) Bergen is basically a larger version of the Faroe Islands. By that, I mean it’s rainy and foggy and cloudy and windy. The only real saving grace is that it’s not actually cold — and, despite the 10 meter visibility, it’s a very beautiful city.
I can’t wait to see what it looks like when the sun comes out… …
A few photos for you — first one’s from yesterday, a Nazi bunker; the other two are from a few hours ago, traipsing around in the wet, wet, wet.
Rita
Mar 20, 2010
Beautiful! Even in fog and rain!
Eleni
Mar 20, 2010
Gray landscape, bright houses. Very nice. And it looks so pretty in the rain at night (might look better than it feels, granted).
In the rain, the pavement shines like–OK, I’ll stop.
sara strand
Mar 20, 2010
Wow- that second picture is really quite stunning.
Did you get your flannel pants??
IngerMaaike
Mar 20, 2010
I have not had the pleasure of seeing it in the sun yet, but a beautiful city it is!
Andhari
Mar 20, 2010
Wow you do like em foggy and cold vacation. The pictures are pretty though, like a land in a fairytale.
Erika
Mar 20, 2010
Love the photos, but then I love Norway too. Just wait till you get further north and off the beaten track – recommend Bodo and Tromso!
Sebastian's mother
Mar 20, 2010
It does look nice though. I am glad that you have your new waterproof boots on. And Sara, he did buy some lined trousers, thanks very much for the idea!
sebastian
Mar 20, 2010
Erika — I’m only going as far north as Trondheim, I’m afraid
There was a plan to do Tromso last year, for the Northern Lights, but it never worked out. I have a friend there, but we’re not in touch at the moment… maybe another year!
Don’t worry about the gushing, Eleni. In between the ‘FRAK!’ and ‘gawd, this is like England only wetter’, I found the entire place rather beautiful. Apparently the city itself is a UNESCO site, which is kinda cool. Probably because it’s 1000 years old or something.
I don’t know if I bring clouds and rain with me, Andhari, or if I am drawn to countries like my own…
It’s still cloudy and rainy today, by the way… ho hum.
MentalSarcasm
Mar 20, 2010
Despite the clouds and rain it still looks really nice!
Stephanie
Mar 20, 2010
it’s quite pretty.
chele
Mar 21, 2010
Told ya, Norway is just so so so expensive. One of the reasons I moved, I could not enjoy myself out as much as I can here. But it is a beautiful country. It rains a lot in Bergen, it shines when the sun comes out though, love it.
Juliana
Mar 21, 2010
damn the rich. nice photos.