On Board

The sun
beamed
through
clouds
as we
sailed
out
toward
sea.




Its rays
lit up

the fjord,

buildings
nestled near
a bridge,

and a boat
speeding
below.





We
wondered
whose
homes
peeked
through
the
lush
hills...








and
marveled
at
this
day's
end...





Sweet dreams to all On Board.

Setting Sail

At the Hurtigruten building, we got our boarding passes, which doubled as plastic key cards to our rooms.

Then,

we climbed a flight of stairs,

washed our hands with antibacterial gel, walked through a gangway and boarded the ship: Nordlys – Northern Lights.




From the
information deck,
we proceeded to
the elevator and
onto our rooms
at various ends
of the ship.






What you see,
is what you get...

This room was the smallest of our three double bunkers. None of our rooms was anything like those found on The Love Boat
(the 1977-86 TV show).

The bathrooms were also Scandinavian: small but serviceable.

Amazingly, our bags fit into a floor-to-ceiling locker closet behind the door.







Once settled
in our rooms,
we met
in the lounge
on the upper
deck for
refreshments.







and
then
went
outside,

watching
this
Hurtigruten
ship








Setting Sail
along
Norway's
coastline.

To the Wharf

Early today,
I spoke with
the hotel's
front desk
to arrange
transport
to the
Hurtigruten
pier for
our 6 PM
boarding.



The desk attendant assured me the cab company could provide a vehicle large enough for six ladies and our luggage.

She called Norgestaxi to arrange for our 5:30 PM pickup at the Grand Terminus Hotel entrance.

We returned from shopping, picked up our luggage from hotel storage and waited in the lobby looking for a mini-bus.

Who was more surprised when our driver came inside to wave us out to the sidewalk?


We? At his wagon – with rumble seats – that could fit six people, including the driver.

(Where was our sixth lady to ride - on top?)


Or... he? At the amount of our luggage.

(Hello! We are six tourists boarding the Hurtigruten. Can you say: Norwegian Sea? Brrr!)

For about 15 minutes we wondered whether we were in southern Europe – listening to ranting and raving during his cellphone call to headquarters where the message had gotten screwed up and later watching his wild body language as he waved down another taxi for help.

"Are you from Bergen?" I asked as he drove three of us (and our luggage) through the rush-hour traffic and watched in his rear view mirror for the taxi assisting our three other ladies. He said, "Yes, born and raised here in the city. Excuse me –"

The driver gestured and shouted out his open window at a young woman talking on her cellphone totally oblivious to backing up traffic as she walked in the middle of the oncoming lane.

Upon receiving our driver's "advice" to get out of the street, she shouted back: "Yeah, yeah... whatever."

"You must have seen a lot of changes here through the years," I said attempting to calm his temper.

Our driver replied, "Yeah, yeah... We call that one: Blonde. But some of the others are good."

As we pulled up to the pier, I asked him about tipping - once an uncommon practice among Norwegians. Our driver said, "That's for you to decide. But who would refuse?"

I paid him cash. He made change. I gave it back to him for taking us To the Wharf.

Fiske Torget

On
our
first
afternoon
in Norway,
we ladies
opted to
shop,
shop,
shop!




Then we
chose

kaffe
og
kake

at an
outdoor
eatery.







Later we

explored

the deep

side

of Bergen's

Fish Market.








And finally,

we dove into

a couple

deep dish

pizzas

at Peppe's








for
a
shocking

40 bucks
a
pop –





before boarding the even spendier (but heavenly) Hurtigruten Coastal Cruiseline.

Bergen Buildings

Enroute

to

The

Fish

Market,









we

passed

window

gardens,












beautiful

buildings

of

craftsman

architecture






and

homes

perched

high

in

the

hills.

Grand Terminus Hotel

Cobblestone
streets
lead
up
to
the
doors
of
this
hotel
built
in
1928.









Dark
beams,
anique
furniture
and
oriental
rugs
decorate
its
sitting
room






where
we
six
ladies
posed
for
our
first
tour
portrait.




The
breakfast
room
boasts

mirrored
French
doors,

gold-
trim
wall
edging

and...







a

complex

crystal

chandelier.







An
antique
chair
sports
arm rests
of wood
carved
into
dog heads
and sits
just outside
the library





where we
sent emails home
to our families
after
having feasted
for breakfast
in the dining room
at our
Grand
Terminus
Hotel.


This hotel is great for those with a passion for the past. We found the staff extremely helpful in accommodating our needs for luggage storage while we perused the town and also in contacting a taxi to drive us to the Hurtigruten pier.

Awaken

to

chocolate

dots,







white

chiffon

and

a

Victorian

view.