Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Bergen, Norway

Christmas this past year was pretty quiet for us.  For a few reasons really.  We had already decided to spend Christmas away with some friends.  I was struggling with my third Christmas away from my family in Texas and hoped that if we were traveling it might distract me a bit.  After a short hospital stay followed by the flu I had absolutely no energy and a fuzzy brain, so it turned out to be a great choice.

Bergen, Norway


It was really a nice and relaxing trip, which was what I needed.  We spent the first few days at an AirBnB in Bergen.  The apartment was the perfect size for the four of us and our host was terrific. 



Bergen was pretty much shut down for Christmas so most of our time was spent snuggled up playing games, cooking and just relaxing.  Because of the high prices in Norway, we ended up bringing enough booze for a frat party (all within customs guidelines, of course).  We stocked up on groceries before everything closed and had some terrific home cooked meals.  There was lots of bacon involved. 

Bergen, Norway

The apartment was right on the Fjord of Byfjorden with ridiculous views.  I spent many hours just looking out the window and watching the scenery change as the light changed.  There were times when the water was a still as glass and the reflections on the water were pristine. 

Bergen, Norway
 
Bergen, Norway

We ventured out a few times for walks and provisions.  We purchased some fresh caught salmon at the fish market right across from the apartment.  We cooked it up for Christmas dinner and it was the best salmon I've ever experienced. 

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

Bergen was once the Capital of Norway and is known as "the meadow among the mountains."  We were near the old city centre across the bay of Vagen from the crooked Hanseatic Buildings of Bryggen which date back to the 1700's. 

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

Being there for a few days at Christmas when most everything is closed is probably not the ideal way to experience the city, but it worked for this trip.  And it just gives us a reason to return.  I'd love to see it from the sea nestled in among the seven mountains that surround Bergen.

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

The top attraction for Bergen on TripAdvisor is the Furnicular up to Mount Floyen for the views.  It was open on Christmas Day and there was a lot of talk about making the trip up, but the apartment was just too comfortable and it was just too cold to make the short journey.  Definitely next time. 

Bergen, Norway

Bergen, Norway

We were hoping for a white Christmas but no snow in sight until our very last morning the day after Christmas.  We woke up early to catch our train and were treated to this lovely white covering over this gorgeous city. 

Bergen, Norway

I feel a little bad that we didn't really experience all that Bergen has to offer, but it's absolutely one of the most picturesque cities I've every seen.  Each time I looked out the window my breath was taken away and it was a beautiful place to spend a quiet Christmas. 

Have you ever taken a trip for Christmas instead of going home?



10 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a great stay in Bergen! I visited Bergen for my first time in October. Did you do a fjord tour at all?

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  2. This sounds a lot like our Christmas except we didn't have those lovely Norwegian views from our flat windows! :) I have been wanting to take a trip like this for a long time. I really love the way we travel, staying busy and doing our best to see the things at the top of our list when we go somewhere new, but I've also been craving an actual vacation for a long time. You know the kind where you do almost nothing and just relax? I haven't had one of those since 2007. :)

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  3. This sounds like such a perfect Christmas!

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  4. The buildings look so perfectly triangular. They don't look real! Absolutely beautiful photos.

    captaincharghley.blogspot.com

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  5. This Christmas my entire extended family decided to go away because it would be the first holiday without my mom, who passed away this year. Christmas always revolved around my mom's house so we all sailed away on a cruise to the caribbean so that Christmas would be entirely different. PiƱa coladas on the beach on St. Maarten made for a very lively and memorable Christmas! I actually loved being away from the usual bustle of the holidays, but then again I was with my whole family, so that made it great.

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  6. my best friend and I got to spend one Christmas in Italy! It was amazing!
    http://travelmiamor.blogspot.com/search/label/Italy

    And when I was in Bergen we tried to do the furnicular up but it was broken...so we hiked up. And then hiked across. It was a long day but the views were pretty amazing!
    http://travelmiamor.blogspot.com/2011/02/norway-in-nutshell.html

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  7. Wow it's beautiful! I am visiting in May, so excited. So far I've only had Christmas with family or friends around where I'm living, but I like the idea of travelling and experiencing the holiday in a new culture too!

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  8. Wow, so beautiful! I've been meaning to plan a Scandinavian trip sometime and this adds more fuel to the fire!

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  9. Gorgeous! It looks like the perfect way to spend Christmas after your tiring December. So what if you didn't see it all in detail. Now you have an excuse to go back very soon!

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  10. Norway looks so pretty! I've never spent Christmas away from home (since we're living in Germany that doesn't count!)

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