As might be surmised from the blog title, there is a maritime feel to today's adventures. Another fairly leisurely start to the day, including the usual muesli and fruit filled breakfast. Opening the blinds revealed there was not a cloud in the sky. Opening the velux windows revealed there was a bitterly cold wind to go with that sunshine. I think two layers of jumper may be needed. Sandwiches packed, more fruit in the bag and Eric can't wait for the off.
We have to take the light rail to the centre and then catch a bus to Sandvikstorget to reach our first destination, The Norwegian Fisheries Museum (free with the Bergen Card). There are four exhibition areas to peruse. The young lady on reception suggested the two films were good to watch if we had the time, and we were glad that we did as they were presented in quite an unusual manner. The first was a story of a fishing community and how things had changed over the years, but it was presented across three adjoining screens and through conversations between three generations of a family, all of whom were fishermen. It was like you were in the room with them. This was interspersed with other footage - very informative with a personal touch. The other film related to fur seal hunting and fur products, discussing the whole business based around it and how the decision was made to close the operation down in Bergen following the Greenpeace protests. This was again told in quite a personal way interspersed with additional related footage.
Eric leads the way to the displays.
First, some video exhibits combined with the odd artefact and sea creatures that Eric enjoyed interacting with.
Then it's time to 'put your face in the sea creature', Eric chose a few different ones but decided that he liked being a squid Eric the best.
On the next floor there were some pretty cool interactive exhibits
This one was a set of rather cute animated films that told the story behind each of three economically important fish, and the whale. To start the animation you placed one of the stuffed animals on a weighing scales and then turned a wheel to progress the historical timeline.
Doh! You've put the fish on the scale before the whale animated film has finished
That's better.
Now for the cod wars
View out from museum
Eric avoided the final exhibition spaces as they were telling the story of the stock fish warehouses in Bergen, and had some extremely smelly dried fish on display.
After visiting the museum shop and deciding that we wouldn't be able to get the giant halibut shaped cushion home we picked some smaller purchases and looked for a sheltered place to have lunch. Outside the museum and down the dockside we find a picnic table conveniently situated behind a shed that is out of the wind. Although there are several other benches around, this is the only one where we are sitting in sunshine and very little wind. We had had to wend our way through what looked like a school group on some kind of training day, with some children busy pumping the chest of a resuscitation doll, others with life jackets on. Luckily they did not seem to be having their lunch there. Other people came out after us and we're enviously eyeing up our spot.
Eric enjoying his lunch.
As we were eating a man popped up from behind a boat not far in front of the table. He was in the middle of renovating the small boat he had bought last week. After we had finished our lunch he mentioned that it was a good place to sit out of the wind - he had moved the picnic bench there the day before so he could have his lunch! We were ready to move on anyway, and he seemed very pleasant.
The view from the end of the docks.
View back towards the Fisheries Museum from our (or the boatman' s) picnic spot.
Back on the bus into town, next stop - The Maritime Museum (also free with the Bergen Card). After alighting from the bus we have to climb back up the steps in front of St John's Church where we came down the other day. Find that the Maritime Museum is half-price today, so we are not having such a big benefit from the Bergen Card as we thought we were, but Hey Ho, such is life.
This museum is very boat based, as you might expect. There are replicas, or should I say scale models, of many different boats, from Viking times to modern day.
The Viking ship models are very beautiful.
There are also some real bits of ships that you can step inside.
One of the so-called Tall Ships, or what they are calling a training ship, including a radio room.
The saloon of a steamship where Eric wonders if he can call home.
Plus a mock up of a deck area, with some great views (even without the telescope).
Just as we are leaving Eric finds a rocking boat to play on. Come on Eric the museum is just about to close.
What's next on the agenda we wonder, perhaps enough of the sea today and time for some retail therapy at the jewellery shop and bakery on the Bryggen.
Purchases made we decide that even though it's cold, the sunshine warrants another ride on the funicular to the top of Floyen (spelt differently really but no O with a line through it is immediately available so thought we'd be improper). The views really are very good from up here,
as is the cake we purchased earlier, partly eaten already!
Funnily enough we seem to be somewhat protected from the wind on the viewing platform and sit for a while, ruminating. There's still time left for a few purchases from the souvenir shop (no we didn't buy any trolls), plus a walk along a different route to the lake we visited last time we were here. There are no numbered runners here today and arriving at the lake we seem to have it mostly to ourselves.
They provide the barbecues for you up here.
Throw me a burger and a match will you?
Time to head off now, back to the ranch and prepare for the morrow. It's our second fjord Tour day, with a very early start - the bus leaves the bus station at 7:30 in the morning.