Today, I got an early start and managed to beat many of the tour buses that drop off large crowds at the various museums and other locations. It was successful as I had several places to myself, if only for a few minutes.
It began with a stroll around the harbor to the far side.
Coming to the other side, I arrived at Bergenhus Fortress, the oldest parts date back to 1270 AD. Not my photo, but the one below shows the entire complex from the water.
The stone building on the left is Haakon’s Hall and the stone building on the far right is Rosenkrantz Tower. I toured the tower first and only banged my head once on the very low doorways.
One of the sea battles, The Battle of Vågan (1665), was initiated by the English who were attempting to rob Dutch ships that were harbored in Bergen. The King of Norway had decided to side with the English, but due to a lack of communication, the commander in the area sided with the Dutch. The English were defeated, but lost no ships.
Clothing/personal armor at the time.
I then made my way into Haakon’s Hall. It has seen quite extensive renovation following an incident in 1944, when a ship laden with 135 tons of dynamite exploded in the harbor. This event was the largest accident in Norway during the WWII.
When I walked in, I was the only one there.
In 1969, Queen Elizabeth II and family visited King Olav and family (perhaps it was to make up for that little incident back in 1665.)
Christ Church, which was located on the grounds of the fortress, was torn down to make room for the needs of the fortress. However, the church contained the relics of the Patron Saint of Bergen, Sunniva.
THE LEGEND OF ST. SUNNIVA
According to the saga, Sunniva was a Christian princess who lived in Ireland in the mid-9th century. To avoid marriage with a heathen King, she set sail with a small entourage and eventually landed on Selja, an island in Nordfjord. In answer to her prayers for exemption from prosecution for her Christian faith, God let boulders be placed to seal off the mouth of the cave in which she and her entourage were sheltered. When her body was discovered unscathed a long time later, she was looked upon as a sacred being and was enshrined in 996. In, 1170 this shrine was moved to the large Christ Church in Bergen. She was revered as the town’s guardian saint.
A pretty flower after a sad story. Google tells me that this is a variety of Rhododendron.
And a tasty meal after a long walk. Brother likes his seafood, so I stopped at the Bergen Fish Market, which is lined with various vendors selling prepared and fresh caught fish. Believe it or not, it didn’t smell fishy at all.
The items on the first plate you’ll likely recognize, but that second one, I’m guessing not—Minke Whale. Yep. I ate whale meat, and before you lose your conservationist dang mind, the common Minke has a very healthy population and is considered a “least concerned” species, meaning it is still plentiful in the wild. It is also quite tasty.
How did I end up eating whale meat after that first plate? Well, I thought about getting it first, but then decided against it. Go with what you know on this one, I said to myself. Then, as I was enjoying what I know, I remembered Anthony Bourdain, and then I remembered his quote that everyone knows…
Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you. Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways. Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check in on your friends. Check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride.
If you are given the opportunity, try the reindeer, the octopus, and the whale meat. It is all rich in the other person’s heritage and understanding of the world. It is a way of entering into the depths of creation. Also, I haven’t been disappointed yet! Although, I’m still afraid of the sea urchin, but someday… yes, you squishy little yellow snotty looking thing, you and me have a date.
It is 8:30 a.m. back home. Pray you all have a great day.
Candle in a Cave 