October 1, 2018 - Flam to Bergen

Day 5 - October 1, 2018 - Flam to Bergen

Today, we went through 15-20 tunnels. And the last one we got stuck due to an accident. Luckily they cleared it up pretty quickly.

Our first stop today was Ovre Eide Gard, a traditional Norwegian Farm. We learned how the farm works and then were treated to a traditional Norwegian lunch. We were told it was a light lunch, but it was a lot of food. There was smoked salmon, pork and lamb, salad, potato salad, bread, crackers and a porridge like item that is a specialty of the area. It is a mixture of sour cream and porridge and you put sugar, cinnamon and raisins on top. It was quite good. Then for dessert we had macaroons, apple tart and a traditional Norwegian cookie that was delicious. Jackie is planning on adding it to her Christmas Cookie baking.

Then we headed to Bergen for our city tour. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, although some regard it as a completely different country.  It lies in a region with a distinct dialect, climate, proud inhabitants and it’s own cuisine.  Bergen was a center of power during the Viking era and later an important Hanseatic city.  

We also toured the Edvard Grieg Museum.  He was famous composer known for the music he wrote for the play Peer Gynt which included “In the Hall of the Mountain King” . Then we had about an hour to wander the city. I, of course, found a yarn shop and picked up some beautiful alpaca wool along with a few gifts for my girls.

After shopping, I met up with Jackie and Linda and had a cup of tea and a treat at a local coffee shop while we waited for the time to meet our bus and get on the ship.

At 6 we boarded the ship, got in our cabin, settled for about a minute and then went for our safety briefing followed by dinner, followed by coffee in the lounge where we visited with our wonderful guide, Birgette and our new Australian friends, Jo and Noeleen, who are sisters. The ship left at 8 pm. 

A little info on our ship, the M/S Richard With.  In 1893, Richard With’s steamer, DS Vesteraalen, started a regular scheduled service along the coast of Norway and the Hurtigruten ship line was born.  The service had several weekly departures, first from Trondheim to Hammerfest and later from Bergen to Kirkenes - in only 7 days!  Today, 125 years later, their 11 ships call at 34 ports along the Norwegian coast daily - all year round.  The chef’s provide food from Norway’s Coastal Kitchen, sourcing local sustainable food for their menu.  Each night’s menu highlights food from that day’s ports of call.