A Day in Bergen with A PLAN:

 A Day in Bergen with A PLAN:

 

Well, we think we have a plan. Breakfast here at 0800, then off to get a Bergen City Card, then some museums and the aquarium. Being winter most venues open at 1000 or 1100 and close at 1600, so we gotta move fast. 

 

I also plan to try a different hot dog today. Maybe the Lamb for an in-depth comparison to Iceland. 



 THE PLAN WORKED!!!

 We started at the Tourist Info Center where we procured a Bergen City Card. This gives us public transport and admission to several attractions or a discounted admission. 

We gathered maps and were off walking to our first destination the Bergen University Museum of Natural History. 

We found this be to be a wonderful experience. It is located on the University Campus. Here we found exhibits ranging from Geology, Ecology, Oceanography, and Biology. 

The specimens on display and the story line are well done as they inspire one to learn more.

  In some ways I felt one might run into an Indiana Jones style professor studying a specimen. I felt a certain amount of turn of the century vibe to some of the displays giving them great character. 

The whale skeletons were amazing. The museum also is where one can find the oldest elevator in Bergen.

 



Then a short walk to the Maritime Museum. Here we explored the history of the Norwegian Seafarers and the ships they sailed. This covered from the Viking Period to Sailing Times to the present day freighters. There was an excellent movie about the excavation of a Viking Burial Mound which revealed much about Viking culture. 

Interesting Factoid: The distance of the Norwegian Coast Line add together would circle the equator twice. That is a lot of coast line.

 

 

Next we were off walking to the Bergen Aquarium. While our maps were not of great detail we zigged and zagged about the narrow streets of Bergen. This included  several, and I mean several flights of stairs. We did enjoy the narrow streets with clapboard houses. 

 

 



We found the Bergen Aquarium and took in the many marine life enclosures and fish tanks. I was really surprised to see a colony of Gentoo Penguins. To be honest this is the first Gentoo colony I have ever seen in captivity. The penguins are identified by colored arm bands so it is easy to get information about an individual. 

The Sea Lions were rather active, as well as the otters. 

A fun experience and well worth the time and effort to walk there.

 

 

Being tired and a bit hungry we made our way back to the hot dog stand and received nourishment in the form of a Lamb Werst. We had it with a mango sauce and crispy onions. It was very good but we both thought the reindeer sausage was better. What will we try tomorrow? 

 Sorry we were so hungry we finished it before we even thought of taking a photo.



We then walked to the funicular so as to take in the obligatory Bergen View. It did not disappoint, as you can well see. 

 

 

 I SPY A HOT DOG STAND!!!!!

 



Next we found the Norwegian Rubber Tomahawk Shop (a store selling touristy stuff). We got items for a trip Christmas ornament and I got a cheap pair of slippers to wear about the ship. We also got couple postcards to send.

We got some local food items to have for dinner back in our room as we are tired. We cover 20,523 steps and I know we had 16-20 flights of stairs or more regardless of what our watch recorded. 

Tonight we will check in with the Hurtigruten representatives here at the hotel and get additional information about our tour and transfer to the ships terminal. 



       

The Last Leg of Our Flying Journey Oslo to Bergen, AND A HOTDOG!!!

 Oslo to Bergen

 

Sleep started really well but then eluded me. Such is life.

From the our hotel room, including security, to the SAS Club was only 35 min. The Domestic SAS lounge was nice and they had Brown Cheese.

 

A nice 55min uneventful flight to Bergen. As we approached, the skies cleared revealing snow capped mountains and fjords.

 

 Kewl Airport things I really liked:

 

Off the plane and collected our bags and found the Flybus which was getting ready to leave. About a 45-50 minute ride into our stop. Then a short walk to the Clarion Admiral Hotel. 

We will be here for three nights before boarding the ship.

Room View: 

 

 

Our room safe was locked so we waited a bit for some assistance in opening. Then we shall head out to find a hotdog. 



 

 

We were successful in finding Trekroneren. There is a reason this little hot dog stand has been in business for decades; quality. Trekroneren specializes in high-quality sausages with quality toppings. This is not just food to feed your hunger, this is a culinary experience out of the ordinary. All of Trekroneren’s sausages are prepared at a local butcher just a 30 minutes walk from the stand. And all except one sausage are made exclusively by meat from local farms. The last one is the reindeer sausage, where the meat naturally comes from Northern Norway. Quality costs, and Trekroneren is by no means the cheapest sausage seller in town, but these sausages are definitively worth the extra penny.

It may be hard to believe that a simple Norwegian hot dog stand has gained any international attention at all, but during its lifetime, Trekroneren has become world-famous. In its 74 years, the stand has received visitors from virtually every nation in the world.



We split a reindeer sausage, topping suggested were a berry sauce, a spicy mustard and crispy onions. IT WAS EXCELLENT!!! Which one of their delicacies will we have tomorrow?

We then wandered the streets and stopped at a local grocery store where we laid in some supplies for the room. 

A very civilized country. 

When we were here in December 2022, we visited a gingerbread house display consisting of 100’s of houses. Here gingerbread is a holiday specialty so we got a small tin of pepperkaker (ginger bread cookies). 

 

A bit about Bergen. 


 
Bergen is known as “the capital of the fjords”. Perfectly situated between the two biggest fjords in Norway, the Hardangerfjord and the Sognefjord.

Bryggen features colorful wooden houses on the old wharf, once a center of the Hanseatic League's trading empire. The Hanseatic League was a Medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market town in Central and Northern Europe. Growing from a few towns in the late 12th century, the League expanded between the 13th and 15th centuries and ultimately encompassed nearly 200 settlements across seven modern-day countries.

In Bergen there is a Hanseatic Museum, an aquarium, many museums and yes a hot dog stand we will most definitely find and enjoy.  

Our big question for our arrival in Bergen is whether or not to get a Bergen card.

I think we are still adjusting to the time change and will again call it an early evening. This hotel is not for us early risers as breakfast starts at 0800. At least we have coffee in the room. 



Sogggy Moose Goes To Oslo and meets Red Ski Moose

 DEN-ORD-LHR-OSL-BGO



 

Yes, that is our outbound route with the cities involved. Normally we would go nonstop to LHR (London) but we saved about $1000 each on airfare by flying this route to Oslo. We will overnight in Oslo and catch an early flight to Bergen the next day. This is a one way as our return flights will start in Oslo.  

Up early and got ourselves together and off we went. Fast check in and security. Then to the newly refurbished United Club, B concourse East. It is really really nice. We have about 1.5 hours here and the gate is close. 

Next stop ORD (Chicago). Nice flight to ORD. Then the Polaris Lounge. We got an upgrade to Polaris Class.  THEY HAVE GUINNESS on tap. Nice little tuna sandwich were had along with a very nice smoked gouda cheese. Soon it was time to load-up for the next long haul.

The flight to LHR was uneventful and we did get some sleep on this leg. Upon arrival we made our way to the United Club where a full English was available. I should say that they have nice little mini doughnuts.  

We learned our flight to Oslo would be out of an A gate and the United Club is in the B gate area. So we were off to the A gates. Actually, the exercise felt good. The flight to Oslo was again  an uneventful 1.5 hours. Passport control was EMPTY and we zipped right through. Our bags were among the first to hit the carousel. We loaded up a trolley and made a quick stop to get sandwiches for our lunch and dinner and walked to our hotel. 

 

 

I should mention we arrived in Troll Weather (Troll Weather is that grey sky misty rain/snow). 

With the trolley loaded, we had a short walk to the Radisson Red Hotel. It was a nice walk as there was a covered walkway 90% of the way. 



 

We checked into our room a bit weary and hungry. We figure we have been traveling about 30 hours. I thought we might take the train into Oslo but we need to refresh and get ready for  tomorrows  flight to Bergen. So we will do some laundry and chill. 

    





 Hurtigruten - North Cape Express

Many have been asking where we are off to next. Here is a bit of info about this trip way North. 



Last December we sailed on the Hurtigruten MS Maud to the North Cape. We had such a great time we booked this trip. 



We start by flying to Oslo where we will overnight at an airport hotel. We will probably take the train into Oslo for the evening meal and adjust to the time change. 

The next morning we fly to Bergen. 

Here we will have three days to explore. Yes I know where the hot dogs can be found. 



We then board the MS Trollfjord and start sailing north. The MS Trollfjord was very recently refurbished. 

We will explore many small costal villages and visit some of the same ports we have previously visited. 

We hope to see the Northern Lights, try some locally sourced food, learn new things from lectures while onboard. All as we sail in the wake of the Vikings and Arctic Explorers.

 

Here is a map of our route. 

 

 

 51st ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA WRAP UP!



 

The 51st Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF) is in the books and plans for next year are in the works. 



Yes, that is tip number ONE if you want to experience this amazing event. Start planning early and a year out is not too early. 



One of the best resources is the AIBF website https://balloonfiesta.com/. There you can find all the info you might need to enjoy Fiesta. 



RV reservations will open in January and they go fast really really FAST. They often sell out in minutes. Research before hand to find the campground which meets your needs. If you are not successful, get on a wait list.

 

Back to this year. The weather was AMAZING! Most sessions went off without a hitch. Here is some information I recently received from the Media Group. 

Final Numbers:Following are the official numbers for the 51st Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta held October 7-15, 2023.

•Total number of registered hot air balloons: 546
•Total number of registered special shape balloons:107 (12new to
       Balloon Fiesta)
•Total number of registered pilots (primary and additional): 629
•Total number of Gordon Bennett Gas Race teams:17
•Total number of remote-control balloons: 75
•Total number of estimated guest visits: 968,516
•Total number of views on Balloon Fiesta Live: 771,631

Total numbers of countries represented (registered pilots and Gordon Bennett): 16–Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United StatesEvent

Two of the 14 sessions were canceled due to poor weather conditions (10/12 evening and 10/15 morning) and one was counted as a rain check event, with tickets allowed for re-use during the 51st  Balloon Fiesta (10/12 evening).

Gordon Bennett: Of the 17 teams, 16 launched from Balloon Fiesta Park on Saturday, October 7 at 8:30 p.m. MST.

Winners of the race were France team two, piloted by Eric Decellieres and Benoit Havret, who traveled 2,661.40 kilometers before landing in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Balloon Competition Winners:The first prize in the hot air overall competition was awarded to David Strasmann of Switzerland.  Second overall highest score went to Joe Zvada of Texas, third to Joe Heartsill of Texas and fourth to Tomas Hora of the Czech Republic.

Remote Control Balloons-On Wednesday, October 11, Balloon Fiesta set a new Guinness World Record for the “Largest Display of Model Hot Air Balloons” of 55 balloons. The new record of 58 model hot air balloons (also known as Remote Control Balloons) was set by the Balloon Fiesta when they were on all display at one time.

Navigators: 1,134 Navigators volunteered during this year’s event. Navigators (not including chase crew) are volunteers who provide guest services, administrative services, balloon coordination and safety, set-up and logistics, and more in over 40 different areas.
I think the best way to experience Fiesta is as a Navigator. If this is not your thing you can volunteer to be part of a chase crew. Lots of fun, and I guarantee you will learn a lot about Ballooning.

For me, Fiesta is simply infectious, I am excited about Fiesta 52. 

Here some photos from this year. Hope you enjoy and maybe see ya at Fiesta in 2024.