Bergen

Have you checked out the interactive map? Do you know where we are now? Bergen is a small city nestled by the mountains on one side, and the fjord on the other. Attached rows of colorful wooden houses are scattered throughout the streets and rise up along the mountain side. It's honestly Charming; and Bustling! All of the restaurants serve outside, there's a fish market, cobblestone streets, shops, parks full of flowers, several ancient cathedrals, yachts stacked three deep, laughter and live music everywhere. Bergen is sort of like a lake-side Cape Cod meets Britain... all nestled within a semi-circle of mountains. You could spend a week or two just going to all of the various museums, an aquarium, and an abundance of things to do out on the islands within the fjord.

Bergen

As it turns out, this Sunday is Norway's Constitution Day. What a surprise! It's a huge celebration, and apparently Bergen is the place to be. There are a lot of people here, and yet it doesn't feel overly crowded. Combined with the local University students, it makes for one big, widespread, outdoor party. Tomorrow there will be parades with traditional dress and song. That festive feeling is bubbling out wherever you walk, and it sure does help that the weather is perfect.

We've been walking constantly; just soaking it all in...

Would you like to know what we ate for dinner last night? I've really been surprised by my courage, which has been supported by some of you. Left to my own devices I wouldn't have considered it. Stekt hwal m/bacon Flote Kaperssaus = Whale Steak. Can you imagine that? So here's the report: It looked like steak on the outside, inside it was a bit more purple than red. The texture was exactly the same as a beef steak. The taste... well, the taste was obviously NOT gamey... most of the time you just tasted a regular beef flavor. But every-once-in-awhile you got this fish flavor. Needless to say- That's Weird. I think that's why there is sauce under it and pieces of bacon on top. We ate almost all of it. Cross that one off the list. 
Whale Steak
Why else, you may ask, are we in Bergen? Well, the primary reason is that this is the only location for the Missionaries of Charity in all of Norway. Based on the descriptions of Norway that I have shared so far, can you imagine what type of volunteer/service work we will find here? That will be the subject of tomorrow's post.

At random intervals I hear great big bursts of cheering outside... time to check it out. Hmmm, what's for dinner tonight?