We arrived in Bergen late on the 17th December all geared up for the cold weather – it was mild and raining a monsoon. The one thing we didn’t possess was an umbrella but we do now; it proudly bears the name Klosterhagen Hotel and was christened the next day when conditions had, if anything, deteriorated even more.
The alleyways around the hotel glistened not with frost but with rain:
The next morning was filled with another trip to the Bryggen, at this time of year, wonderfully devoid of the dreaded tourists – except us of course 🙂 Then came the dragging of cases down cobbled streets to the Hurtigruten terminal, a particularly noisy exercise made even more unpleasant by the realisation that not every item of clothing was watertight. It was a relief to escape the rain and finally board the MS Finnmarken late in the afternoon.
From hereon it was north and into the dark, the days becoming shorter with every nautical mile.
There will be more posts on this subject in the weeks to come (and no doubt some contrived photo challenges). The plan had been to post a diary of the trip as we progressed north along the Norwegian coast, if only for ourselves to look back on. However, the ship’s internal wifi connection to the Internet was unavailable throughout the voyage, only the very occasional 3G signal allowing the upload of some out-of-sequence Blips.
In the meantime I am in catch-up mode so a Happy New Year everyone!
(apologies to Mjollnir – the lack of access to WordPress and a late change to the timings for transfer to Flesland scuppered all plans to meet up. After this trip though, we are certain to be back very soon!)
northumbrian : light 
Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing the images from your journey!
And a very Happy New Year to you Cate – there are many more images ‘in the can’. More than anything else, digital photography has set us free from the constraints of 36 exposures on a 35mm roll.
All the best
Robin
Ah beautiful Bergen. We went a few times on the ferry when it sailed there from Port of Tyne – unfortunately no longer!
It is a beautiful city although a trifle damp on this visit. I find it very odd that we can no longer get to Bergen directly either by air or sea from Newcastle – what happened to all those Norwegians who flooded into the Metro Centre? My beloved thinks it maybe the advent of online shopping.
Bring back the Bergen Line!
Unfortunately it comes down to cost for the ferries – they weren’t making enough money from the trips for them to stay viable. There was talk at one point about another company taking them over, but it never came off. Such a shame – it was very convenient and a lovely journey by sea.
It looks like the eternity, it’s great to see it through the eye of your cam :o) have a great 2015!
I really like that phrase “it looks like the eternity” – I wish I has used it …. and a probably will 🙂 All the very best for 2015 Easy.
I honeymooned with my now ex-husband in Bergen. We loved it. Enjoy!
A wonderful place for a honeymoon – how could it have gone wrong when you started from there (no answer required)
We remain the best of friends, actually. He’s one of my favorite people. Thus Bergen was the perfect start to a wonderful relationship that thrives.
I am pleased to hear that – have a great 2015
You, too!
That photo ! – that mini-mountain … I looked at it when I’d enlarged it and said aloud “What an EXTRAORDINARY shot !”
It would be worth going that far north just to be able to take shots like that one, wherein light and dark vie for mastery …
Many many thanks – the dark horizon and the bright mountain is the voyage in a single image. I thoroughly recommend the voyage, so good we are certain to return. The landscape is the star, not the photographer 🙂
But if there were no photog., there would be no appreciation of the magnificence.
🙂
😀
Love the photos. The dark luminosity of a Scandinavian winter. Bergen (and nearby fjords) has been on my to-visit list for a while. Sounds like you had a fantastic time up there. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2015, Robin. I’ve truly enjoyed your rich and varied posts over the last couple of years and I look forward to many more.
Many thanks and likewise in all respects Julie. I thoroughly recommend the trip north on Hurtigruten (translates as the ‘fast route’). This is not a cruise ship but a working ferry and much the better for it. The voyage north into the dark is without precedent.
I hope you have many exciting travels in 2015, not least because I really enjoy your sharp edged reports from other worlds.
All the very best
Robin
Happy New Year, Robin 😀
Likewise Graham 😀
Happy New Year, Robin. Hope it brings all sorts of wonderful light.
And lots of light for you as well Jean – and warmer seas 🙂
If this is a sample it’s going to be worth waiting for, Robin! In some ways it’s better to do it retrospectively. Did you keep a diary?
Sorry- I missed your farewell post but I bet you had a great Christmas. Happy 2015 to you 🙂
Many thanks Jo – no diary but a few notes to prompt the fading memory 🙂
All the best, Robin
Those two photos are absolutely stunning. I love seeing Bergen through others’ eyes, and through your lens is even better. 🙂 I can’t wait to see the others — Bergen, and your entire trip — and experience it all vicariously with you!
Many thanks Cindi, I hope I can maintain the standard 🙂 I guess doing it all retrospectively provides the opportunity to relive it. I think my posts will be on a single topic for some time.
stunning image…cant wait to see more 🙂
Many thanks and a very Happy New Year Seoniad – slowly catching up so there should be more fairly soon.
Lovely post, Robin. I haven’t been to Bergen since 2005, but I hope to visit Bergen this summer.
A happy and healthy 2015!
Likewise Malin. I first went to Bergen in 1963 and and should have returned much sooner – I have a longstanding love of Norway which I will explain in a later post.
All the best, R
Best wishes for the New Year Robin! Look forward to seeing where it takes you-
Likewise Meg, in all respects – all the very best.
I don’t know how – I missed these posts that said I didnt do much on the blog over Christmas New Year. I got a decent shot in the Bryggen on my iPhone and put it on IG – @skm1963 – how expensive was Norway – we will have to sell a lot of pictures to go on holiday ever again
Some very nice images on Instagram – I don’t use it much preferring to sustain my obsessive compulsions with this blog and Blip 🙂 https://www.polaroidblipfoto.com/RobinDown
I haven’t done the maths but I assume Hurtigruten’s bottled water is more expensive than petrol – almost affordable if you don’t drink …. anything 😀
Wow, your images are so precise and the details even in the shadows are superb. I would love to visit Bergen so feel privileged to experience the landscapes today. Fabulous post.
Many thanks Lita – more to do with the camera than the photographer – all hail the Fuji X100s 🙂