Bergen, Day 3

*orignially written 6/27*
We began the day back at Kiwi, looking for picnic-y foods for lunch. Mom and I grabbed mini baguettes, what looked like Swiss cheese, and what we were really hoping was a package of deli turkey or chicken. This whole not speaking the language thing an get kind of stressful when you're trying to pick out food and your options are "kylling" or "kalkun." However, we managed to fool the cashier into thinking we understood him perfectly (though he was probably just being nice) and decided to not ask for a receipt in order to avoid blowing our cover. We then picked up some really tasty blueberries and strawberries at the Fisketorget (fish market, which also has some fruit and vegetable stalls) on our way to the light rail train (pretty much Bergen's version of the L train).

After quite the ordeal buying tickets for the train ("we don't speak Norske! Wait, what? Stop! *sigh* it just timed out on us. BUT WE DON'T SPEAK NORSKE!"), mom called over one of the train security workers, who assured us that the machine just didn't work. At least it wasn't us. We eventually got our tickets and rode from Nonneseter to Hop, where we walked to Troldhaugen - the summer home of the famous Norwegian composer and pianist, Edvard Grieg - after getting directions from the site's concert hall's architect's daughter. Small world! We walked the estate, area picnic lunch (the mystery meat turned out to be turkey), heard a short concert by an up-and-coming Norwegian concert pianist, toured the villa (preserved with as much original material as possible), looked at the composer's cabin (the one-room hut in which Grieg wrote much of the music he produced while at Troldhaugen), and wandered the museum. After an ice cream snack (it was a surprisingly warm day!), we lucked out on a short lecture that was about to start, on Grieg's Peer Gynt suites. I know, sounds boring. But it was actually quite fun! Annette, the German girl who led the lecture, played excerpts from the suite and then charmed us all while giving her notes on the pieces. We were among the last few people at the museum, not leaving until 5:30pm!

Modeling in front of the museum

The concert hall

Grieg's house!

Not a bad view :)

Dinner was at a place Yvonne recommended: Kafe Spesial. I had "cod cooked in North African style" and it was DELICIOUS! North African style translated to red peppers, onions, and tomatoes, stewed with the cod and spiced so that your mouth slowly but surely burned away and you enjoyed every second of it. That, a mini baguette, and a hard apple cider... Ah! I had no idea any sort of spicy food existed in Norway. That'll teach me! I'd totally eat this dish again.

The cider I had at Kafe Spesial

After dinner, more ice cream, a change of shoes for me (my hiking boots were killing me - little did I know how much, more about that later), we went to the Fløibanen! The Fløibanen is "Scandinavia's only cable railway" - basically a "funicular" cable train car takes you up the side of Mount Fløyen to the summit station, 320 m. above sea level. The view is amazing... all of Bergen is laid out in front of you! I took lots of pictures and enjoyed soaking it all in.

The Fløibanen

The view from the Summit Station

Back at the apartment, I am soaking my feet since they are both swollen from toes to lower calves. Awesome. Getting rid of these hiking boots when we get home! Walking is painful, so I'm trying to just take it slow. We'll see how this goes.