The Scandic Adventure - Bergen, Norway (Day 1)

I figured sooner or later I'd be blogging about travel to an exotic-sounding destination, so why not kick off this part with a first-time visit to Scandinavia, as part of my OCR trip.

Once I'd registered for the race, then it was time to plan.

I knew for certain that if I ever visited Norway, I absolutely had to see the fjords. Lots of tour excursions are in and around Bergen (6 1/2 hour train ride west of Oslo), and thankfully there's an airport nearby.

On the overnight flight there, my legs can't seem to find a comfortable position and I feel the need to shake them out (a case of the 'jimmy-legs', as was said on Seinfeld), thereby making me look like a sleeping dog chasing something in its dream.

***Arrival - Bergen, Norway***

It is easy to figure out how to take the shuttle bus from the airport to the city centre and the ride is maybe 15 minutes, plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. There is noticeable green everywhere, and mountains in the background.

I spend 20 minutes trying to find the hostel I have booked, since no streets run parallel or perpendicular to each other. Google Maps can only take you so far before you put on your expedition hat. The landmark I was going to use was a church, however the facade was under renovation so everything was hidden under construction plastic sheeting.

Bergen was once the capital of Norway and it is still a major port for shipping and tour boats. It is also known for its fish market so I set off to have a look. The open air stalls have all kinds of offerings, from fresh fish to dried cod, and plenty of crustaceans, and it smells faintly of the ocean; there is also a lot of local fresh catch on the menu.

Peeled shrimp with mayo, a popular offering

Once I've had lunch, I set off to find a place serving another item that is popular in Bergen - "skillingsboller", or cinnamon bun. One place that is known for it is Baker Brun, a bakery and pastry shop right near the harbour. They also have coffee, which I am desperately seeking after my overnight flight.

Yum!

Unlike a sticky bun, the skillingsboller has a lighter dough, with the cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top - a tasty treat to go with the coffee. 

I spend the rest of my day walking around town and getting the lay of the land. The weather is overcast and drizzly, but that's not stopping me from attempting a small hike on one of the surrounding mountains, Mount Fløyen. Most people settle for the funicular ride up there (price ranges on departure point and go from NOK 25 - about $4 CDN - to NOK 90 or $17 CDN round-trip)  The climb could be done on foot but it's uphill on some winding paths.

Testing panorama mode on my phone

I don't make it far past the visitor centre when all of a sudden sheets of rain start pouring and it's not letting up. I wait and see if anything changes, and just when I think the rain has slowed and step out, the showers begin anew. Slightly defeated, I hop on the funicular back down.

I've been awake for a long stretch and once it's time for bed, the instant I go horizontal I'm asleep.

For more information on Mount Fløyen and funicular tickets, visit http://floyen.no/en/

General information about Bergen's fish market: http://en.visitbergen.com/things-to-do/fish-market-in-bergen-p822253

Baker Brun (site in Norwegian) http://www.bakerbrun.no/ Also lists their locations around the country