Wayfare Wednesdays! A Travelogue of Ports Unknown! Norway Day One

Ahoy there me mateys!  Welcome to the newest installment on me Log, Wayfare Wednesdays!  As ye scalawags know, yer Captain always be spending me time dreaming of the next far off ports and searching of a good adventure.  So I thought I would give the crew some insight into the fascinating people, places, and things I saw while ye all were wallowing in port in some filthy tavern, swilling grog, and missin’ the sights.  Ye know in case ye miscreants ever get the chance to plunder visit these destinations in the future . . .

wayfare

way·​fare |  ˈwāˌfa(a)|(ə)r, -ˌfe|, |ə

 archaic : an act or course of journeying (source)

As some of ye may know, I recently had a line on a rumor of a bit of Viking treasure, Scottish ruins, and Elizabethan artifacts.  The sea was a’ calling.  So off I went.  After eighteen days of adventurin’ in Iceland, Norway, Scotland, and England, I be back to share me tales.  I shall be splittin’ these stories into several installments due to yer befuddled, swill-saturated noggins.  The first foray was Iceland.

If ye missed day one of Iceland click here.  For day two of Iceland click here.

Norway was the land of fjords, natural wonders, and the midnight sun.  We (me and the ma) spent six full days there with one full day at sea (Arrr!).  The first day was in Bjørgvin (Bergen).  The city was established in 1070.  We saw:

Fisketorget i Bergen

The Torget Fish Market has been in some form of existance since the 1200s.  There is an open air market from May to September and an indoor one open all year round.  I bought the first mate some sardines!

Bryggen “The Dock” or Tyskebryggen “The German Dock”

This wharf is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  There are 62 buildings that remain.  The earliest pier was dated to about 1100.  But due to the 1702 fire which burned 90% of the city, the majority of the buildings are from the rebuild.

Fløyen or Fløyfjellet

There are nine mountains that surround Bergen.  Mr. Floien is 984 feet above sea level.  “The name could originate from fløystangen or a weather vane that was set up to indicate the direction of the wind for sailing ships.” source.  Ye can get to the top by the  Fløibanen funicular or by yer feet.  The ma and I walked up.  It was a steep climb but so worth it.  We did take the funicular back down though.

Keep a weathered eye out for more of me wayfare adventures.  Next stop Geiranger!  Arrrr!

x The Captain

Side note:  The Wayfair Wednesday featured image (source) is of two sailing vessels “dressed overall” with their international signal flags.  Signal flags are the flags used to contact other ships.  Well unless ye be a pirate in which case the Jolly Roger and yer cannons speak well enough.  A ship dressed overall “consists of stringing international maritime signal flags on a ship from stemhead to masthead, from masthead to masthead and then down to the taffrail. It is a sign of celebration, and is done for occasions, anniversaries, and events, whether national, local or personal.”  (source)  Well, Wayfare Wednesday is certainly a celebration, occassion, and event no matter how ye look at it.  Arrrrr!