Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway; we took a walking tour of the historic wharf district, Bryggen.
In 1979, it was declared a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Cultural Heritage Site.
It was part of the Hanseatic League's trading empire from the 14th to the mid-16th century. You can see the history of their manhole covers.
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Founded in 1070 AD, Bergen has an excellent ice-free harbor sheltered from the North Sea by a chain of islands and is surrounded by mountains, being called "The city between the seven mountains."
By the end of the fourteenth century, Bergen was the center of trade for all of Norway. It's major export being dried cod. Today it is know as the "Gateway to the Fjords."
Ludvig Holberg (1684-1754) was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen considered to be the founder of modern Norwegian literature.
McDonald's is located in a building dated 1710, looking elegant on the outside but typical tacky plastic décor on the inside.
While Starbucks gets an interesting brick building.
This building must have an interesting history, it has the Hamburg and Bermen coat of arms with the dates: 1480, 1712 and 1912.
The 700 year old Fish Market (Torget) offers a variety of products besides fresh seafood.
This one looks like you can get sausage made from moose, dolphin, elk or reindeer.
There were 12 churches and three monasteries built in Bergen during the 12th century; St Mary's Church is the only one remaining.
Having been taken over by the German population in 1408, it has the familiar rooster wind vanes.
In the ninth century, Pope Nicholas decreed that a rooster would be displayed from every church steeple as a weather vane. They were to remind people of Peter's three denials of Christ before the cock crowed.
Bergenhus Fortress is one of the oldest, best preserved castles in Norway
To see a wide angel view of the wharf, use this link:Bryggen If you look Carefully on my image, you can see where they are doing some construction and have hung a trap that looks like the outside of two of the buildings.
TW waves good bye, as we sailed away.
