Arriving in Bergen

A bleak day, with extremely strong winds heeling the ship to starboard and creating a large swell for us to ride once again between rocky outcrops, tiny islands and a steep and rocky shoreline. The skill of the captain has to be admired, as he has to fight the weather and navigate extremely narrow waterways at times.  I guess he comes from a long line of skilled sailors judging by the beautiful tall ship in dock.

The conditions revealed a rugged beauty, and an admiration too, of the people who build houses at the edge of the sea on solid rock on the only piece of flat land for a mile or so, and then another house appears. The views must be wonderful views from their homes, but most of them bare the full brunt of the whatever the weather can throw at them.

We eventually arrived in Bergen, a large city with every building clinging to a view for miles before the Hurtigruten quay. The harbour is cluttered with old wharf buildings that are now smart hotels with expensive views. Our captain reversed the ship to the quayside, amazing, and then with usual efficiency we collected our bags, boarded a bus and arrived at our hotel. Smart and recently refurbished, we were amazed at the quality of the decor in our room, so many cushions that when we took them off the bed there was nowhere to put them. And the pillow, the biggest in the world, 1m long and 75cm wide and about 50cm thick. All the ingredients for a great night in!