Rainy day in Bergen

We were warned that it rains 300 days of the year in Bergen, and today was certainly one of those days. Let's just label it a good test of our rain gear.

Our tour guide was easy to spot as he led us around Bergen - here he is trying to stay dry at Gamle Bergen.  I love his umbrella!

Gamle Bergen is like Upper Canada Village - old homes have been moved here and furnished to illustrate Norwegian life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

There was an eye-catching door knob on the bakery door:

The lieutenant's house held his two uniforms - one was Danish and one was Swedish. Norway has been ruled by one or the other for much of its history.

Spotted walking through the village...could these be a team of Norwegian sled dogs waiting for the snow to return?

A rich man's dining room with the table set for a feast:

Artificial flowers scattered on the table were a sign of his wealth, as a poor man can just go pick some flowers from his garden (!)

A quick coach ride then took us to the Rosencrantz Tower, part of the old fortifications of Bergen Castle, and built in the mid-1500's.

We didn't go inside the Tower but instead visited the adjacent and much earlier Håkon's Hall. Here is my favourite candlestand that was on a large table in the Hall:

Then we walked on through the still pouring rain to the final stop on our excursion - the Hanseatic Assembly Rooms. Visitors are greeted at the front door with this sign:

This was of particular interest to me because of my daughter has traced her father's Danish ancestors back to 15th century Hanseatic traders in Lubeck. She and I visited Lubeck with her son a few years ago, and saw the trading buildings there; so it was intriguing to see their Bergen Assembly Hall.

 "The administration was headed by the master of the tenement (Bauherr). He was accompanied by the beer purchaser (Bierkaufer) and the wood purchaser (Holzkaufer)." Each had their special chairs in the hall:

The tour ended at that point, having run very late, without even the promised walkthough of Bryggen (old Bergen). Katherine and I decided not to go back on the coach to the ship and stayed in town for another hour or so. We had a quick bite to eat, and then did our own walk through the shops of Bryggen.

We found an embroidery store and I now have a Hardanger project from Norway, hooray! I am determined to start it while we are still in Norway.

There was no time left for a plannedhoped for visit to the Bergen Hanseatic Museum as we couldn't risk missing the last shuttle back to the ship. (Sorry, Heather.)

There was just one more Bergen sight for us during our walk  to the shuttle stop (as the rain poured down hard again). The Sailors Monument that honours Norwegians' contributions on the ocean since the Vikings.