The Fjords of Bergen

I continue to be lucky with the weather. It was a beautiful day in Bergen today. I started with a trip down the fjords.
We went down the Osterfjord through the Romarheimsfjorden through the Mostraumen channel and then down the Mofjorden to Mo at the end of the Mofjorden. There may have been more fjords as well. It’s hard to tell where one fjord starts and the other ends, I did learn that a fjord is longer than it is wide.
The Mostraumen channel was created in 1743 after flooding and the channel dredged in 1913 to allow bigger boats through although its only about 60m wide.
The landscape was quite different to the Flam to Gudvangen cruise. Not as dramatic but maybe my first fjord cruise will also be the most dramatic. I can report on that at the end of my trip.
The boat perhaps wasn’t the best for viewing as you could only go out the front at set times and then everyone wanted to get out into the small space and take their selfies. While I did go outside at these times (no selfies) I did have a nice view from inside as well.

I had lunch in the fancier part of the fish market next to where we had dinner in Saturday night,
I ate whale. I had been curious as to whether I’d try whale if offered the opportunity and I expected the opportunity to arise. All the stores at the fish market seem to have whale. They display the raw seafood and cook it fresh for you. It’s not an attractive looking meat. Big dark thick bloody pieces is what I saw.
Anyway I ordered a smoked fish platter, the only fish mentioned was a mackerel mousse. When it was delivered I was told the fish was salmon, haddock and whale. While I wouldn’t have ordered it, I ate it as it was on my plate. It was hard for me to discern the flavour as it was smoked. It was okay, a bit fattier and more of a dried texture than the other two fish. I’m not sure what to think restaurant not stating on the menu that there was whale on the plate. Maybe they don’t expect it to be controversial? I was watching one of the other places cook their meat last night while I waited for Yee Wei to buy some Cavair and seal oil. I saw three pieces of whale meat go onto the grill. Also Yee Wei was keen for me to buy some seal oil as it it is meant to be superior to fish oil. Fortunately our quarantine laws don’t allow seal oil into the country so I didn’t need to have a further conversation about the ethics of seal hunting. I don’t know a lot about either whale hunting or seal hunting in Norway although from what I’ve read it is controversial.
I also had a seafood salad that was very nice.
It was mid afternoon by that stage and washing was next on the list. I went back to the hotel and lay down for a rest. I fell asleep waking at 6pm. I usually find I need a half day of rest each week when I travel although as I get on the boat tomorrow night I thought I could I could rest on the boat.
I’m at the laundromat now and will be a while as washing was an hour and it looks like drying is 2 hours. No industrial driers like I’m used to at the laundromat at home when I need a dryer.Lue lisää