We took our hitch hiker ashore, and he set off to bike across the mountains to Sweden.
Notice the house and dock clinging to the cliff. There is no land access to this one
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Bergen is reputed to be the rainiest city in Europe. but we did not do too badly, with more threatening clouds than actual rain.
About 1000 Germans lived in this ghetto of Bryggen, privileged with a monopoly of all trade in fish between Northern Norway and Europe, but prohibited from travel. They built these multi-storey wooden houses, where they lived year round with neither heat nor artificial light, due to fear of fire.
The fish trade was sufficient to make them wealthy. The Norwegian fishermen were constantly indebted to the merchants and were almost slaves, catching and drying fish 700 miles to the North, in winter darkness and bringing them Bergen in spring.
This sail training ship for the Norwegian navy is based in Bergen. She
has made many ocean passages, and must be quite a sight with all sail set.Partying was still active when I took this sunset shot at about 11 PM
Many
Norwegians have converted obsolete traditional wooden fishing boats
for private use. They had a gathering to celebrate fishmarket day when
we were there. We saw a LOT more parties than fish.
.
Balloon sellers in the street were particularly ambitious. We hope he sold the lot, or has a very big van to take the excess home.
After the bustle of Bergen, we found a quieter anchorage at Kalsundet, about 20 miles away
This photo shows them at the almost windless start. After that, they had a fairly rough trip to the Shetlands as the wind picked up and veered ahead of them.