Day 4, Norwegian Constitution Day, Bergen

Bergen
Saturday 17th May 2014

I’m so tired it is not funny. I slept until about 4 am on the train. Outside it was already light, though the sun was not up. It was snowy and white out. Very cold, I imagine! I went back to sleep, then when I next looked out at about 6am, it was green and raining lightly.

Velkommen til Bergen

I arrived in Bergen at about 7am. The rain was thankfully just nuisance rain. I was unable to use a luggage locker at the station as I didn’t have the right coins and didn’t think anyone would break a 50 for me.

I headed into town, following my nose. My hotel’s reception didn’t open until 10, so I was stuck with my bags. I hitched them together so that I could carry them with just one set of straps. They were still very heavy though, as they have my food supplies in them too.

The first parade was a little low-key. There was probably 200-300 people maximum.

The first parade of the day in Bergen

After the first parade, there were some formalities on the banks of Lille Lungegårdsvannet, complete with Viking ship

Hardanger bunad

Beltestakk bunad from East Telemark

Beltestakk bunad from East Telemark

The next parade didn’t start until about 10am, so I headed down to Bryggen, near where the parade would start. I sat and watched the world go by. It was cold, but thankfully the rain had stopped.

Waiting in the early morning in Bryggen (though that isn’t me in the photo)

More and more people were turning up. I kept taking photos. Before the parade started, I found myself a position on the kerb, near the beginning of the parade.

I think this is the Bergen bunad. There is also a cream version, rather than the blue.

Waiting for the parade to start

After a while I struck up a conversation with the lady next to me, who was beautifully dressed in her bunad, but also by herself. Her name was Ana/Anna, and she was lovely. She answered my questions about what I was seeing, and gave me a bit of commentary of the parade. She pointed out the PM (a native of Bergen, so marching in their parade), and various different bunader and where they come from. She said she was pleased to be using English, as they’re going on holidays to Turkey, so she needs to practice it for that.

She’s two years older than me, has five kids ranging in age from 21 down to 5. She said goodbye when two of her daughters turned up in the parade with their gymnastics club, and she joined them. She was a lovely companion to have!

The parade went on for about 2.5 hours. Fortunately I didn’t have the bags on my back all that time. I put them at my feet and stood over them. Otherwise I’d be even more tired than I am!

I took so many photos. I hope there are some useable ones amongst them. (There were!)

Parading in Bergen

Not only were community groups parading. There were also businesses in the parade, such as this tiling business. And yes, they were tiling the wall as they went along!

Parading in Bergen

I’m still as puzzled by this as the little girl in the photo is…

Anna told me that Bergen is famous for its drummers

Re-enactors in the parade

People of Bergen parading

Both the Mayor of Bergen (wearing the mayoral chains) and the Prime Minister are in this photo. The PM is the one with short blonde hair that everyone is looking at. Security guy in front talking into his lapel…

After the parade, I went to the visitor information centre and they gave me all the info I needed about buses etc for tomorrow (getting to Utne) and for a few days’ time, getting to the airport. I sat for a while, overlooking the throngs of people. There were people everywhere. Thousands upon thousands, and many dressed in their bunader. Many more women were dressed up than men, though many men were wearing suits.

17th May celebrations in Bryggen

17th May celebrations in Bergen

I enjoyed my quiet sit. I had actually been feeling quite visually overwhelmed! There was so much to see, take in, and learn from.

My view at lunch

I then emptied all I had seen, and learned from Anna, from my head, into my notebook. That took some time.

I checked into the hotel at about 3pm. The kitchen is opposite me, so I hope that doesn’t end up being too noisy. I just had a shower and discovered the water drains SO slowly as to be almost imperceptible. I’ll mention that when I check out…

It’s now after 4pm, and while I’d like to go off exploring, I’m not sure I can today. I think I’m too tired. (Actually, I’m exhausted!) And, there’s too many people out there. I’ll do it in the morning before catching the bus to Norheimsund. I’ll go to the boat building museum, then catch the ferry to Utne.

Oh, maybe I’ll go for a wander. Sigh. Great day. Tiring day. So visually overwhelming. 🙂