Wild Berries, and Mountain Lakes in Bergen, Norway

I look down over Bergen, the city surrounding the fjord on all sides and winding its way up the mountains.

above the city of Bergen

My house is a kilometer up the hill from the last bus stop, furthest away from the city center, the end of the line. I'm surrounded by nature.
Kristine leads me on a short hike to her private lake she seems to share only with ducks and whatever unseen wildlife might be hiding. Among the flora blossoming in the Norwegian summer are wild lavender, raspberry, and blueberry bushes which my host and friend points out as we walk.
The trail arrives at lake's edge. We sit on the rocks, taking in the stillness and tranquility. We're far from any sounds of the city. Norway's population is small, and the country sparsely populated. The fact that there likely a plethora of similar bodies of water throughout the country.makes this spot no less perfect.

flowering rosebay willow herb (fireweed) in Norway

 SPLASH. Kristine has jumped in and dares me to join her. I take off my shirt, leap, and feel the chilly water engulf me. I playfully swim after the nearby ducks, momentarily breaking the existing harmony as they paddle nervously away.
I tread water, the sun still high in the sky at 8 PM, not a soul around, gazing at the tree lined banks.

The trail and the mountain lake I speak of

For me, the water's too cold to stay out longer. I return to the bank, pull myself out, and wait for Kristine who's enjoying her vigorous exercise. When she's done, we sit quietly for several minutes before retreating to her house. 

She starts making dinner. Wanting to contribute I head back outside and start picking wild raspberries. It takes me an hour, but I've finally gathered two small containers worth. I return to find a warm meal waiting for me. 

We eat outside, Kristine re-gifting the raspberries for dessert. I don't know if it's their freshness, or that that they're the bounty of my labor, but they taste absolutely amazing. We sit in silence, savoring the sweet and tart fruits of my labor. Here in the hills around Bergen, life is simple. Who needs anything more? 

Try the Fresh Whale Meat at the Bergen Fish Market + Moose (Norway)

King crab, lobster, salmon, halibut, moose, and whale, all fish caught in the local fjords and sold here at the Bergen Fish Market.
Some of you who are more adroit are screaming, "Rich, there's a massive error in your previous statement!!"

fish- it's what's for dinner

Well thank you for pointing it out (though I wish you'd do it more quietly) and you're right, halibut is a deep water fish and thus not available for capture in your average fjord.
But one thing you certainly can purchase here, a slice of the world's largest fish- whale. Yes, the delectable and fresh local catch makes its way into the hands of consumers right here in the center of Bergen.

Minke whale

Business Idea: The nearly ubiquitous smiling whale mascot pictured above found in most of the world's top tier restaurants, the "classy pig" with a monocle, the plump chicken giving me the thumbs up to dig in; all designed to increase consumption of their flesh by making the animal "cute." As this bizarrely seems to work, does anyone want to open a Vietnamese restaurant with me? If so, I already have the logo.

High sales taxes react with Norway's vast oil revenues like rocket fuel, pushing prices into the stratosphere- " $11 for a baguette, $10 for a beer, $32 a pound for salmon.
Many of the employees are foreigners, drawn by wages far higher than they could dream of earning in their native countries, I walk from stall to stall meeting Spaniards, Chinese, and Russians, working long hours and living as frugally as possible in the world's most expensive country, hoping they'll be able to bring home substantial savings to start a business, to purchase a flat, etc.


I sample the available cuisine. The salmon is unbelievably tasty, fresh, spiced just a touch. I'm also offered Minke Whale meat. I'm rarely one to say no, and before you PETA types get all in a huff, I want to state I didn't contribute to the demand by purchasing.
The whale catch is limited to 500 a year, and carefully controlled by the government (as are all things in Scandinavia.)

trying Minke whale meat in Bergen

In an area where it rains the majority of the year, today's unblemished sun radiates smiles upon normally stoic Norwegian faces, the market's atmosphere warming in kind.
 I chew on the moose sausage I've purchased, watching the surrounding hustle in the busiest part of this touristy town, as I dream of my Vietnamese restaurant and the crowds that would gather-- WOOF WOOF!

As a seasoned traveler, if I could offer one piece of advice, embrace the reality of where ever you are, of whatever the moment offers. And if you come to my grand opening, and have something against tasting dog, here, try some whale; it's Norway after all.

Bergen, Norway- the Gorgeous Pictorial

Norway's second biggest city, Bergen, sits on its Western Coast with a population of a mere 270,000, Nestled snugly between mountains on three sides, the ocean on the other, and its city center sitting on the fjord (an inlet where fresh and salt water mix.)
Here is a pictorial of the town for a quick glance. It's an absolutely lovely town, and when visiting Norway, worth taking a day or two to visit :) Enjoy!

the very pretty center of Bergen

Flags remind you what country you're in

Norway in the summer is lush and gorgeous

these houses run up the mountain about as far as they can before it gets too steep

Bergen is on a fjord, which is the actual center. The town merely surrounds it. 

Norway has forever been a mariners life. 

I stayed way way up the hill in this area, Norway has amazing nature

Train Ride from Oslo to Bergen, Norway (beautiful landscapes)

Norway has some of the most rugged, heavily forested landscapes on earth. The train ride from Olso to Bergen is deemed by most to be one the most beautiful in the world, and while it still is seven hours on a train, it certainly didn't disappoint in terms of vistas. 

Check out the photos below for what to get an idea idea of the beautiful landscapes that comprise Norway. 

a mountain river, snow capped peaks behind

rugged mountains

a stop on the way to Bergen

a lake, mountains behind

here's a video recap of the trip, little vignettes of the scenery

ultra clean and clear water from a mountain river below the train

heavily forested Norway

another mountain lake with snow capped peaks behind