This week I have had the most fun reliving our short fjord journey as I went through my photos and edited the videos. I’d thought to have a complete “sail trip” post today, but decided it really needs to be broken up even more to avoid a ridiculously long post that would be difficult for anyone to follow. So, today’s photos and short video are about leaving the Bergen Harbor and entering Byfjorden: the beginning of our trip south on the inner fjord waters around Bergen.
As she began to move, I walked from starboard to port and back again, setting my camera on the rail, snapping and recording, capturing the experience of this large ship backing slowly out of her berth and turning about 220 degrees to face the mouth of the harbor and begin the journey. It was so gentle and slow, I had a hard time believing we were moving; of course that makes sense, as there can’t be any heavy waves or wake in a harbor, but the reality was even more quietly intense than I’d expected. The underwater propellers made interesting patterns on the surface of the water (which I was able to capture in the video).
I remember looking at the people standing and watching us, thinking what it must be like for them to see this large ship back and gracefully turn. Perhaps they were a little envious of those of us on board?
After turning, I took one final shot towards Bryggen, with the Fløibanen tracks rising up Fløyen, and Ulriken’s tower barely visible past the rigging.
We began to move forward towards Bergenhus Fortress.
Another Tall Ship, the Oosterschelde schooner out of Rotterdam, was in port. (Her history is interesting; originally built in 1918, she’s flown many flags, transported several different types of cargo, been completely restored to her original state, and made two around-the-world journeys with the last one ending this past May.)
Staying on the starboard side, I took a few photos of Bergenhus Fortress. First Rosenkrantz Tower had her side portrait captured.
Then is was Haakon’s Hall’s turn for its photo op.
All together now!
Moving over to the port side, I snapped a few images as we approached Nordnesparken at the mouth of the Harbor, and saw the spot where I’d stood during the Tall Ships Races 2014 Parade of Sails.
And then we were in Byfjorden and picking up speed as we headed towards the bridge to Askøy and beyond.
Jan and I went below deck for the shrimp and herring meal. We sat with a couple from Germany, and between their English and Jan’s German, we enjoyed getting to know them and a little of their travels (they come to Norway every summer) while sailing through Byfjorden.
Please join us as we begin our trip; here are few highlights!
After eating I went back up on deck. The huge cruise liner that had been in port had just passed us. She’d left her berth near the mouth of the harbor (seen in the video) after we had traveled by, but moved a bit faster. We’d traveled under one bridge and were headed for another. And my camera was out to capture it all! Tomorrow I’ll share an overview of my impressions of “motoring” through the fjord — and next weekend, a few specific moments. I hope you’ll accompany me through my words and images! 🙂
Cindi, looks like we are in for a beautiful trip! Was it cold? You can really hear the wind in the video…That cruise ship is HUGE!
No, not cold — but we were dressed appropriately, so that helped too! And depending on where you stood/where you were on the ship, the wind wasn’t bad. But I liked being in the wind, as you’ll see in future posts. 🙂
It looks choppy to me!
It does, when viewed through my little camera’s lens. But the ship is so large, I never felt it!
I think ‘choppy’ is a state on mind, Cindi!
OK, I’ll concede that point to you Geoff, especially as it’s viewed on your side of your computer screen. 🙂
🙂
Wonderful, Cindi ! Lucky you.
Those cruise liners are SO UGLY, nowadays: they don’t even look like things built for sailing on water. I can see them being towed around on tractor treads !
And yes, OF COURSE people were envious. I certainly would’ve been. 🙂
I love your comments, M-R. They’re so observant and personal!
I agree about the cruise ships. When I see one at “eye level” in the harbor, it looks like an ugly apartment building rising in the distance behind the traditional Norwegian buildings that line the water. When I look down on them from up one of the mountains, they look like ugly apartment buildings floating in the water.
And the pollution and crap they spew while in port is disgusting.
But a necessary evil for tourists, I guess. They’re also the main reason I don’t like to go into Bergen at the height of tourist season.
We have them too, of course; but as the State Government has declared Sydney Harbour a no-go for commercial shipping, they are restricted to a kind of sequestered area on the far side, from whence the passengers must take buses to the city. And I don’t care ! [grin]
They’re considering that for the Bergen Harbor too (or else, it’s been considered and is a done deal now … I can’t remember which right now!) Sequestering them is so much better for the environment!
Stunning photos – that’s some fortress! And I love how there’s just a glimpse of a rope or a pulley in the shot to show you’re on a boat 🙂 Thanks for visiting, Cindi, and for leaving a lovely comment! Happy September 🙂
Thanks, Claire! I have so many photos of the Bergen area, I purposely tried to get some of the harbor sites with the ship’s rigging in the image …. just for a different perspective! 🙂
Happy September to you, too!
Great shots. Can’t help but think how cold I would be. And then, knowing that I only like sailing when there isn’t any wind would definitely be at the back of my mind… 🙂
But there was wine available on board, Shelley. You would have been fine. 😉
(And if you were there, my husband would have been the Designated Driver and I’d have been joining you in a glass or three!!)
From beautiful Bergen in a big, big boat. I love your posts — and can see what you describe in my imagination — and in your pics. Thanks for sharing about your wonderful life in gorgeous Norway.