Our ship docked in Bergen Harbor

We docked beside the old 13th century fortress, Bergen Hus, with its famous watchtower, Rosenkrantz

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and competes with Oslo to be the main center for trade, maritime activities and culture.

Bergen's Hanseatic Quarter - now just called "The Wharf" or Bryggen.

Old Wooden Buildings from the Hanseatic League. From 1370-1754, German merchants controlled Bergen Trade.

The not-so-golden arches of McDonalds

Fish Market - Has thrived here since the 1500's

Fresh catch

We took the Floibanen Funicular to the top of Mount Floyen, one of the seven hills surrounding Bergen

The view from the top of the Funicular

There were several hiking trails at the top of the funicular. We took one leading to this pretty pond.

Trolls are a big deal in Norway. There were several of these carved trolls hidden in the trees at the top of the funicular.

Barb hugs a troll.

We took a bus tour a few miles outside Bergen to Troldhaugen, the home of Edvard Grieg

Grieg was Norway's greatest composer.

He spent 22 summers in this house, from 1885-1907, soaking up the beauty of the area and composing many of his greatest works.

Life-size statue of Grieg (he was a very short man) by a concert hall that offers piano performances of his works.

The little studio hut where he composed.

The museum contains photos and artifacts from his life, including his Steinway piano.

Flowers on the grounds of Edvard Grieg.

Fantoft Stave Church - an exact replica of a 12th century wooden church which burned down in 1992 (arson).

Once built, stave churches were slathered in black tar to protect them from the elements. The Vikings ornamented the churches with war-like, evil dragon gargoyles.

Inside a stave church, the structure is that of an overturned ship.

Carving inside the church

Manhole cover in Bergen