Back to Bergen * Sixtyexpress

No arguing, we have been to Bergen. Yes I know it was a while ago and it’s raining , but put your big person pants on and let’s go. We are going in the bus for awhile so you shouldn’t get too wet.
When people think of Bergen , they think of the iconic shot of the Bryggen.

This was built over to house fish merchants and their workers. 2000 men( women were not allowed) lived in the building. It is the only German overseas Hanseatic Office in the world remaining. The buildings were built on fill so they have settled giving them a slightly tipsy look. The logs used as foundations are rotting which doesn’t help. Huge renovations to maintain these is often necessary. Food was cooked in the small stone buildings because of the fire risk.

With it being a busy trading post, you would expect defence. There is, Bergenhus Fortress. Now you don’t want to waste materials.The Royal Norway Palace was once on this site . Only Rosenkrantz tower and Håkon’s Hall remain of this 1200’s architecture.. They were absorbed into sections of the garrison built in the 1500’s. Why didn’t we go to the museum? One ,its Sunday, so most things are closed and two we are verrry wet and cold so will head back to the ship soon.

The garrison was only used in defence once. The British king, Charles 11 had made a deal with the Norwegian king, Fredrick 111.The British would attack the Dutch East India fleet and share the loot. Norway was considered neutral. The message didn’t reach the garrison. When the British fired on the Dutch, the garrison fired on the British to retain neutrality. Boats sank and it was a big disaster

Houses in most of Bergen are wood. Fire can be a problem especially if your houses are close together with small alley ways between. Solution, make the road wider. The colour of your house used to show your wealth. Poor had red from the cod or whale oil and yellow were middle class could they could afford ochre. White meant you had made it because you could afford zinc. Only the side people could see was painted because you didn’t want to waste money unnecessarily 😀. Now the colours mean what you liked at the paint store.