Day in Bergen

We started off the morning with a tour with a little history of the city of Bergen. Bergen is an important seaport dating back to Hanseactic times when Bergen had exclusive trading rights for northern Norway. Today Bergen has one of the largest shipping industries in the world and is a research center for sub sea oil drilling in the North Sea. Our tour guide boasted the minimum wage in Bergen is around $21 US dollars but a hamburger is about $25 US dollars so in perspective it isn't that good! It rains around 250 days per year here. We have seen everthing from mist to heavy rain to sunshine to very high winds today and it's only 5:43. Speaking of the time....it is very difficult to tell what time it is without a watch. Bascially there is 23 hours of gray skies about about 1 hour of twlight, which I witnessed around 1:30 a.m. during my restless first night of sleep. 

Our first stop today was at Edvard Greig's house. Greig was a highly popular Romantic era composer from Bergen. His house sits at the top of a bluff overlooking a beautiful Bay area. He shared this house with his wife Nina, whose family was not happy about her marrige to Edvard. They thought he did nothing but write music that no one listened to. As Greig's music became more popular he and Nina, an accomplished soprano, toured all of Europe giving concerts. His music weaves in Norwegian folk tunes with more traditional classical styles. At the hight of his popularity he was offered $20,000 to tour the U.S. but turned it down due to his tendancy toward sea sickness. The U.S. settled for Strauss but only paid him $6,000. 

Edvard Greig

View Edvard had for composing his works...

We then visited the Fantoft Stave Church, which was orginally built in the old style of complete wood with no nails. Sadly the church was burned in June of 1993 by the leader of a satanic cult. He was charged with the crime but sadly never served any time. Stave churches used to be very common in Norway but their style is extremly small. There was a law passed that a third of the congregation had to be able to fit inside of any church built therefore most stave churches have been destroyed. As such, the owner of the Fantoft church felt it was important to rebuild the church in the same old methods to preserve a piece of the past.

Interior of church 

We ended our tour in the Bergen harbor which is a very picturesque fishing village. Along one side of the harbor are a few preserved buildings of the old orignial city of Bryggen. Disney copied this idea for the city of Arendelle in the movie Frozen. One last interesting fact we learned from our tour guide was that in the Middle Ages there was one pub for every 12 people in Bergen. I certainly hope the alcohol was cheapter then because a pint of beer today costs around $20!!

Old village 

We were able to enjoy an amazing lunch of fresh mussels, shrimp, salmon, scallops, and whitefish for lunch at the Fish Market, located on the harbor. It was all very good but the salmon was unlike any I have ever had before! Amazing!!

Mussels 

Seafood kabob 

We are catching a break now before enjoying a meal on the hotel terrace of items purchased at the local grocery store. Did I mentioned this place is expensive???

Arrival in Bergen

We flew to Bergen, Norway via Atlanta and Amsterdam. TSA could learn some lessons in customer service from Amsterdam. EVERY single person we encountered were kind, happy, and helpful. It may have something to do with the "crops" but seriously....the Dutch know how to make people happy in an airport and an airplane.

We arrived in Bergen to be greated by a pleasantly cool breeze and cloudy skies. After a quick transefer to our hotel, located in the city center, a few of us took off for an adventure up a funiculare to a lookout point high above the cliffs of Bergen. We were treated to stunning views of the sea village below! We took a small hike to a pond where the rain coming across the forest made us feel like we were in a magical fairy land. Seriously....we really wondered where the magical creatures were hiding!!

We followed up our hike by a visit to the harbor and quick stop at the fish market where we tried caviar (not a fan), fresh smoked salmon, and mussels that we quite simply to die for. A few of us then found a local pub for a quick afternoon IPA. 

Following dinner a group of us headed to the local grocery for meat, cheese, crackers, and libations. The locals are so very kind and pointed us in the direction of really good choices, except one cheese that resembled a sponge that none of us shall ever eat again. I'm not sure the homeless would even want it. ACK!!! We braved hurricane force winds to sit on the hotel terrace and enjoy the nignt "lights" of this area. In fact it is 11:25 pm here and it just now showing signs of waning sunlight. 

Tomorrow we'll learn more about this beautiful city by the sea. Until then it is lights out (kind of) after over 24 hours of being awake!!!

Another adventure....

I leave July 3rd for yet another adventure...my longest one yet. I'm heading to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, and Russia. 

Of course the first issue is what to pack for 17 days? The weather channel doesn't give past 10 days so the struggle is real people. 

Recently I was talking with a coworker that has traveled abroad a bit. We discussed the agony of trying to fit in with your attire. Do you just accept you are a tourist or do you search Pinterest for clues on what the locals wear? This trip I'm agreeing with the coworker and giving in to the fact that a Canon camera strapped to my chest pretty much screams "TOURIST" so I'm packing my comfy American clothes.

We'll be landing in Bergen, Norway on July 4th. It's a #maroonfriday AND my nation's birthday. Thinking about that I'm frankly quite tired of people saying you don't want to look like an American while abroad. Do Europeans try to dress like Americans when they are here? I don't think so. Don't get me wrong I'm all about respecting the country you are in and I'll attempt to speak whatever language they speak in these parts but I shall not hide my US citizenship. I'll wear my MSU maroon Friday attire with pride! 

Packing issues solved, remember this blog is about me. Not saying you can't enjoy it, but I have found on the past few trips that if I blog I pay attention to the local guides more and maybe when I'm too old to remember where I've been I'll have these posts to refer to. 

As an apology to not conforming to European attire, maybe through this blog you'll want to travel to the places I'm getting to discover and you'll boost their economy :-)

Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri

Sunday we traveled down the spine of Italy along the Apennines to Naples where we stopped at the ancient city of Pompeii. I'm sure you are aware that this is the ancient city that was buried by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 7 AD. One thing you might not know is that Pompeii was the "Las Vegas" of the region during those days. There were pizzerias along a long strip, fast food restaurants, and 25 brothels. The city is also decaying at quite a fast rate and there isn't enough funding to continue supporting the reconstruction. I suggest you hurry up and book a trip here!!

We continued along the road winding along a narrow and curvy road along the Mediterranean Sea. The bus drivers in this country are truly amazing. Our Tony did a fantastic job getting us safely to Sorrento where we enjoyed a walk around the city center. We stayed in the "basement" of the most expensive hotel in Sorrento. 

We awoke on Monday to a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea from our hotel window! We boarded a ferry to the island of Capri where we enjoyed a boat ride around the island AND a chair lift to the very tippy top of the mountain. Each chair lift only seats one person so it was a wonderful last day activity to sit alone and reflect on such a wonderful trip while you listened to birds and enjoyed the lush vegetation and stunning views.

We are on the road back to Rome now for a last night before our long flight home tomorrow. I hear every room has a view of the Vatican....can't wait!!

Arrivederci Italy... Until next time :-) 

Fast food stop in Pompeii. The holes were used for the ceramic pots to heat the soup.

Boat ride around Capri

Chair lift to the top of Ana Capri

Orvieto and Rome

Thursday:

We spent most of today traveling from Florence to Rome. We stopped halfway at Orvieto, which dates back to around 700 B.C. where it started as an Etruscan city. This is this second such city we visited...Perugia was the first. After the Greeks came to the area (bringing their Olive trees with them) the Romans conquered the area and the region came under Vatican control. The cathedral of the city is most unique with a fresco covered facade. Inside the cathedral is a small chapel with frescos of scenes from the a Bible. It was here to Michelangelo got his inspiration for the Sistine Chapel.

We are staying in the "woods" of Rome in Casale di Romano, or one of the castle towns of Rome. In ancient times the richest families of Rome had sons that became the Pope. These castle towns were where their countryside villas were.

 

Friday:

We started the day as gladiators entering the Colosseum as a theater during the Flaviun empire, it eventually became the place all Roman citizens came to watch gladiators duke it out till the death. We watched the movie "Gladiators" on the bus during our long journey on Thursday. I really appreciated our tour director showing us this movie again so that we could get a reminder of what happened in this massive (50,000 once completed). 

We moved on to the Roman Forum which is where the ancient city was. I wish I could tell you more about this but unfortunately our local guide was not very good. It is a beautiful place though and what I can remember from previous visits is that this is the spot where Peter was in prison, the Roman senate was, and several temples were built for a Roman guards. I wish I could have heard more about Peter. I have now walked where so many disciples have walked, which is a very spiritual journey. I guess I can always Google it :-)

After our tour we headed to the Jewish quarter for lunch. Unfortunately I was feeling quite yucky and couldn't enjoy the pasta....that is tragedy status my friends. After lunch we walked to an island along the Tiber River and got a gelato, which settled my stomach. Gelato cures all people :-)

We ended the day by shopping around the Campo di Fiore, which is the spot where people were taken in ancient times to be killed for disobeying the pope.

Saturday:

Today we visited the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica. We had a wonderful local guide for the morning. She started by explaining a few things about Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel since you must be silent while in the chapel. A few tid bits:

1) It was discovered in the 1980 restoration that Michelangelo didn't paint the ceiling on his back. I'm not sure how they figured that out but talk about a neck cramp!!!

2) the center of the ceiling is the human hand touching the hand of God. The shape of the "humans" is actually the shape of a human brain. In all the times I have seen this I have never noticed that!

3) Bartholomew is depicted in the Last Judgement painting as holding his own skin since he was skinned alive. Michelangelo painted his own face in the skin as a representation of the Pope skinning his alive by forcing him to work on this project.

4) There was a cardinal that asked Michelangelo to cover up all the nudity in the paints. At the bottom right of the Last Judgement there is a naked cardinal with a snake wrapped around his body biting him in a most sensitive area :-/

5) The face of Jesus is the same face from a Greek statue of Apollo, showing that Michelangelo studied Greek art.

After we viewed the Sistine Chapel we continued on to St. Peter's Basilica. This was the first historical church I ever entered and it is still my favorite. There is simply no way to capture the size and beauty of this place with pictures. We first viewed the Pieta, which is the only work that Michelangelo signed. As the art teacher with us explains...it takes all your breath away.

In the afternoon we visited Trevi Fountain where we all threw our coins in the fountain to ensure our return to Rome. Next was the Pantheon, which has always been cool but never quite my favorite. On this visit we were treated to a concert by a small choir. It showcased the acoustics of the dome in quite amazing ways. I was literally running all over the church recording the sound from various locations. They actually sounded like huge choir when you were on the other side of the dome from them. We also viewed a church with a chapel that had beautiful Caravaggio paintings. The paintings are so real they take on the appearance of photographs. We ended the afternoon with a stop in Piazza Navona where a few of us enjoyed a glass of wine in a sidewalk cafe enjoying Bernini's fountain. 

Orvieto

Colesuem 

Bartholemew and the face of Michelangelo

St Peters

The Pieta

Trevi at night 

Florence

Firenze is the very definition of retreat for me. Every single night I sit on my couch and look at my tapestry of Florence that hangs above it. I've been know to have a glass of vino, or two, close my eyes and transport myself here. I always imagine I'm sitting at a cafe in a piazza watching the people go by with the Tuscan sun hitting my face. Today I didn't have to imagine :-)

We started with a walking tour explaining mainly the Medici family history of this city. Poor Medici's were always the dukes and never the kings. Google that if you want more explanation. We also visited the Academia museum to see "The David" as it is referred to in Florence. Ladies....this man is a beauty. It never ceases to amaze me the details in this most glorious example of the genius of Michelangelo. From the veins of his hands to the furrow of his brow the details are stunning.

After that is was an afternoon of shopping. Dad... You got your Italian coupon gift that was requested :) 

I didn't take many pics today. There are some days I choose to soak in the culture and enjoy a vacation away from the camera lens. You can't record the sounds of Florence that are so wonderful and I have about 500 pictures of the duomo...NONE capture it's true beauty. Come to Florence and see for yourself! But here is one quick shot I took at my first viewing today...

And one more of me and my fav artist. We met in 2010....

Assisi, Pisa, Monticatinni Terme

We started the day in Assisi with a wonderful local guide that explained the history of the town and it's namesake better than I have heard in my previous 4 trips to this town. As most of you are aware, the current Pope chose Francis as his papal name. Pope Francis has become very popular as a healer of the Catholic faith AND showing all Christians how to live a more simple life. Last year at this time Margie and I were amazed at the unity of religions in the Holy Land. Today we learned that In 1987 Pope John Paul II held a conference of world religious leaders (not just Christian) in Assisi surrounded by the frescos of peace to encourage the world to put aside things of this world and live in harmony. I can only hope the Pope Francis will continue this dialogue in an effort to stop judgement and foster love and unity among us all. 

The theme for my 40 days of lent two days ago (yes I'm behind) was retirement. Francis came from a wealthy family. He retired from wealth and chose a profession that satisfied him 24 hours a day and not just 8. Are you satisfied from the time you wake up until the time to go to sleep? In this trip I am. Yes I must work, and I am very satisfied at work, but how can I make my life more meaningful the rest of my waking hours?

One interesting fresco in the basilica depicted the very first crèche presentation. Each year at our church the crèche is presented to the crismon tree by a very special boy or girl. This the first time I realized it is a historical gift of the Christ child to God.

Our final stop in Assisi was at the church of St Clare. She was the first woman to follow St Francis and his belief in the simple life. I have made it a goal to study her more. Kim Hanson might could teach me :-)

We continued on to a surprise visit to Pisa. There isn't much to say other than it leans! It is a beautiful town though and we were able to see it at sunset....amazing.

The hotel pic is for Marvin (we are in a small town outside of Florence) and here are his answers to questions...

1) the grass is "winter grass" to keep the soil something something something (lost in translation)

2) the Italians put multiple families in a home most Americans would put 2 people in so that is where the population is.

3) hotels in the center of the city are quite tiny. If you stay in them longer than sleeping and showering, you are touring Europe incorrectly.

St Francis giving up the fight and choosing Peace

 

Assisi

Pisa at sunset 

The teacher salary will get you the wheels on the right

Typical european hotel. Good thing I get along with my roomie!