Bergen, Norway

Reminiscing about France recently had me thinking about my year abroad and all the wonderful places I got to visit.

And so, of course, I started going through my archives to remember my time there and I realized: there’s so much I never blogged about! So, to satisfy both my wanderlust and my nostalgia cravings, I’ve decided that I’m going to fill some of the gaps by writing about it. And what better place to start than with the first trip I took that year: My Scandinavian Tour of Awesomeness?

With another language assistant, I went on a 7-day whirlwind tour around Scandinavia — hitting Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark (and I went solo to Germany for Oktoberfest before returning to France).

Now, I’ve actually already written about planning the trip, arriving in Oslo, visiting Vigelandsparken Sculpture Park, nearly missing the train, the beautiful train ride from Oslo to Myrdal, and seeing the Fjords.  But I never wrote about our visit to the charming Norwegian town of Bergen.

I’ll admit right now that the biggest reason I wanted to see Bergen is because of Walt Disney World.

Yes, Disney World. I make no apologies for being a big fan of Disney Parks and it’s not just because I worked there. I’ve always loved the detail and the wonder of Disney, but while I lived in Florida, I especially loved EPCOT’s World Showcase.

The World Showcase is a part of EPCOT that features country-themed pavilions staffed by natives called Cultural Representatives. For about a year, Cultural Reps work in shops, restaurants, and attractions affiliated with their countries and they also share their culture with Disney guests. Some of the countries featured at the World Showcase include France, Germany, China, Italy, Japan, and of course, Norway.

To be honest, before I frequented the Norwegian pavilion, I had no real desire to go to Norway — well, at least not above other places. But my curiosity grew as I learned more about the country, met Norwegian “cast members” (that’s Disney-speak for employees), and of course, ate Norwegian pastries.

Now, the pavilions at EPCOT are constructed to look like some of the countries’ most recognizable landmarks and Norway is no exception. It actually turns out that much of the Norwegian pavilion is based off of Bergen, a little seaside town located about 300 miles away from the capital city of Oslo. And seeing as how a stop in Bergen fit perfectly with the Norway in a Nutshell tour that I had planned on doing anyway, I knew it was a must-see.

So, after our incredible fjord cruise, Terri and I arrived in Bergen late in the evening. It was dark and rainy as we walked to our couchsurfing hosts’ place but after climbing some hills, we were greeted with a warm welcome. We got acquainted and quickly situated before falling into a deep slumber after a busy, but awesome day.

The next day, we lingered around the house a bit before explored charming and colorful Bergen by foot.

After lunch with one of our couchsurfing hosts and wandering around the shops, we did one of Bergen’s biggest tourist attractions: we rode the funicular to the top of Fløyen to get amazing views of the city.

We stayed for a while, taking photos in the wind and browsing the tourist shop (I bought a little viking to take home). But the best part for me was not the spectacular views — no, the thing that made me click my heels together in glee was the thing I never expected to see: the beloved troll from the Norway pavilion at EPCOT!

It felt like a reunion with a long-lost relative. We hugged, we Dutch-kissed (touched our noses together), we laughed. I never thought I would see Mr. Troll in actual Norway — what a pleasant surprise!

But the Disney magic only continued when we went back down the mountain and into town. That’s when I saw a window display featuring traditional Norwegian clothing. This excited me because it was very similar to the costumes that the Norwegian Cultural Reps wear at Walt Disney World.

And would you believe that the Disney-ness of it all just continued? That’s right, near the beginning of the funicular attraction in Bergen was the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bryggen – what the facade of the Norway pavilion is based upon!

More about Bryggen:

“Bryggen, the old wharf of Bergen, is a reminder of the town’s importance as part of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire from the 14th to the mid-16th century. Many fires, the last in 1955, have ravaged the characteristic wooden houses of Bryggen. Its rebuilding has traditionally followed old patterns and methods, thus leaving its main structure preserved, which is a relic of an ancient wooden urban structure once common in Northern Europe. Today, some 62 buildings remain of this former townscape.” — UNESCO World Heritage Centre

I have to admit, as cool as it was to see something so historic, I was just as excited (if not more) to see THE REAL VERSIONS of what I never imagined I would see in real life. An oft repeated mantra from Disney is “Dreams Come True” and it was hitting me in Norway that my own personal travel dreams were coming true! (Cue “When You Wish Upon a Star…”) Anyway, I felt so grateful to be there. And I also felt hungry, too.

So, after some delicious pastries (but of course!), we continued our exploration of Bergen. What I loved was how colorful Bergen was, even on an overcast day. All of the colors were vibrant and rich — from the colorful buildings to the lush foliage.

In the late afternoon, we headed back to our couchsurfing hosts’ house. There, we were treated to a Norwegian specialty: brown cheese or “Gudbrandsdalsost.”

It tasted… interesting. But what fascinated me more than what it tasted like was how to cut that brick of brown cheese! It was so difficult, even with their cheese knife, but I do have to say that I felt like I burned and earned every calorie that cheese cost me.

After our cheese tasting, it was time to gather our things and head to the airport.

Overall, I really enjoyed Bergen and found it to be colorful, quaint, and charming. What made it even more special was getting to spend time with our couchsurfing hosts who were Norwegian students. They were so kind in letting us stay with them, treating us to food, and showing us around Bergen with what little free time they had. Seeing a city is one thing, but getting to connect with its people makes it all the more special.

Yes, Bergen was magical — even more than its EPCOT equivalent — and we were a little sad to say good-bye. But not for long, for Denmark was waiting!

Have you ever been to Bergen — the Disney version or the real one?

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