17 May: Bergen

Today, as it turns out, is Norway’s Constitution Day. And the city of Bergen really knew how to celebrate it – despite the weather. At 10:30 there was several – perhaps as many as 21, we didn’t really keep count – cannon shots, and from then until about 1 pm it seemed half the town participated in a parade through the streets. Even most of the bystanders were dressed up in national costume.

We watched most of the parade – umpteen brass band groups, scouts, the police, fire brigade, and ambulance, what seemed like every primary school in town...

... the medieval society, classic car society, cycling club, ice hockey club, cheerleading club, tae kwon do club, rugby club, so many student societies we lost count, tap dancing, windsurfing, jet ski, gymnastics, tennis, theatre clubs...

... fencing, Zumba dance, the Salvation Army, stunt motorbikes, mountaineering, the SPCA equivalent, ballet and ballroom dancing, the Viking society, Bergen Scottish society, and somehow in the mix there was an Irish accordian band. And that’s just the few we could remember!

Afterwards we rode the furnicular up to the top of Mount Fløyen, where we had a fantastic view over Bergen and the fjords it’s nestled among.