Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

On Friday morning, the Tralle family hopped on a train headed to Bergen. Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of 260,800. Bergen's city center is situated among a group of mountains known collectively as de syv fjell (the seven mountains). Bergen was for several hundred years the center of prosperous trade between Norway and the rest of Europe.

It was a long train ride (6 1/2 hours), and Jake was a great pillow

Jake posing with a statue of Varg Veum. Varg Veum is a series of crime novels written by Gunnar Staalesen, about the private detective Varg Veum, who lives in Bergen.

Bryggen is a series of Hanseatic commercial buildings lining the eastern side of the fjord coming into Bergen. Bryggen has been listed on the UNESCO list for World Cultural Heritage sites since 1979.

We took a ride to the top of Fløyen mountain on the Fløibanen Funicular.

Riding on the funicular. A funicular is is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other.

View of Bergen from Fløyen mountain.

Fløyen mountain is 1,050 feet above sea level.

Fløyen mountain is the most visited of the seven mountains that surround Bergen.

A giant pulley at the top of the mountain.

There were trolls all over the top of the mountain.

Jake's Norwegian girlfriend.

New FB profile pic?

Trying on fur hats at the fish market.

Very fresh fish at the fish market.

I tried smoked whale at the fish market. The taste and texture combined with the smell of the fresh fish was too much for me too handle.

We stopped in for a beer and the bartender gave us samples of aquavit. Aquavit is a traditional flavored spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where has been produced since the 15th century.

Aquavit, like vodka, is distilled from either grain or potatoes. After distillation, it is flavored with herbs, spices, or fruit oil. Commonly seen flavors are caraway, cardamom, cumin, anise, fennel, and lemon or orange peel.

In Norway it is particularly drunk at celebrations, such as Christmas or May 17 (Norwegian Constitution Day). I didn't particularly care for it. It reminded me of moonshine. Yuck!

That's all for tonight, folks!