Hogskole i Bergen

     Today was a day of rest for Mother and me in the morning.  We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and then went to the lounge for tea.  Mother is still working on the cross-stitch quilt-top.  I ran a few errands late this morning including a stop at a small silver shop near the hotel.  A couple of Americans were behind me and looking at small flags on standards.  One asked, "Do you have the American flag?"  The clerk kindly said, "We have Norwegian flags."  The American asked again about American flags!  

     This afternoon I went to the Hogskole i Bergen (Bergen Teacher's College, Bergen University) to meet with several colleagues with whom I collaborate when I come to Bergen after the student teaching experience in Rosendal.  I have taught 1-3 classes each November since Fall 2011 and one this past spring.  The classes I teach in the fall include music in the elementary school to music majors and pre-school music to Kindergarten teachers.  (Kindergarten in Norway is from age one through age five.)  This spring there was a special class for international teachers from Denmark, Estonia, Germany, and Spain.  All of the classes are taught in English and essentially present how to teach English through music.

     Since we were traveling back from Nesttun last night by the Bybanen, Helge warmed us to be sure we kept tract of our tickets, which cost 35 NOK, close to $5.00.  (As a retired person, Mother paid 18 NOK.)  If you are caught on the Bybanen without a ticket, the fine is 750 NOK, close to $100!  Today I was traveling to the Kronstad stop to the Hogskole to meet with my colleagues.  The train was boarded by three security officers at the Byparken (beginning of the route) and once the train started, they came through and checked everyone's ticket.  After the meeting at the Hogskole, I found out that one of my colleagues was checked today for her ticket and she couldn't find it - she was given the fine.  She had come by bus to one of the Bybanen stops; she had her pass (a one-month pass with her name on it good for the bus and Bybanen) on the bus so knew she had it at that point and then must have dropped it.  Sure enough, someone called and said they'd found her pass so she can prove that she had the ticket.  We'll see if her fine is cancelled!

     When I arrived back in the city center, I stopped to get fish soup from a place that offers take-out.  It is just off Torgallmenningen, the broad 'commons' area in the city center.  It was nice to just have our simple supper in the hotel room.  The good new - take-out is cheaper than eating in the small seating area in the restaurant!

Glad we aren't seeing Norway this way!

inside the Bybanen (light train service)

security officer checking tickets

security officer just left the train

Kronstad stop by Hogskole i Bergen; the train goes to Flesland (the airport)

Hogskole i Bergen - new campus as of one year ago

my colleagues at Hogskole i Bergen:  Aslaug, Trine, and Anne Kristine

beautiful weavings and other art are found through the campus

Johannes kirke at the end of Torgallmenningen

another view of the harbor with Bryggen buildings in front and the twin towers of Mariankirken in the back left

Mariakirken and Grandpa Alfred's Relatives

     I was in Bergen for Christmas Eve and Christmas 2009 before Kari Malmanger's wedding to Hans Svedahl in Songdal and went to the Mariankirken (St. Mary's Church).  It was at that time I learned that on January 1, 2010, the church would be closed for significant renovation - really stabilization - for five years.  The construction of the church is believed to have begun in the 1130s or 1140s, which makes it the oldest remaining building in Bergen.

     Mariankirken finally reopened last week.  Today was the first regular church service there in 5.5 years and it was quite well attended.  (No photos were allowed during the service, so the one photo with the length of the church looking toward the new organ doesn't show how filled the church was.)  The first hymn was "The Church's One Foundation" - this hymn was printed in English as well as Norwegian in the Psalmebok (hymn book).  Another well-known hymn with a melody by Vaughan-Williams was a hymn I knew with the words "All Creatures of Our God and King."  One of the good parts of the renovation is that a new organ was installed in the church.  My friend Jostein was telling us about the number of organ concerts last week (before we arrived) and how happy everyone is about the new organ.

     After the church service, which ended with a wonderful postlude, we walked down to the embroidery shop at Bryggen so Mother could purchase a few more needles for her cross-stitch project.  (Mother says she needs a bit of walking each day!)  Then we took a cab to Nesttun (suburb south of Bergen) to meet Helge Jonassen who drove us to her parents, Gunnhild and Harald, our hosts for lunch.  When I was in Norway for seven weeks in 2001 looking for the right place to establish a student teaching program, I stayed with Gunnhild and Harald for one week in their lovely home in Fana on Fanafjorden.  Gunnhild had the bygdabok (history book of families in Norway) out for me to see how we were related.  She has an uncle (great-great?) who was a brother to Madela, Grandpa Alfred's Grandmother.  Other guests at the dinner included Gunnhild's two sisters, Berit and Ingebjorg, Berit's husband Tore, and Gunnhild and Harald's daughter, Helge, who was our driver from the Nesttun station to her parent's home and back.

     We enjoyed hearing about the Hurtigruten trip the three sisters had taken with their spouses and a few more for a group of 10 family members about 10 years ago.  Tore recalled a saying from his daughter-in-law about people who go on the Hurtigruten trip:  they are "newly wed or nearly dead!"  We talked about Malinda Munsen's wedding to Andrew Boyko; Gunnhild and Harald visited Story City at that time and were able to attend the wedding.  Helga has a daughter from China she adopted about 5.5 years ago; Shi-ying was with a friend today and will be in 6th Grade next year.  They also shared that the entire Jonassen family (19 of them) was in Tunisia on vacation, fortunately for them,  last fall.  Then we were treated to a wonderful meal of those famous Norwegian open-face sandwiches with salmon, shrimp, roast beef, or ham decorated with garnishes so they looked like pieces of art.  The meal ended with an ice-cream cake and coffee and more sharing.

     Helge took us to the Bybanen (light train) so we could ride back into the city, which took about 25 minutes.  Since it was raining, we found a cab back to our hotel.  We stopped in the lounge for an orange and some tea and met a couple from Florida who are going on the Hurtigruten trip tomorrow.  We will be on the ship in just two days!

Mariankirken - the oldest remaining building in Bergen from the 1130s-1140s

another view of Mariankirken by a bed of rhododendron

another view of Mariankirken by a tree I have seen throughout Bergen but don't know the name!

elaborately carved pulpit

altar in Mariankirken showing the apostles and disciples

looking toward the new organ in Mariankirken

most old churches have a ship hanging somewhere; this one is in the back to one of the sides

the flag at Gunnhild and Harold's condo was out for us :)

this clock was carved (acanthus carving) by Gunnhild's father

Gunnhild always set a beautiful table and folded the napkins in such interesting ways;
this was perfect for Mother's birthday with stars!

we had three plates of these artistic Norwegian open-face sandwiches!

a delicious ice cream cake for dessert

we had nuts and a wafer along with the cake and coffee

Mother with Harald and Gunnhild Jonassen;
Gunnhild is related through Grandpa Alfred

Gunnhild Jonassen, Kay Munsen, Ingebjorg Tautra, Berit Haaland

Sylvia, Tore Haaland, Mother, Berit Haaland, Harald Jonassen, Helge Jonassen

Elton is coming - but we'll be on the ship!

Here is a Sting poster from the concert last Friday night

Ole Bull statue - it was raining and a bit dark since it was under a tree

Edvard Grieg statue

Middag with the Lekvens

      After a restful night at the Augustin Hotel, we enjoyed a great Norwegian breakfast of artisan wheat bread, cheese, salami and ham, tomatoes, cucumbers, red pepper, fresh fruit (small slices of pineapple, watermelon, and oranges), OJ, and, of course, tea.  Mother returned to the room to work on a cross-stitch quilt top.  Note three sweaters in the photo!  Not that the room is cold - Mother just needs more layers to stay warm.  I remember seeing photos of Grandma Anna wearing her Norwegian sweater in the summer; it must be a 'Marvick thing.'  I was off to run a few errands.

     When I returned to the hotel room, Mother and I went down for some tea in the lounge.  Then we went to another antique store just one block from the hotel en route to Pascal, a restaurant in Scandic Neptun, to meet our relatives, Alvhild & Odd Lekven, from Os, which is south about 40 minutes south of Bergen.  Alvhild and Mother are 3rd cousins on Grandpa Alfred's side of the family.  in 1962 Grandpa and Grandma visited Daniel Grindivol (Grandpa's 2nd cousin); I visited Daniel and his sister Hjordis in Os in 1971.  Alvhild & Odd visited relatives in Iowa in 2008 (including our family in Story City).  They attended two of the concerts of the children's choir in 2010 (at the Bergen domkirke or cathedral and at the Ole Bull Villa on the island of Lysoen).  Mother spent a couple of days with the Lekvens on the children's choir tour.  Now we had another nice meeting for middag.  It's great to have ongoing relationships.  

     Interestingly enough, I had been communicating with their son Nils Ole about the day and time to meet.  Last night, I found out that lunch was not offered at the Augustin so we changed to Pascal.  My only 'immediate' communication was via email to their son Nils Ole, who responded quickly with the change.  Today, I found out that he and his family are in the U.S.!  (He had to call his parents from there to notify them of the change!)  We had a fabulous meal of fresh sei (pollack) in a beautiful presentation.  For dessert, Alvhild, Odd, and I had the small chocolate cake with a molten chocolate center with strawberry sorbet and mangos.  Mother had the creme brûlée.  I have included the menus in both Norwegian and English, which includes a legend of allergies in all items on the menu.  I've never seen such a complete list before. 

     Shortly before we left the hotel, a bus arrived with a bride and about 15 friends, all wearing blue jeans and white tops.  They were ready to party tonight - the last night out before the wedding.

     One of the errands I ran in the morning was to get some rye crisp at the grocery store and fresh strawberries at the farmer's market along with the fish market.  We are able to an orange and tea at the hotel, so that was our supper. 

     One final note regarding 'things to do in Bergen' last night...  Sting was in town for a concert at Haakonshallen.  He perfumed in Stavanger tonight.  Jostein's home in Sandviken is fairly close to Haakonshallen and he said that if he opens his windows, he can hear concerts from there so why buy a ticket?  Tickets were 699 NOK, which is about $90 - a good price for such a concert!    

wearing three sweaters in summer is a 'Marvik thing'   

in the early years of the student teaching program,
I was one of Oleana's best customers.  

The Oleana store is at the 'top' of the harbor and
they always have such artistic displays.

Anttikk store near our hotel

Pascal menu for middag

Pascal menu for middag 

our dinner of fresh sei (pollack) with spinach, onions, and capers 

Dessers at Pascal; note the list of allergies at the bottom!

Pascal dessert menu

chocolatefondant

creme brûlée

Mother with cousins Alvhild & Odd Lekven at Pascal in Bergen

the bride arriving at the hotel with her girlfriends

The entourage arriving at the hotel 

Arrival in Bergen

     We traveled from Rosendal to Bergen by 'fast boat' (Hardangerfjordekspressen), which takes about 1' 40".  As you can see by the photos, it was a beautiful trip.  Of special note - Toralf and others have volunteered hundreds of hours restoring the sailing vessel Gurine built in 18974-75.  The shipbuilder was the same who built Roald Amundsen's vessel, Gjoa.  It is a beautiful ship and quite special - similar to the Statsraad Lehmkuhl tall sailing ship in Bergen from 1914.  When finished, it will be a prized addition to the Rosendal harbor.      

     Our room at the Augustn Hotel wasn't ready yet (tourist season!) so we stored our luggage and went to Bryggen and the antique store I always frequent here.  I have enjoyed getting to know Kari and Eivind, the owners, over the years and we always have good conversations.  Then we went to have some Bergen fish soup at Bryggeloftet and took a cab home.  Mother thinks that walking is good for her.  I walked by her side and helped her with a few steps into a few shops.  We checked into the hotel around 2:30 and took a nap!  

     We met Jostein Aarvik, a friend of mine, for tea in the lounge of the Augustin around 4:30 and had a good time catching up on all the news.  Jostein was the organist of the Fana Church when the children's choir performed a concert there on tour in 2010.  It is a beautiful old stone cathedral and looks quite like the Kvinnherad Church.  Jostein lives in Sandviken (an older section of Bergen) and is now an organist at a church close to his home.  Jostein's wife, Ines Maidre, is a concert organist, and now is in Estonia (her home country) to give concerts and to see her mother.  Next week Jostein and their youngest son (a violinist) will join Ines and the two older children (another violinist and a violist) in Estonia for concert performances.  Ines was planning a concert tour to America in Fall 2011 so I arranged for her to give a concert at Bethesda in September 2011.  I had just moved to Utah and offered to arrange a concert there.  The next thing I knew, Ines was part of an artist series at the Madeleine Catherdral in Salt Lake City where she performed an excellent concert.  I have visited them in Bergen several times when I am in the city to teach at the Hogskole i Bergen (Bergen Teacher's College).  

     It only took a couple of minutes for me to appreciate being in Bergen in November and March.  There are so many tourists during the summer!  I like the city to myself!

  

View of Rosendal from the 'fast boat' - farewell to a beautiful area 

Gurine ship from 1885; Toralf and others in Rosendal have volunteered hundreds of hours to restore the ship

Photos from the Hardangerekspressen

salmon farms

the 'fast boat' direct from Rosendal to the Bergen harbor

Bryggen with the twin towers of the Mariankirken in the back

Statsraad Lehmkuhl - tall sailing ship from 1914 in the Bergen harbor

Eivind and Kari - my antique dealers in Bergen

a friendly troll to greet the tourists

Embroidery shop in Bryggen - you can see the
bunad klokkestreng like Mother made for me

Sylvia, Jostein Aarvik, Mother