Culture Night 1: Last night photos

Last night, around the city, was Cultural Night. I got in the city about 7pm, and as the city is fairly compact, it´s pretty easy to walk around the main central area, also called sentrum. From the bus station, where I arrived by bus, I walked towards the train station, along the library. The library is an old stone, carved stone and modern glass building, as you can see above. It´s a bit bigger than that, I took the photo of the glass bit, which some of the bookshelves show through. It is not usual library etiquette here to necessarily be quiet, but most people are. On the other hand, it took some getting used to, for me, that it is also ok to talk, or for kids to enjoy the library even if that means they´re giggling or talking/reading outloud their books or storytelling amongst each other:). I like that now, it´s very cute! There are also rooms, which are private, where you can go for strictly quiet. Computer room is downstairs near the toilets, which you need a coin (5 or 10? I forget), and upstairs are more books. It´s a very nice library. They often show cultural movies or similar there, or have exhibits of local art, or artifacts etc. So, that´s the main Bergen library...

Walking past that, towards the bybanen, which is in front of /across from that white building in the foreground, is the main train station, which you can just barely see in the background--that brick building. The building itself is much longer, that area houses a few coffee shops, a place to buy things such as pancakes, waffles, raisin buns, snacks, salads, soda, newspapers, etc. Am walking towards that....below...( If you get to that point and walk to the other side of the train station or through it at about that point, you will get to one of the hotels I suggested! or if you continue to walk slightly towards the mountains you see in the far background then to the left up that road, you will find many beautiful areas such as Kalfaret, one of the older areas of town, or many lovely mountain hikes and walks, up in the mountain where some homes are also randomly built. But, this walk will be going just a few minutes straight ahead, then to the left a few more minutes, til we get to the Leprosy Museum and St George´s Church).

Past and slightly across the train station is part of the UIB university Kunst/Art buildings, as you can tell from the back alleyways random array of supplies,). Traditional bricks, molded things, a painted tree, a standstool for molding and sculpting pottery. This first shot is my trying to get it without the fence...

This second shot is my trying to get it with the fence, as I liked both views. If you walk towards that red roofed building, you will be along the main lake, which is surrounded on the opposite side with many museums, which are beside Greig Hall and Nygårds school. And a few minutes walk from the university, Nygårds park partially. Or you can get on the bybanen, and take that to Florida or Nygårds stop, away from that building in the direction I just came. If you go in the direction I´m walking towards now, you will get off at the end stop bybanen near the pavillion, Kong Oscars Gate, a half block away from Torgalmenningen Square, and a few minutes walk to the fish market, the end of Marken area, or the Bryggen area where the Hanseatic Museum, Pier areas with boats are, or walks, hikes up the mountain, or Floibanen up Mount Fløyen are all located. A bit further walk along the pier area, along the sea, leads to the Fortress, Botelabo where the cruise ships dock, or up along the mountain to any number of walks, Mulen, Sandviken, and such, including Dr Wisners old bath house renovated into a wine bar cafe.

Red rhodendron flowers still in bloom, as are many other flowers still this late in the year, as they are a bit more cold hearty. The weather currently is mostly mild, to warm with some hot days, sun often, but also now more rainy, some beginnings of haily rain chilly days, and we´ve gotten our first snows up in the local mountains. Ski season will be here soon. Snow maybe too. I feel we´ve had a bit of an Indian summer, so am pretty fine with our summer this year:)

This is a wide shot, showing the specific pattern of cobbles and cut stones along the road here, with the train station in the background. The third section is across from the hotel Grand Terminus I suggested.

Walking straight ahead, with the above shot to my far right and behind me, as I round the corner and walk just about 3 minutes to the left and along a low wall with a roof, of this building, I come to the first main stop, the old Leprosy Hospital, and its church St George´s Church. Fine architecture, charming structure, interesting history which is also sad, horrible.