The braces that support the parts of the second story structures overhanging the alleys use the natural curves in wood.

   
Restaurants and other businesses reside in the fronts, alleys, and in the open areas (called gardens) behind these buildings.

Store windows celebrate the history.

Many of these buildings are held together with iron braces--X marks the spot.

Be careful, Dean! That mean-looking fish is set to attack. We exit from the Bryggen via one of its long alleys.

As we continue along the waterfront, we note the fancy brickwork in many of the buildings.

This efficient traveler carries quite a bit on his dolly.

We heard that there was a fish market a few blocks from The Bryggen and thought it was in this interesting building, but no, the market was an open-air affair at the end of the dock area.

 
Near the fish market, a fisherman statue adorns a building. Note the whale meat on the price list.

Across the harbor from the market, we enjoy the view of the Bryggen buildings. 

A local hardware store window sets a nautical theme.

The city is bound by the mountains.

Surprisingly, under this zigzag street is an underground parking garage.

Icelandic poppies sprout like weeds in the sidewalk cracks.

The rain begins in earnest as we walk away from the waterfront around the pricier real estate neighborhoods.

It seems out of place that someone is camping in this neighborhood park behind a church.

When we get to the other side, we find that the church is now a private residence. We've been descending back toward the waterfront and near the ferry terminal, we witness this greeting and love all the blonder than blond kids.

 
We find another market featuring a stuffed polar bear next to a cooking station set up in a boat and a whole shark on display with the the fish.

The sun is out in the afternoon and we stop by the GreenPeace boat, the Arctic Sunrise, at the dock. They are in the area to protest the harvesting of whales that still takes place here. Then we set out to take the tram or funicular up to the top of Mount Floyen behind the city. Now that the fog has lifted, we should have good views of Bergen.

Surprisingly, the line moves quickly.

The ride is dramatic to say the least! We bought one-way tickets so we'll walk down from the top.

The four cruise ships dominate the port. The Veendam looks small in its berth behind the Queen Elizabeth. On the other side of the dock there's an Aida ship. In front of that is a Club Med cruise ship with 5 masts for sailing.

A small boy sits on his dad's knee. 

The next tram unloads its passengers, most of whom will look at the view, take their photos with the troll and then take the tram for a return trip.  But we take one of the many hiking trails through a nice forested area.

The picnic/rain shelters up here have beautiful slate roofs.

So now we've been in a Norwegian Wood! Isn't it good, Norwegian Wood?

 
We come to a pretty mountain lake and walk around its perimeter.

We promise not to kiss the frog! Three campers descend to the lake area and head down toward the city from here. They seem pretty informal about the process. One is carrying a sleeping bag over her arm and her other stuff in a plastic shopping bag.

There are plenty of vistas as we walk down toward the City Center.

We are not alone walking down the hill, so we decided to take a more challenging short cut. We met the same people at the bottom of this steep trail, but we were alone for a while.

Views close up and down into the city.

Beautiful swaths of wildflowers sweep across the fields.

Our path crossed over the tram tracks. An old fire station with its hose drying tower.

Most of the chimneys are topped with a piece of flat slate held down by a rock.

Even though these young women have enviable naturally blond hair, they had all added pink highlights.

As we sail away from Bergen, we notice how high up the hill the tram station is. And we recognize some of the houses in those neighborhoods up the sides of the hill.

Tomorrow is Stavanger our second stop in Norway. We're hoping that we enjoy it as much as Bergen and hopefully the other three cruise ships won't end up there as well.