Bergen & Øystese
August 8th 2017
This trip started as a family trip to attend a wedding for our AFS exchange student Miriam. Miriam lived with us for a school year in 2010/2011. During the winter break of 2010, her sister and boyfriend (Arild) came to visit her. She ended up planning to marry Arild, so we were excited to come to Norway for a wedding. They had just had a baby together, a beautiful baby girl named Ingrid. They had an opportunity to buy some land and build a house, so they post-phoned the wedding to use the money for the house. This is typical in Scandinavia as most people do not get married. We had already planned on coming, so we did not change our plans. So three or our kids, (Wendell, Pearl and Grace), Sandy and myself made the journey to Norway.
We had a redeye flight from Chicago to Bergen and arrived late morning on August 8th. We rented our car and drove to downtown Bergen for a quick lunch before we started our journey to Øystese where Miriam lives.
We stopped at Bryggen Tracteursted, a renowned restaurant offering traditional Norwegian and Hanseatic-inspired cuisine in a historic, 18th-century wooden building within the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bryggen. It is known for its cozy, rustic ambiance and a menu that features local specialties. We tried the Norwegian Tapas: A popular dining option is their "tasty bites" or Norwegian tapas, featuring small, shareable plates like reindeer tartare, monkfish cheeks, and various stockfish dishes. They also had a great wine list!
The drive from Bergen to Øystese was a scenic journey of approximately 50 miles, taking around 1 hour and 20 minutes. WE had to drive through some tunnels that actually had intersections under the mountain.
Øystese is a village located along the Hardangerfjord. It is known for its stunning natural scenery featuring mountains and orchards. Many of the homes on the steep sides of the Fjord. Miriam’s parents house was not different. It was near the top of the Fjord. Miriam, Arild and Ingrid are living with her parents (Ronny and Anne) while they build their new home. Her parents graciously let us stay in their home for our visit. They stayed in their country cottage during our stay. They gave us a warm welcome and we spent the evening on the deck overlooking the fjord. It was a wonderful evening.
Miriam’s Parent’s home in Øystese
