Ice Bergen

So went back to the hostel took a nap then awoke around 11 to go peruse the city. Bergen, not surprisingly considering its name, is surrounded by 7 mountains and a whole lot of lakes. It is in a fjord so technically its on the ocean but its a ways from open water. Explored the famous fish market where youre probably more likely to hear spanish or basque than you are to hear norwegian. The old city, the hanseatic part at least, was built by german merchants that at the time made up a sizeable population within Bergen. Really cool, alot like the buildings in gdansk which isnt surprisng considering they were both hanseatic. Took a look in the castle which got blow up pretty bad in world war 2 due to an accident. A fishing boat from nazi occupied netherlands was delivering explosives to the german troops in bergen and it blew up, on hitlers birthday...which is why they were so suspicious. But it turned out to be an accident (Otherwise the norwegians would claim responsibility today, but they dont). Within the castle was a museum about the occupation and that was really cool, although I felt like they were hastling the allies in part of it...The germans were using Bergen as a U Boat repair base and of course the brits were bombing it, in the museum it was like they were mad about the fact that norwegian mechanics working at the sub pens were being killed. Im sorry but if ur going to further the war effort youre kind of fair game. If youre really anti german youd be skiing around the mountains ambushing them with weapons the brits were dropping for them, not fixing uboats. Ok no more rant. The hostel people were american students and I befriended them so I ate dinner with them a few times and hung out and watched movies with them in their apartment which was a nice break from the normal hostel routine. The following day I climbed the highest mountain in Bergen named Ulriken, which I think is a pretty cool name. It was a beautiful day and at the top I could see from the glaciers in the inland all the way to the ocean past the archipelago of the fjord. Very awesome. Decided I kind of want to take up hiking more seriously (and camping) back home. Stayed another day and kind of relaxed before heading toward copenhagen via oslo and malmo sweden. Over all I had a really great time in Bergen. Next stop Copenhagen.