John’s distant cousin Bjarne met us at the door of the Institute in Bergen, handed the girls booklets about the aquarium, and we were off behind the scenes where the public cannot go. John, meanwhile, walked back to town to go to two shipping offices.
The girls thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the exhibits. They’ve not been to an aquarium before, and their enthusiasm showed. We saw all the fish from above the tanks, but the public looked at them at eye level and couldn’t see us. Bjorner brought us right by the seals and penguins outside just at feeding time. He answered my question about whether it matters to a penguin which way the fish goes into his mouth, and it seems the fish must always be swallowed head first! If the tail is nearer, they turn the fish around before gobbling it.
In the lobby was a very low tank with a rim that invited sitting. Bjarne explained that it was made big and low so that children could touch the fish! He picked up a cactus-type creature for us to touch.
Bjarne went back to work, and we girls went shopping. We bought trolls and a cheese knife. We looked at countless things and found them terribly expensive.
Edward Grieg’s house was simple, but pretty. Outside it was painted white with green trim.
John posed for a quick photo with Grieg’s piano as we took the tour.
We also saw the studio nearer the water where Grieg did most of his composing. He and his wife are buried in a tomb hewn out of rock about 15 feet above ground.
We met the three Ellertsens to eat at a restaurant in the oldest section of town.
Kate chose biscuits and cheese; Lise ordered beef, John and I, whale. The whale was terrific – tender and tasty as beef with a very slight taste of seafood.
This is the photo that belongs here. We were with Hildur and Bernt, to have dinner in the old section of the city.
Mehrling Muse 
I love aquariums! How awesome!
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We loved that aquarium. How I wish I’d taken a few shots, even if they turned out too dark! I don’t think I had a flash.
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You’ve lived such a fascinating life Anne, but I like that you’re still so down to Earth.
Huge Hugs to the lady who ate a whale.
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Lots of wonderful things have come my way.
Whale Hugs!
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Love seeing your old pics. If you want to see the continuity of life, visit an aquarium.
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We haven’t been to an aquarium in a long time. The last one we went to was in Baltimore MD.
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Another great chapter!! Kids love aquariums.
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Lovely. I wish I could go see fish and eat whale!!!! You have a very exciting life. I saw a grasshopper yesterday. That’s as exciting as it gets for me.
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I think grasshoppers are exciting, especially if they get in the house.
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Never thought of eating whale. I’m not usually fond of seafood, but that sounds really good. I’ll have to try it sometime.
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Whale isn’t legal in the US, but you might go to Norway or some other country where it is. I highly recommend it.
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Cool that you got the VIP treatment in the aquarium – not sure I would have tried the whale.
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We were glad we ate whale meat. I would love to have it again, but I’m not going to fly to Norway for it.
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This brings back memories, though I was only in Bergen over a weekend. I remember the old shopping district and the fish market, especially.
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I’m glad you were in Bergen and remembered some of the same things I did. It’s a marvelous city.
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The aquarium sounds very interesting – how lucky you had a personal VIP tour. I don’t remember visiting it when I was there but do remember Grieg’s house and the Munch house too. Yes, the souvenir trolls – I forgot about them and I did not bring any home. I did not try whale … I could not eat reindeer patties that were the only selection on the menu at an open air museum and restaurant in Stockholm. It was a set menu for our tour group but I did enjoy the lingonberries over ice cream. I was not the only woman on the tour that skipped the reindeer patties – we could not get past thinking of Rudolph.
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That is amusing. We never had a chance to try reindeer meat.
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We never had a chance to try whale! They were reindeer patties which looked like chicken or salmon croquettes. All the women gave them to their husbands, who didn’t feel the same way about Rudolph.
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