CMS COP 10 Day 1 Part 1
Onwards and upwards.
Bergen has an old town at its centre called Brynngen which was the medieval trading centre of this part of the world. It is characterised by a series of ancient wooden buildings that have somehow survived (at least in some parts) the years, the fires and a mighty explosion when a visiting munitions vessel blew up in 1944. Once they were warehouses full of goods, especially fish from northern Norway. They now list in a rather tipsy manner and host a variety of shops and cafes. Here you can find Christmas decorations, Norwegian knitwear, jewellery, furs and whale meat on your plate.
There is a funicular railway that climbs from Brynngen into the countryside. The track is at a sharp angle (about forty five degrees) and the trains are full this Sunday morning of delegates getting their last gasp of sharp fresh Norwegian air before the opening ceremony of COP 10 this afternoon. In fact, the train’s coaches and the top of the mountain have become something of an extension of the meeting as delegates meet and greet each other as they do their sightseeing. Even the hard-pressed translators have escaped for a few hours to admire the view, and what a view it is!
The fiords and mountains and the sprawl of Bergen are sharply in view today. Only the clouds and heavy rain are missing, their memory held in the wet vegetation and torrents of water pouring down the slopes.
All of which is mainly an excuse to show you some more pictures of the town and the view whilst we await the opening event.
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