Bergen - Norway - page 285

Completely restored in the late 1990s,
the lobby has an understated Art Nou-
veau style, and portraits of great Nor-
wegians lining its walls.
Now, with your back to the ornamental
eastern side of the theater, walk easterly
along the:
6 Ole Bulls Plass
Descend the gradual slope and note
the grand commercial buildings that
rise on either side. Broad and wide
and flanked with flower beds, restau-
rants, bars, and shops, it was originally
laid out, in an era when virtually
everything that flanked it was made of
wood, as a firebreak. Today it's an
architectural showcase of Bergen,
named after Norway's first musical
superstar.

Descend along the Ole Bulls Plass, past a
violin-playing statue of the musical star him-
self. When the street opens onto the broad
esplanade known as Olav Kyrres Gate, note
on the right-hand side the turn-of-the-19th-
century brick facade of the:
7 West Norway Museum of
Applied Art
The statue of a seated male, lost in
thought, set into a niche on the
museum's facade commemorates the
19th-century painter J. C. Dahl. It
was crafted by one of Norway's first
widely celebrated female sculptors,
Ambrosia Tønnesen. The abstract
sculpture set onto the lawn in front of
the museum, composed of a series of
rainbow-colored concentric hoops, is
in honor of Bergen-born early-20th-
century composer Harald Saeverud.

6 Outdoor Activities
FISHING In the region around Bergen, anyone can fish in the sea without
restrictions. If you plan to fish in fresh water (ponds, streams, and most of the
best salmon and trout rivers), you'll need a permit. These are sold at any post
office. You'll also need the permission of the owner of the land on either side of
the stream. The best fjord fishing, where you can angle for such catches as cod,
mackerel, haddock, and coalfish, is offered by Rjfylke Fjord Tour ( & 91-15-
90-48 ). Twice-daily 2-hour fishing trips depart from Bergen Harbor.
Information and fishing permits, which cost 95NOK to 150NOK
($13-$21), are available from Bergen Sportsfiskere (Bergen Angling Associa-
tion), Fosswinckelsgate 37 ( & 55-32-11-64 ). It's open Monday to Friday from
9am to 2pm. Rjfylke Fjord Tour ( & 911-59-048 ), offers 2-hour fishing trips
departing from Bergen twice daily.
GOLF The best golf course is Meland Golf Club, lying 36km (22 miles)
north of Bergen at Meland/Frekhaug ( & 56-17-46-00 ). This is an 18-hole, par-
73 golf course with a pro shop, lockers, and changing facilities. The setting is on
90 hectares (225 acres) in the midst of forests, lakes, and mountains. Greens fees
Monday to Friday are 350NOK ($50), going up to 450NOK ($64) on Satur-
day and Sunday.
SWIMMING The Sentralbadet, Theatersgaten 37 ( & 55-56-95-70 ), has a
heated indoor pool. An open-air pool whose season is limited to the fleeting
Nordic summer is at Nordnes Sjøbad, Nordnes. For hours, check with the
Bergen tourist office (p. 256). At either pool, adults pay 50NOK ($7.10), chil-
dren 25NOK ($3.55).
TENNIS Paradis Sports Senter, Highway R1, Paradis ( & 55-91-26-00 ), lies
6.5km (4 miles) south of Bergen. The club has five indoor courts, four squash
courts, four badminton courts, a health club and gym, and a solarium. It's open
Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 10pm, Monday and Wednesday 9am to 11pm,
Friday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 6pm, and Sunday 11am to 9pm.