The ultimate fish market

Seafood usually comes in frozen form in Germany and it’s rather pricey to get some fresh fish or prawns here. Sometimes I do get the impression that the locals here prefer to eat fish when the fish is processed until it doesn’t look and taste like fish anymore. I kid you not! However I’ve noticed that neighbours from the Mediterranean countries or those from the North have a totally different approach to everything coming from the sea. I was quite overwhelmed with the abundance of seafood and the huge variety they have (compared to those that you can find in Germany, it’s rather miserable just thinking about it).

The fish market of Bergen is a tourist attraction in itself. Whenever I mentioned Bergen to some friends here, the first thing that came to their mind was that I should try the famous fish sandwich from the fish market. Or another recommendation from various travel guide is to get a packet of prawns already cooked with sea water and simply eat them by the harbour. I was of course tempted to do just that but the idea of walking around the whole day later on with my fingers reeking of fish convinced me to think twice about that.

I had a fun time ooh-ing and aah-ing while strolling amongst the fish stalls. They have giant, fleshy prawns and crabs. Plenty and plenty of crabs! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this container full with crabs, alive and crawling about, just like those you can find in Asian wet markets! If you have some extra moolah to spend, the king crab is here to satisfy your palate. With 20Euro a plate, it’s still affordable, no? Another highlight of the fish stalls is these nicely arranged fish platters. Some of these are so prettily assembled that you’ll rather look at it than eat them. That’s, if you don’t mind eating them cold. Fancy having some caviar? They even have them in paste! Somehow they tasted a little off (to me) and the smell is a tad too fishy for my liking. Glad I didn’t buy any of those. But aside from canned caviar, they do have canned sardines, canned mackerels, canned crab meat and all sorts of canned food from everything fish! Aside from fish, you can find some rather exotic stuffs like these extra smooth seal skin. Or these super soft wolf fur! If you are planning to look for some souvenirs in any form, from bizarre-looking-nightmare-inducing viking dolls to ‘authentic’ Norway pullover to commemorate your trip to Bergen or Norway, the fish market is an interesting place to hunt and get an idea of what to buy. If you don’t have enough cash with you at the moment to indulge in that king crab platter or to buy those furry wolf skin, don’t worry, I saw those fish stall owners pulling out a portable credit card machine, all too ready to swipe your credit or debit cards . See, that’s what I call a modern fish market . Oh ya, I wouldn’t leave Norway without having my share of the crabs . Yummm, it’s mouthwatering just thinking about that wok of fried crabs with prawns and tomatoes (cooked at a friend’s place).