June 3rd.
The train station is a great place for breakfast - lots of good, relatively cheap eats, which we shared with Dave in one of the cafes. As we belted ourselves back into the car, ready for the day’s excursion, Colonel Klink says, “Have you seen my bag?”……. followed by, “Holy …!” and a look of horror on his face as Mike realized that he had just left his bag in the busiest train station in Europe, where we had already been accosted by a young vagrant beggar! Mike resurrected his sprinting skills while Dave and I pondered possible next steps. What was in the bag?…. Oh, only, wallet, cell phone, binoculars, passport,….in short…his life. Next option… long walk off a short pier. But, amazingly, there was a smile on his face as he returned to us, confirming that the clinking sound we heard as he walked was caused by supposited horseshoes…he had found two old guys sitting at our former table. They had placed the bag on a chair and seemed to be calmly waiting for a panting, stricken, babbling owner to appear. Mike said the worst part of the experience was knowing that from now on, every move he made would be prefaced by questioning. “Have you got your ..... and your.... etc?”
The sun was shining, and it was a perfect day for a canal cruise. Yes, thousands of tourists do it, but it really is a beautiful way to see the buildings of Copenhagen from the water. We got seats in the first two rows, and had great views. Palaces, churches, fountains, the Opera House, the library, quaint old buildings crowding the edges of the canals, people picnicking among the old wooden boats, low bridges…. All of it beautiful.
"Keep your heads down". Had to say it early enough get through all three languages and maybe answer a few questions before the bridges came up.
The Opera House
Under the guide's arm, the old brewery (1605) and the ultra-modern new library
It's nickname is The Black Diamond
We watched the reflection of our boat as we sailed by
One of several old Lighthouse ships, this one converted to a restaurant
Definitely a land of water and islands.
Leaving the city behind, we hopped into Dave’s Kia Rondo and headed toward Randers. Even the industrial buildings show Danish design flair as we left the outskirts, and then the countryside opened into well tended fields of barley, golden canola and wheat. They were mostly little farms on gently rolling hills. Between the islands of Sjaelland and Fyn (SHAY-lind & Fyuhn) is the 2nd longest suspension bridge span in the world. It used to be number one until a longer one was built in Japan (ichi ban). The drive was about 3 ½ hours to get to Dave and AnnaLise's place in the Troll Forest, or Troldeskov, near Randers, where they live on the edge of a park in a heritage thatched house built in about 1700. The approach road curves through a forest of twisted trunked trees… straight out of Hans Christian Anderson. So quiet.. Nothing but birds and bees.!
Great home-cooked Danish dinner tonight of roast pork with crackling and sugared potatoes.. Yum. Followed by a bit of house-music with Dave on violin, his friend Henning on guitar, and Eva and AnnaLise singing Danish folk tunes.
Leaving the city behind, we hopped into Dave’s Kia Rondo and headed toward Randers. Even the industrial buildings show Danish design flair as we left the outskirts, and then the countryside opened into well tended fields of barley, golden canola and wheat. They were mostly little farms on gently rolling hills. Between the islands of Sjaelland and Fyn (SHAY-lind & Fyuhn) is the 2nd longest suspension bridge span in the world. It used to be number one until a longer one was built in Japan (ichi ban). The drive was about 3 ½ hours to get to Dave and AnnaLise's place in the Troll Forest, or Troldeskov, near Randers, where they live on the edge of a park in a heritage thatched house built in about 1700. The approach road curves through a forest of twisted trunked trees… straight out of Hans Christian Anderson. So quiet.. Nothing but birds and bees.!
Great home-cooked Danish dinner tonight of roast pork with crackling and sugared potatoes.. Yum. Followed by a bit of house-music with Dave on violin, his friend Henning on guitar, and Eva and AnnaLise singing Danish folk tunes.
Dave calls it Hobbit House in the Troll Forest
Django Reinhardt
Stephane Grappeli
Where did you say Mike carries his horseshoes? Thank goodness he does! Copenhagen really looks like that? Amazing! Picture book stuff.
ReplyDeleteStay lucky, you two! Thanks for the vicarious thrills!
L