Then believe it or not, Best Beloved and I had 12 marvellous days in Denmark, we went everywhere, we were taken everywhere, and had such a fantastic time.
My Danish family were amazing and gave us a holiday to remember. Some of you will have heard the story that Best Beloved said 44 years ago that we would come to Denmark together, and he has been true to his word – that is 44 years later we finally went together to Denmark and he loved it. Mind you we were spoilt rotten.
We had an overnight train journey to Copenhagen, 1 1/2 days in Copenhagen, 3 days in the north of Jutland, and days in and around Vejle. What a joy it was – speaking and eating and laughing and enjoying the family I do not know nearly well enough. Speaking really means trying to speak in Danish – I did okay, and they were so supportive, all of them. Best Beloved meandered along happily, smoking his pipe and enjoying what he had realistically never expected to see and enjoy.
Much to add – much to say, and much to celebrate.
Danish open sandwiches, Gamle Dansk, the sea, the coast, the land, the birds, the petanque – they all seriously play petanque, and we did as well, Tivoli Gardens, Legoland (2 old kids we are), Den Gamle By, the Eagles, the shifting sand dunes, the buried church, the history, the stories, the family stories …… so much to add. We spent 3 nights in Frederikshavn in a hotel overlooking the harbour which was great, great view, great activity. From there we explored the north of Denmark, the stories will come later. We also spent a day in Ribe, a wonderful wonderful old town, and a very wet day in the Gamle By (the old town).
At the Gamle By I discovered, or rediscovered, the Danish shawl – and I have made 3 so far – just to see how they work. I have played with the shape and increases to see how I can modernise it as the original is wrapped around the body and tied at the front of the waist. It is not a simple triangle – but more of that later – oh and it has a really great edge.
As I said before we have also been to Tivoli, Legoland, driven through Brande (where my mother was born), and Stilling – where I was born and many other places. My father was born in Vejle.
We also drove through a sea of frogs. The saying – raining cats and dogs – well in Denmark it seems to rain frogs. We drove with along a gravel country road on a very very wet night (yes a gravel road in Denmark) avoiding where possible the frogs, there seemed to be millions. You know that story that if the frogs die in the world – then the world is in trouble. Well in Denmark there is not a shortage of frogs.
and I will tell more of these stories.
And we laughed and laughed
Tags: Almind, celebrations, Copenhagen, Danish, Danish food, Danish Shawl, Den Gamle By, Denmark, family, Frederikshavn, knitting, language, Legoland, Petanque, Ribe, Skagen, Tivoli Gardens, train travel, Vejle
