Yep, tomorrow I head back to Copenhagen, where all this Scandinavian stuff started. I'll be there until Sunday, when I head for sunny Spain. Although I think I heard on the little bit of news I've heard that Spain has had some pretty wet weather recently. But I'm sure it will clear up for me. Sure it will.
Last I wrote, I had just arrived in Odense, I believe. It's the home town of Hans Christian Andersen, so how could I not go to the HC Andersen museum? So I did. And thoroughly enjoyed it. They have a really detailed story of his life, and I found it really interesting. Now I'll have to rent the old Danny Kaye (wasn't it him?) movie on his life to see how it compared.
The museum is in the part of town where he lived as a child. In fact, the house he lived in is part of the museum. The museum connects with the house. He wasn't really proud of his very poor upbringing, and never would admit that that was the house, but it seems public records confirmed it. He may have been born there, but they aren't sure about that. If you get here, it's the one attraction you shouldn't miss.
Other than that, I haven't done too much here in Odense. Visited the local churches, and took the usual altar, pulpit, and organ loft photos. I was chased out of one, as they were about to start a service. Another church wasn't open for tourists on Sundays. I found this true in at least one other Danish city, Aalborg or Aarhus, not sure which. Seems strange to lock the church to visitors on Sunday, particularly when it's open the rest of the week. But then, Sunday is a special day.
Speaking of churches, I went to mass for the first time on this trip last Sunday. Sermons in Danish can really get boring. Fortunately, the priest didn't go on quite as long as our local Father Joel does. I noticed that there were a large number of orientals at mass, a much larger percentage than I see in the general population.
One attraction here some might enjoy is a Railroad Museum. Historic steam engines dating back to the 1880's. Not quite as impressive as the one I saw in Lucerne, or the one in Sacramento, CA, but worth it if you are a RR buff. One striking display was in the cab of a diesel locomotive. As you climbed into it, you could hear the sounds you'd expect. Then when you got in the cab, there was a video screen in front of the windows showing the view from a train moving along at perhaps 100K/H. I could almost feel the train sway on the curves.
Highlight of the stay in Odense wasn't in Odense. Yesterday I took the train to see the Egeskov Slott, or castle. It's actually 2.5 KM outside the little town the train stops at, and there's no public transportation to it. There was a bus, but the season for the bus ended the day I arrived in Odense. Nice walk, though, and I'd allowed the time.
The castle really is beautiful. Lovely castle, and surrounded by really well cared for grounds. It certainly rivals the one (Fredricksborg, I think) near Copenhagen I visited earlier on the trip. Lots and lots of photos.
And it has, in addition to the grounds, several activities to keep one from getting bored, if admiring castles isn't your thing. There's an area set aside with swings, and much more, to keep the kiddies entertained. Then they have several museums, old cars, old motorcycles, farm implements, and horse drawn carriages. As the guide book says, it's easy to spend the entire day there.
And now I'm back in Copenhagen. I was welcomed by an unwelcome rain and windstorm. I'm really glad I'd made a hotel reservation, and near the train station. They were fully booked up, and I certainly wouldn't have liked hunting a hotel in that weather. My umbrella, which I think I'd mentioned earlier, is in it's last stages of life. I still have it, but I doubt seriously that it'll last another high wind.
Remember my experience changing my flight reservations? I never got a hard copy confirmation from SpanAir on the three flights with them. They've confirmed over phone, and my agent has seen it on her computer, but I've never had anything more than a verbal confirmation. Since I leave from Copenhagen, I thought I'd try the desk at the terminal here. No way was I going to spend another frustrating hour or so on hold, pouring coins into a pay phone. I walked up to the SAS (the actual carrier) desk, ready to do battle. Told the lady my story, she obligingly looked me up on the computer, found me right away, and even offered to print out my entire itinerary, for all the flights for the rest of the trip. What a pleasant end to an exasperating experience.
Since I have a bit of time on this computer (no one standing in line right now), I though I'd bore you with some random observations about my trip, since it's nearly over.
Lots of pregnant women in all the countries I've visited. Don't know if that's the norm, or a recent population explosion.
An alternate way to get cash is to buy a train ticket, and make a mistake while doing it, like forgetting to tell them you are a senior (not applicable to all) or giving them the wrong start or end for the trip. I've done both. Thinking this would be my tough luck, I nevertheless asked If they could rectify my mistake. Without a blink, they just reach in the cash drawer and gave me a refund. And no 3% international xfer fee.
On occasion, I've been in a hotel that offers CNN. I've noticed that they really have their audience down pat. The commercials are all for travel, investments, rolex watches, and similar items. Who but traveling well-to-do Americans watch CNN Europe? Besides me, that is.
Danish pronunciation is really beyond me. It's the hardest for me to use of any of the Scandinavian countries I've visited. I get a lot of laughs. For example, Skagen is pronounced Skane, like in great dane, and Odense is pronounced OHdaahnsay (that's one of several I've heard) I've coined an acronym for my ability with languages: YALIDU, for "Yet another language I don't understand".
One guide book says the Danes are the happiest people on earth, based on some international survey. I think the survey was skewed. The couple across from me on the train from Aarhus to Odense laughed the entire trip. Those two had to push the average up a bit.
There are enough different breeds of dogs on leashes here to fill a dog show. Not the usual US mix of retrievers, shepherds and poodles by any means.
The long days aren't enough, or else the desire for a tanned body carries over into the winter. I've seen all kinds of establishments with SOL in their name. Found out they are all sun-tan establishments.
I'd mentioned earlier that Denmark wasn't as rocky or tree filled as other Scandinavian countries. Thus the half-timbered houses, and the dominance of brick versus stone as a building material. Even a lot more old streets with brick rather than cobble stones for pavement, and nearly all the older historical buildings are of brick.
I think that's about enough for you to put up with for now. Time to send this. Not sure, but the next edition may come from Madrid or even Barcelona. Hope I can get one more in before I get to Pepe's on Menorca.
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