Thursday, July 24, 2008
Rural Denmark
On the last day of our trip we spent some time sitting and enjoying our hotel, Stella Maris. It is a one hundred year old former summer home of a wealthy merchant with beautiful grounds that looked out on the Harbor at Svendborg, so we got to watch the many sailboats and ships going by.
Then we drove up the coast, had a picnic by the sea, and then drove back to Copenhagen and took a late flight to Oslo.
Subtle reminder at the tax-free shop in the airport- still there are many smokers here.
Our Continental flight back to the US was cancelled, but we were able to instead experience British Airways from Oslo-Heathrow-Chicago. Very nice.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Aero, Denmark
Checking out the goods at a roadside stand.
As we wind down on our trip and try to catch our breath, we were looking for something relaxing to do. So we took a ferry ride out to the island of Aero, Denmark. It has stopped in time circa the 1800’s. Great old buildings brightly painted and well preserved. Some of the houses had mirrors attached to the outside of the windows so the old ladies inside the house can see who is walking down the street either way. Typical small town. The island has about 8,000 inhabitants and going down as kids grow up and move away. 
We rented bikes and went on an 18 mile bike ride through the country side. Gale force winds and mountain terrain (Bill), rolling hills and slight breezes (Lyla), as we rode through the countryside following Rick Steves guidebook. It was great. Magnificent vista
s and up close views of farming Danish style.
s and up close views of farming Danish style.More Rick Steves
So we arrive back in Svendborg on the ferry and who is at the dock, but Rick Steves! He was filming more on his Copenhagen segment. He actually took a minute and talked to us. Very nice person. What you see is what you get.
Transportation
We were discussing all the different modes of transportation we have taken on this trip. Planes, trains and automobiles. Ferry boats, zodiac boats, and canal boats. Subway trains, high speed trains, trams, and buses. Bikes. And then we must have walked a few miles. There is a lot of turf to cover on a Scandinavian trip.
So we arrive back in Svendborg on the ferry and who is at the dock, but Rick Steves! He was filming more on his Copenhagen segment. He actually took a minute and talked to us. Very nice person. What you see is what you get.
Transportation
We were discussing all the different modes of transportation we have taken on this trip. Planes, trains and automobiles. Ferry boats, zodiac boats, and canal boats. Subway trains, high speed trains, trams, and buses. Bikes. And then we must have walked a few miles. There is a lot of turf to cover on a Scandinavian trip.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
We have spent the last couple of days trekking around Copenhagen. We took an awesome bike tour. Our guide was a graduate student in History from the University. Spoke great English and obviously, knew the history and current affairs of Copenhagen. You can bike anywhere in downtown Copenhagen in 10 minutes, so in 3 hours you can really see the city. Bikes are everywhere. People in expensive clothing riding down the street. They have bike lanes on all major streets, and if you are standing in one when a bike is coming, you’re going to get hit or yelled at. Luckily, I don’t understand Danish.
Christiana
This is an old army base that some hippies took over 30 years ago, and the military basically said, “Let them have it”. Big mistake. They turned it into a commune (they don’t like that word) and now 800 people have this area where they can do what they want. You get admitted to the commune only when someone leaves or dies. Right now there is a 30 year waiting list. No one owns their shack, no cars, no hard drugs (grass is sold on Pusher Lane), peace and love abound. It is now the second most popular tourist attraction and their main source of income is from the tourists. Interestingly enough, across the canal from Christiana are condos going for 1 million dollars. Locals think it is only a matter of time before the establishment takes on the pot smokers.
Tivoli
This 20 acre amusement park has 30 restaurants, rides and a great atmosphere. Over 100 years old, and the inspiration for Disneyland. We were there on Saturday night, and the place was packed. The #1 tourist attraction, it offers something for kids of all ages. Just make sure you bring plenty of $$.
Rick Steves
We religiously use Rick Steves books when we travel to Europe. We find his take on things matches up closely to ours. So we are walking down the harbor canal close to our hotel and there he is filming a segment for an upcoming show on Copenhagen. No one recognizes him here, so he walks around like a tourist. His 2 man film crew was very interesting to talk to. Read the new posting for tomorrow for an update on this.
Copenhagen is certainly more liberal that Norway or Stockholm. The tax rate can reach 80% (no typo) here, but recently Denmark was voted “Most Content” by its citizens. A couple where they both work, the second income is taxed at 80%. So why work, stay home and make babies. And that is what they are doing. Baby strollers are everywhere. You can get up to 1 year (paid) off for parental leave. That would stop any US employer from hiring anyone under 30, but not here.
Norway, Sweden and Denmark fought wars for hundreds of years. Now they are like uncles, and rule northern Europe with oil, shipping, agriculture, and design. Everyone’s making money, and they are showing it. Expensive cars, clothing, and living abound.
We have rented a car and ventured out into the rural Denmark for the last couple of days of our trip. In small town Europe, when 5 o’clock comes, everything shuts down, but the bar and pizza place. Toll bridges here are steep. We paid 200 Kr today to get over a 6 mile bridge. Yes $40. Roadside fruit and vegetable stands are self serve and on the honor system. Great raspberries.
We have spent the last couple of days trekking around Copenhagen. We took an awesome bike tour. Our guide was a graduate student in History from the University. Spoke great English and obviously, knew the history and current affairs of Copenhagen. You can bike anywhere in downtown Copenhagen in 10 minutes, so in 3 hours you can really see the city. Bikes are everywhere. People in expensive clothing riding down the street. They have bike lanes on all major streets, and if you are standing in one when a bike is coming, you’re going to get hit or yelled at. Luckily, I don’t understand Danish.
Christiana
This is an old army base that some hippies took over 30 years ago, and the military basically said, “Let them have it”. Big mistake. They turned it into a commune (they don’t like that word) and now 800 people have this area where they can do what they want. You get admitted to the commune only when someone leaves or dies. Right now there is a 30 year waiting list. No one owns their shack, no cars, no hard drugs (grass is sold on Pusher Lane), peace and love abound. It is now the second most popular tourist attraction and their main source of income is from the tourists. Interestingly enough, across the canal from Christiana are condos going for 1 million dollars. Locals think it is only a matter of time before the establishment takes on the pot smokers.
Tivoli
This 20 acre amusement park has 30 restaurants, rides and a great atmosphere. Over 100 years old, and the inspiration for Disneyland. We were there on Saturday night, and the place was packed. The #1 tourist attraction, it offers something for kids of all ages. Just make sure you bring plenty of $$.
Rick Steves
We religiously use Rick Steves books when we travel to Europe. We find his take on things matches up closely to ours. So we are walking down the harbor canal close to our hotel and there he is filming a segment for an upcoming show on Copenhagen. No one recognizes him here, so he walks around like a tourist. His 2 man film crew was very interesting to talk to. Read the new posting for tomorrow for an update on this.
Copenhagen is certainly more liberal that Norway or Stockholm. The tax rate can reach 80% (no typo) here, but recently Denmark was voted “Most Content” by its citizens. A couple where they both work, the second income is taxed at 80%. So why work, stay home and make babies. And that is what they are doing. Baby strollers are everywhere. You can get up to 1 year (paid) off for parental leave. That would stop any US employer from hiring anyone under 30, but not here.
Norway, Sweden and Denmark fought wars for hundreds of years. Now they are like uncles, and rule northern Europe with oil, shipping, agriculture, and design. Everyone’s making money, and they are showing it. Expensive cars, clothing, and living abound.
We have rented a car and ventured out into the rural Denmark for the last couple of days of our trip. In small town Europe, when 5 o’clock comes, everything shuts down, but the bar and pizza place. Toll bridges here are steep. We paid 200 Kr today to get over a 6 mile bridge. Yes $40. Roadside fruit and vegetable stands are self serve and on the honor system. Great raspberries.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Stockholm, Sweden
We have reached our third country! We left Finland yesterday on a Cruise ship (complete with Smorgasbord) and sailed all afternoon and evening to reach Stockholm this morning. The passenger list was 95% Finns and Swedes. They are able to shop Tax Free in the on-board stores, which is apparently quite a deal for them, so they all take advantage of it... esp in the liquor dept! We got a kick out of one of the deals in the Duty Free store - if you bought four cases of beer, it came with a little cart for you to wheel it off the ship with you! Several carts were rolling down the ramp.
The waters for miles off the coast of Stockholm are filled with small islands - the Archipelago. It is quite a resort area for the Swedes, and the little islands are dotted with boats and summer homes.
We visited a museum here housing an intact wooden warship that sunk in 1628 - on it's maiden voyage! - and was raised from the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Very Cool....
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Helsinki, Finland
Sunny and almost 70! that is what greeted us on our arrival today. On top of that, the prices are reasonable! Gone are the fjords, and we are in an eastern European city that is coming into its own. The young people are rebellious (Colored hair, strange clothes, etc.), and there is a sense of progress in the city. The buildings are similar to Eastern European architecture. Not much flair.
One of the buildings that they love to talk about is the Lutheran Cathedral, yes cathedral! It is a massive building, plain on the inside, but a very impressive building. Lutheran is the national religion (as it was in Norway), as it should be all over the world. It would be a better place.
One of the buildings that they love to talk about is the Lutheran Cathedral, yes cathedral! It is a massive building, plain on the inside, but a very impressive building. Lutheran is the national religion (as it was in Norway), as it should be all over the world. It would be a better place.
The other unique church is a "church in the rock". A church that was made by boring out the rock and putting a copper roof on it. Also Lutheran.
The city is compact, and the tram system is great to get around with. We came across a farmers market and Bill bought some giant fresh green peas to snack on.
We have one more day here and then we are taking a cruise to Stockholm tomorrow night.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Bergen, Norway
We spent the day in the shipping/fishing town of Bergen, Norway. First of all, let's dispel any ideas about the compassion of the Norwegian people through the ages. Not so. This is where the Vikings came from (actually the village of Vik). For 400 years a group of Northern Germans ruled the trade here because the Norwegians could not figure out how to run a trading business. They could fish, but not trade with others. The city has burned down several times, and been rebuilt. It has character.
Some other things:
Myth: All Norwegian girls are blond.
Fact: All Norwegian girls are blond.
Fact: the wage for a casual worker (Burger flipper) is about 23 USD. No wonder the Burger costs 5 USD.
Goodbye Flam!
Flam, Norway is a gem. It sits at the end of the Sognefjord and looks out onto a great display of snow capped mountains, and towering waterfalls that cascade into a vast body of calm mirror-like water. (Look at the pictures). Transportation is by bike, train, or boat. Biking is good if you have strong legs and no body fat.
The Flamsbana is the railroad that climbs 866 meters (about 2400 feet) to the summit in a little over 60 minutes. Boats take you to neighboring towns, haul your car, and transport hoards of Japanese tourists around the area. If you ever get a chance to go there... go.
We are in Bergen Norway for today. It only has 60 sunny days a year, and we are not going to get one of the days. Our umbrellas will be used today.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Flam, Norway
We are in our second day in Flam. It is in the Sonjefjord area of Norway. Today we went on a boat ride around the Fjord. Since the water is so cold, they provided us with special thermal Fjord-wear! The scenery was very beautiful. Lots of waterfalls, wildlife, and even a group of lost porpoise!
Then we rented bikes and took the train up to the top of the mountain, and rode (Coasted) down the valley, stopping to take pictures every once in a while. Met some friendly goats on the way.
Also rented a car and took a drive around the area. We have nothing to complain about with our gas or food prices. It costs about 100USD for 15 gallons here and a combo meal at McDonalds is 16 USD. Talk to you later!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Goodbye Oslo
We are in our last night in Oslo. Great City. History here is thousands of years old, not just a hundred. Most of the history revolves around the the sea, and the fact that Norway has been part of Denmark and Sweden for most of the time. Food is expensive here. A Coke is $5, and burger at McDOnald's is $5, so eating can be a challenge. In the pictures, Lyla is enjoying some seafood soup at the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Oslo, there is a great view of the Oslo harbor, and the last one is of Frogner Park, that is filled with sculptures by Vigeland. Vigeland only did nude sculptures of the human body- very artistic. The man was a mess, but he was a great artist.
Hello From Oslo
Jet lag and all, we struggled through our 1st day in Oslo. Great city, with lots of history. We took a walking tour with a gal who has lived here her whole life, and the history she gave us was very interesting. History to them is 2000 years ago. Great weather. They sunbathe here when the temperature gets about 60, even when overcast. Summer is not that long here, but the hours of daylight sure are. Pictures and more later.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Scandanavia Here We come!
On Tuesday, July 8th we leave for Oslo Norway and the beginning of our 18 day trip to Scandanavia. We will be visiting Oslo, Bergen, Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen. We will try and post some interesting reading!
