2018-09-21 Windmills

The day began with the first breakfast from the B&B.  Breakfast was delivered to Debbie and Larry’s room which is great except they get up early to straighten the room.  It is like the day before the maid comes.  The food was worth getting up early.

Haarlem could be described as a Little Amsterdam.  It has canals, old houses, a windmill and charm.  The first day in the Netherlands was spent in Haarlem.  It was an incredibly windy day.   The wind did not stop the bike riders nor the four.

They began with walking through the streets of Haarlem to look at the canals and houses.  They visited an art exhibit mostly because it was out of the wind.  They also went in St Bavokerk, a reformed Protestant church and former Catholic Cathedral,  located on the central market square.  Services are only held from May to September as the building is too cold in the winter.  In the winter, services are held at another church.   The day they visited, an art class was sketching in the church.

After lunch the group visited a windmill that has been restored.  They were the only four in the tour.  The guide was great with several models of windmills to demonstrate how they worked.  The  actual windmill was not turning that day because the wind was so high.  The wind would turn the windmill  so fast that it could catch on fire.   It was interesting to find out that windmills were used to pump the water to create land.  This windmill was used to create flour.   It has sails that the miller raises by climbing up the arms of the windmill. Debbie saw Larry eyeing how it worked so you might start getting milled flour soon.

Who wouldn’t want to see a windmill?  You can’t go to the Netherlands without seeing a windmill, right?

2018-09-20 Change

The group had been in Copenhagen for several days.  They felt like they understood the buses.  They could walk around the city without too many issues.  They were still a little frightened of the bike riders but now worked as teams to cross the streets and get out of the bike lanes.  But it was time for the “show” with the bike riders.  They were going to Amsterdam. (Technically Haarlem but let’s not quibble).

They spent they day on planes and buses to arrive in Haarlem in the late afternoon.  Joyce’s research got them to Haarlem on the express bus.  Google maps helped them follow directions as they dragged suitcases to the B&B only to find that no one was home.  After a couple of phone calls, one of the owners arrived to let them into the B&B.  It was two apartments that are side by side.  See the pictures below.

They ate Moroccan food that night.  Most unusual dish goes to Jerry for chicken with powdered sugar.  It was pretty good.  (Debbie has a lot of powdered sugar at home.  She is thinking powdered sugar on everything).

2018-09-19 The Amazing Race

The four began the day with a goal of climbing the tower on Our Savior Church:.  Cultural Moment:  The Church of Our Savior is a baroque church in Copenhagen, Denmark, most famous for its helix spire with an external winding staircase that can be climbed to the top, offering extensive views over central Copenhagen.  So, what this means is that there is a tower outside than winds around the church.  So here is how it goes.  A person climbs the stairs inside until they get to the viewing platform.  Then one starts climbing outside as the stairs get narrower and smaller until finally the stairs just stop.  (At the end, Debbie was just clinging to the outside of the church.  She finally just said “No, oh no” and turned around desperately holding on to the side of the church until she made it back to the viewing platform.  (Joyce had a different experience and was trying to climb with a group of college kids.  She thinks that she may be in several pictures now. )  Joyce also clung to the outside of the church.

Joyce had discovered and researched Christiania and wanted to visit.  Cultural Moment:  Christiania was founded in 1971, when a group of people cut a hole in the fence to the military barracks to become squatters.  There are about a 1000 people that live there.  A third work outside, a third work inside Christiania and a third don’t work.   Christiania has an agreement with Copenhagen for utilities and handle their own security.   The area has gates with “Entering Christiania” on one side and “Entering the EU” on the opposite side.  Let’s just call it Hippie Heaven and all the associated things that go with it.  The four did not stay there too long.

To top of their exciting morning, the group along with several Danish school classes visited Tivoli.  What is Tivioli you ask?  Tivioli is an amusement park built in 1843.  The group did not actually ride one of the rides.  (Debbie saw some potential “lose your lunch” rides and declined.)  Tivioli had some interesting buildings.

Joyce was happy because she had duck for lunch.   If Joyce is happy, everyone is happy.  So happily, the group decided to visit  City Hall and take an English tour (Or at least they thought that is what they were doing).  City Hall is a very busy wedding venue.  While waiting for the tour, Debbie accidentally got into the wedding hall.  She had to scurry back down the stairs to the surprise of a bride and groom.  The group noticed couples came in every 15 minutes are so.  Some of the couples looked happy and some did not.

Now for the English tour.  Here is how it goes.

The guard yells “English Tower Tour?”

The Tourists:  “Yes”

Guard:  “Follow me”  and then he races up 6 flights of stairs as fast as he can go  with huffing tourists trailing behind him from floor 1 to 6.  As they staggered on to floor 6, the guard said “Put your backpack in the lockers and I will stay with your stuff while you continue on up the tower.”  The four had been to Our Savior Church and were not going down without a fight.  On they went but suddenly heard the clamoring of a junior high class hot on their heels which meant passing on narrow stairs.  (Don’t they ever go to a real class?)

Larry:  “Debbie, are we on the Amazing Race?  I can’t even watch that show on TV without getting stressed.  Why are those little kids following me?”.

Debbie:  “We are going to beat those little junior high kids even if I have to give them my super stink eye plus I will limp up the stairs to block for the rest of you”.

Debbie is happy to report that the group did make it up to the top of the tower in front of the junior high class and then turned around and ran down as fast as they could.  Debbie also gave a stink eye to the guard for calling this a tour.

Sounds like that they should be done for the day.  Nope, they had tickets and couldn’t let them go to waste.  One last thing to see – The Danish Museum of Natural History.  The biggest excitement was that Debbie got lost for awhile and wandered aimlessly.  (Phone died).

All in all it was a successful day with many stairs climbed, hippy heaven visited, and a bit of history thrown into the mix.  Now home to eat leftovers and prepare for another move.

 

 

 

2018-09-18 More Copenhagen

The first stop of the day was the Botanical Gardens.  The group found that the exotic plants are the same plants that grow in Houston.  This made Debbie and Larry feel somewhat special but they lost interest quickly.  (It doesn’t take much with them).  They really just wanted to go to the Butterfly Exhibit.  So, the four went to the Dinosaur Exhibit in the Geologic Museum in order to get Butterfly tickets. (What happened to the Butterflies? Why would you have a butterfly exhibit in with rocks?)  The Dinosaur exhibit included a room explaining how the Denmark king received  a gift of dinosaur eggs from a US archaeologist.   They were on the same train and had a good conversation so the archaeologist gave him some eggs.  They even showed the note accompanying the gift.   Something like “Nice to meet you on the train.  Hope you like the eggs.”   (Debbie thinks the US guys’s boss might have been a little upset.)

Now they had the elusive butterfly tickets. They got in line to tour with a pre-k group.  School groups in Copenhagen wear neon vests and even take  the city bus which leads to some exciting exit and entrances.  Debbie is thinking of getting a vest.  Maybe the four could get some adult size neon yellow vests?  It would help with the tracking of people.

The next stop was Rosenborg Palace.  The Palace was built by Christian IV and is 400 years old.  It also houses the Danish treasury and crown jewels.   Denmark doesn’t have as many jewels as some of the other countries but they did have two guards.  (Debbie wonders if there is a changing of the guards?)

After the Palace, the Round Tower was the next goal.  Guess what it is?  If you guessed a tower that is round then you would be correct.  It began as an astronomical observatory and a library.  It is attached to Trinitatis Church.  (You know there will be church pictures. )  The ramp was designed so that a carriage could take books to the library.  (The staff still whip around in little carts that can make you scurry out of the way.)  It was 7.5 rounds around the tower.

They ended the day with a canal tour.  They spent time looking for the Queen’s yacht but couldn’t find it.   They did see the biggest incinerator in the country.  It has a ski slope on top and is used for all the trash in Denmark.  (Debbie suspects that the Queen is hiding the boat behind the incinerator).

2018-09-17 Little Mermaid

Seventh grade geography had a big impact on Debbie.  As the class went through the chapters, she thought to herself there are places that I want to go.  She wanted to go to Europe.  Check.  She wanted to go to Rome and see the coliseum, Paris to see the Eiffel Tower.  Check – Check.  She wanted to go to Copenhagen and see the Little Mermaid.  Wait, no check?  Well, today was the day for that check.

Debbie asked Joyce. “Are you excited to see the Little Mermaid?”

Joyce said “I remember Aerial but that wasn’t really my girls favorite Disney character. “ (Evidently, Texas’s 7th grade geography curriculum was a little different from Virginia’s. )

Debbie whipped around and asked Larry.  “Do you know who the Little Mermaid is?”

Larry answered as a good spouse. “Well, I believe that I do”.

By this time, Jerry had wandered far enough away for Debbie to have to shout at him.  “Do you know the Little Mermaid?”.

Jerry just waved his hand in the air. (Debbie felt that he probably didn’t but was just trying to get her to drop it and be supportive of Joyce). .

Turns out that the Little Mermaid is not lonely as she seems to be surrounded by tours of people that have come to see her.  They come from Asia, Europe and North America.  They surround her and get in the water with her.  They might even touch her.

So, for those who do not know who the “Little Mermaid” is (Please, please  Debbie’s children don’t answer that you didn’t know) a cultural moment.  Cultural Moment:  The Little Mermaid is a bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen, depicting a mermaid.  She sits on a rock by the waterside in the harbor of Copenhagen, Denmark.  She is symbolic of the city of Copenhagen.  (It is actually a very small statue).  It has something to do with a Hans Christian Anderson story.

Next they were off to the Frederik’s Church.  Cultural Moment:  Frederik’s Church, popularly known as The Marble Church because it has lots of marble, is an Evangelical Lutheran church in Copenhagen, Denmark.  It is located close to  where the royal family lives.

Since the group was so close, they went to the Amalienborg Palace.  This palace is the royal family’s winter home.  There are four palaces.  The queen lives in one and the crown prince lives in another.  (This would be like living in a palace next to your mother and flying a flag when you are home.  So, you couldn’t really leave without your parents knowing it).  Larry took over Debbie’s role of photo bombing people that were trying to get pictures with the guard.  They would run along beside the guard when he marched taking pictures.  Debbie has never been prouder.

The four stayed for the changing of the guard which was a disappointment.  Unless you are taller than 6 feet, you are not going to see anything.   See pictures below.  Here’s an interesting fact:  In the summer, the royal family uses the Royal yacht to visit different Danish cities.

In the afternoon, they visited Christiansborg Palace, an island, that contains the Danish Parliament, Supreme Court and ministry of State.  Parts of the palace is used by the Royal Family.   You have to wear special shoes.  (The group bets the Queen doesn’t wear special shoes).   This includes the reception room and throne room.  Debbie stood where the Queen does and it felt pretty good. She tried to sit on the throne but Larry told her perhaps that was not appropriate since they couldn’t get on the royal yacht.

The four walked a lot that day and decided to take the Metro back.  Debbie made the mistake of asking the information person standing by the train where was the M2?  He shouted at her that there were lots of M2.  Debbie might have mumbled an inappropriate description of the info guide as she walked away.  She decided that the info guide doesn’t’ really like his job and Debbie is pretty sure that he doesn’t know the Little Mermaid.

2018-09-16 Copenhagen Walk

Sunday was the first complete day in  Copenhagen.  Two goals for the day – 1).  Figure out how to ride the bus (they had all day tickets for the next three days but not today (Sunday)   2). Go to Old Town and get oriented.

The morning began with Debbie and Joyce in their own little private internet cafe trying to figure out how to get bus tickets.   Both downloaded applications to their phones that would not work.  Larry and Jerry (actually Larry) paced.  After about an hour, Debbie rebooted her phone and suddenly she had purchased 4 tickets that would expire in 90 minutes.  Debbie jumped up and yelled “I bought 4 tickets!   Let’s go now! Get your stuff.”  Joyce added “We need to leave now!”  Debbie and Joyce went running down the street with Larry and Jerry following.

So they all hightailed it to the bus station and got on the bus.  (Joyce knew where to go).  Task one accomplished.

As soon as they got off the bus, they encountered bikes and bike lanes.  Bikes have intimidated some of the travelers.  It forces the four of them to work as a team with someone watching each direction.  Debbie wants to know how come you step off of the bus into a bike lane.  Doesn’t that just seem wrong?  It is very stressful for Debbie.  Sometimes Larry shouts out “Watch out!”  This makes Debbie want to drop and roll which is probably not the best move to do in the bike lane.

The group saw the Lego stores and discovered an educational moment for the reader.  Educational Moment:  LEGO came into being around 1930, when a Danish carpenter from Billund in Jutland fell on hard times building houses. He supplemented his trade making wooden toys and was so successful that he was soon only making his wooden building blocks. He called the company LEGO, a mix of the Danish words To play and Good.

Debbie and Joyce began their church visits with a stop at St. Peter’s.  Cultural Moment:  St. Peter’s Church is the parish church of the German-speaking community in Copenhagen, Denmark.   The group didn’t actually get inside because they was a service in progress but look at the day school playground.  It is awesome.

All of the walking, bus riding and avoiding bikes made them really hungry.  The group spied a vegetarian buffet.  Larry, Jerry and Joyce were quite pleased with the buffet.  Debbie not as much.  The buffet did not come out ahead with the other three.

After lunch, they visited the next church, the Church of Our Lady.  Cultural Moment:  The Church of Our Lady  is the cathedral of Copenhagen.  This church started as a Catholic Church called St. Mary’s but later was changed to a Lutheran Church and all statues of Mary removed.  People are allowed to go to the second story to see the Royal Box and other stuff.  The church has statues of the disciples / apostles, a description of their life and what happened to them.  It is an interesting church.

At the end of the day the 90 minute, bus tickets had expired so the group went into a frenzy trying to but more tickets from a machine in the central station.  They eventually came up with the plan that Debbie would once again purchase tickets and if her phone died (high probability) that they would sacrifice her to the police.  The logic was that she could talk her way out once the phone was charged and she knew how to ride the bus home.  The group is happy to report that they made it back to the flat with no arrests.

 

 

2018-09-15 Precious

Today was a glorious day!  Today was the day scheduled for Joyce to rejoin the group in Copenhagen or København.  (The Danish spelling confused Debbie for hours.  She kept asking when they would start seeing Copenhagen signs).  Today was the day that Debbie would return ”Precious” to it’s rightful owner.

Remember Precious from the Hobbit?  Debbie renamed Joyce’s book with all the travel details and contacts to ”Precious”.  She and Larry had been guarding “Precious” waiting for Joyce to return.  “Precious” lived in Debbie’s backpack and rode at her feet between sites.  “Precious” was the first thing out of the car and Debbie touched it at least once a day.   It was time for “Precious” to go home but first the trio must make a journey to Copenhagen or København.  (The Danish spelling confused Debbie for hours.  She kept asking when they would start seeing Copenhagen signs).

The trio ate a hardy breakfast at the B&B.  The owner heard of their journey and insisted that they have some schnapps with their breakfast for luck.  (I just made that part up.  The city made this schnapps and want people to buy it).  Then they began the 5 to 6 hour drive to Copenhagen.   Jerry drove and Larry worked with Eric.  Debbie sat in the backseat holding  “Precious” until lunch time.

Larry and Debbie introduced Jerry to Circle K for lunch. (They don’t think that Joyce has ever taken Jerry to Circle K).  Everyone had hot dogs in support of Debbie’s ”Hot Dogs Across Europe”Campaign.   Jerry is ready to become a hot dog supporter.

They arrived in Copenhagen, found the new accommodations, unloaded ”Precious” and rushed to the airport.  The car (including Eric) was turned in.  (Debbie was quite pleased to return Eric.  She still remembers the cliff).  Once the car was returned, the three went to the airport for Joyce.  She arrived on the 4:30 flight to rejoin the vacation.    Joyce barely had time to walk in the house before Debbie returned  “Precious” to her rightful owner.  (Debbie swears that at least one of Joyce’s shoes was in the house.

Joyce has since had some issues with Debbie trying to hold “Precious” when Joyce is not around and Larry has caught Debbie whispering “Precious”  “Precious”.

2018-09-14 The Giant Ferry

Today was the last day in Norway.  The group was going to Denmark on a big ferry but first they had to get across the country to the ferry.  They didn’t take the most scenic route as it was raining.  They needed to get to Kristiansand before 3:30 in the afternoon.  They made it in time to sit in the ferry line in the rain.

Cars were lined up by type for loading on the ferry.  Vans, campers, cart….  Buses load on the opposite side.    At 3:30 PM the cars start rolling on to the ferry.  The cars were parked so close that Larry had to crawl across to get out on the driver’s side.  It was not a graceful entrance to the ferry.

The ferry was huge.   This ferry was large enough to hold lots of buses and cars.  They snagged a seat in one of the eating areas.  People began lining up to go through the cafeteria line as soon as the ferry left.  The three brought a lunch but broke down and wanted to eat on the ferry.  They did learn that only so much food is available for each crossing.  So, the later that you wait the less food that is left to choose.  Guess what Debbie got to eat?  Yep a hot dog again.

They landed at about 7:30 but there group was one of the last off the boat.  They had been parked on a platform that was raised to make it a two decker.  All the cars needed to be unloaded so that their car could be lowered.

Finally, Denmark, they had arrived.

The Bed & Breakfast was very close to the ferry but it was dark.  After parking in a home owner’s driveway and being waved away, they found the B&B.  The staff gave them a tour of the building – common kitchen and common tv room and then their rooms.  Larry was relieved that he did not have to share a bathroom with any one else but Debbie.

 

2018-09-13 Preikestolen

The morning dawned with no rain in sight.  Today was the day to hike Preikestolen.  Geography Moment:  Preikestolen is one of Norway’s most visited attractions and has been named one of the world’s most spectacular viewing points.  It rises 604 meters above the Lysefjord.  Our Hard Hitting Reporter interviewed the trio.

Hard hitting reporter (HHR):  “What did you do to prepare for the hike?

Debbie:  Well, everything that I read says to be prepared.  I wore two jackets, a hat, gloves, a long sleeved shirt  and a short sleeve shirt.   I was prepared for snow and cold weather.

Larry:  I wore shorts.

Jerry:  I didn’t wear shorts but I did bring an umbrella.

HHR:  Did everyone bring umbrellas?

Debbie:  No, I didn’t but Larry and Jerry did.  I trusted that it wouldn’t rain anymore.

HHR:  What about walking sticks?

Jerry:  I don’t need a walking stick.  I will just use my umbrella if I need a stick.  I think that I would look rather dapper with an umbrella.

Larry:  I took one stick.

Debbie:  I took one stick

HHR:  What was the first obstacle of the hike?

Larry:  Well, it was really hard to go from the parking lot to the trail.  The sticks helped.

Debbie:  It was really, really steep.  There was some water on the trail and we were careful about stepping around the water.

Larry:  I had to take my jacket off and give to Debbie to carry.  I was not prepared for how hot it was.

Debbie:  I felt sort of like a Sherpa.

HHR:  Then what happened?

Debbie:  Then we walked across a meadow that was flat. I also got a little warm and took off one of my jackets.  I had to tie it around my waist.  I also took off my hat and cap.  The sun was shining.  I might have taken off my other jacket.

Larry:  Then we ran into these two guys that said the really hard part was when you walked between the two mountains.

Jerry:  We climbed through a big field of stones. between the mountains.

HHR:  Wow sounds intense.

Debbie:  It was.  We made it through the field of boulders and then started up the trail.  I had to keep taking clothes off and putting them back on.

Larry:  We had some trouble with Debbie wanting to shove some selfie sticks over the edge although most of those selfie stick people couldn’t make the climb.

Debbie:  Well, I seem to remember that you wanted people to hike in total silence.

Jerry:  I had my hands full trying to keep them both under control.

HHR:  What happened at the top?

Debbie:  Well, we started taking pictures and suddenly it started to pour down rain.

Larry:  We huddled against the mountain with our umbrellas waiting for the rain to stop.

Jerry:  Those umbrellas turned out to be a good idea, huh Debbie?

Larry:  We had trouble with Debbie trying to sneak under our umbrellas.  She did look a little pathetic with her wet hair stuck to her head.

HHR:  What happened next?

Larry:  Well, once the rain stopped, we started back down.

Debbie:  We did stop for lunch a little way down the trail.

Jerry:  And it started to rain again.

Debbie:  Every time it rained, I had to switch my backpack to under my jacket.

HHR:  Did the rain impact you?

Debbie:  Yes, there was rain everywhere It rained on an off all the way down.  We didn’t care any more if we stepped in the water or not.

HHR:  Did you have any mishaps:

Debbie:  Well, yes there was some skinned knees and it turns out that an umbrella can’t really be used as a walking stick.  Jerry’s umbrella had a tragic accident.  We are just sorry that Joyce was not able to participate in the hike since it was her idea.

Larry:  It was a mountain climb and not a hike.  Those books that say it is a moderate hike are wrong.  It is an expert hike. I am available to lead hikes now.

HHR:  We heard that Tom Cruise has hiked this trail.

Debbie:  Yes, we looked for Tom Cruise but it may have been too difficult for him.  He used the rock in his last movie.  We are pretty sure that he would have used us in his movie if he had known that we were available.  Let’s do a shout out to Tom that we are available!

 

2018-09-12 Ferry to Lysefjord

The reason that the group went to Meling was to hike.  Unfortunately, it was raining.  So, the group decided to give Jerry the opportunity to take a fjord cruise.  They decided to take a round trip cruise on the Lysefjord ferry as passengers.  Jerry would have 6 hours to enjoy the ferry.

The ferry left at 9 and 3 so they needed to be at the ferry by 9.  Debbie guessed the pink ferry would be their departure point but it was not clear.  When the three arrived, they were the only ones at the ferry which gave Debbie some anxiety.  Was it the pink ferry or not?  Another couple arrived and Debbie asked if this is where the ferry departed?

Woman:  “No, the ferry is on the other side of the bridge.”

Debbie; “What?”

At this point, Debbie sprinted to Jerry and Larry yelling “Get in the car, get in the car”.

Larry: “I just checked in the store and this is where the ferry departs so it is not a problem.”

The woman walked back and says “I was wrong.  The ferry does come here.  I thought you were talking about something else”.  (Debbie thinks that the woman was impressed with her sprinting).

Debbie calmed down and tried to act all cool as she got on the ferry.  They also discovered that there was a tiny little house that passengers could stand in out of the rain.  (Debbie, Larry, and Jerry preferred the stand in the rain option).

This time the payment was on board the ferry because the ferry was too small to have a pay station.  Jerry and Larry made friends with the ferry lady.

This was definitely not the same ferry as the premium one that Debbie and Larry had taken earlier.  There was plenty of room for everyone.  They rode the ferry all the way to Lysefjord and then turned around.  Debbie had some issues with the trip and ate some ginger candy.  She also spent part of the time laying face down on a table.   (She might have been sleeping).  Larry would occasionally stand outside and take pictures.   Not many people got on or off the ferry.  Mostly hikers were the passengers.

After 6 hours of ferry riding and rain, the three rewarded themselves with Chinese food.    Debbie felt much better after eating.