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A Fairytale trip to Denmark
Our
recent visit to Denmark and the south of Sweden was an experience, which
emphasized not only both the huge differences, but also the similarities between
specifically Denmark and South Africa.
What
was planned to be a routine visit to the orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Hakon Kofoed,
in Copenhagen, (that performed the bi-lateral ankle replacement in Bloemfontein
on myself in April), turned out to be a wonderful and exciting two weeks of
travelling through the Danish and Swedish countryside.
The
Kingdom of Denmark dapples the Baltic Sea in an archipelago of some 450 islands
(all linked either by bridges or a regular car ferry service) and the crescent
of one peninsula. With a population of 5 million, it is the geographical link
between Scandinavia and Europe. Half-timber villages and tidy agriculture rub
shoulders with provincial towns and a handful of cities, where pedestrians and
bicycles set the pace, not traffic. Mothers safely park baby carriages outside
bakeries while outdoor cafés fill with cappuccino-sippers, and lanky Danes
pedal to work in lanes thick with bicycle traffic. Clearly this is a land where
the process of life is the greatest reward.
Denmark
consists of major regions namely Jylland to the west, Fyn in the centre and
Sjaelland to the east, with the capital city of København.
Denmark
is one of the countries in the world with the highest income per capita, and the
lowest crime rate. We travelled almost 3000 km and during all that time did not
come across a single motor accident. Their main source of foreign income is by
technological outsourcing and invention. Although huge areas of the countryside
are set aside for agriculture, it is not one of their main contributors to the
country’s GDP.
We
arrived a little bit late (almost midnight) in Aarhus (capital of Jylland). The
airport and environment was covered in a blanket of snow creating an almost
fairytale atmosphere in the country of the storyteller, Hans Christian Anderson.
Although
it is already wintertime in the northern hemisphere, the countryside is covered
in all shades of green, with the trees varying in all autumn colours, some
already having shed their leaves.
On
the Jylland peninsula highlights were the Mols area with it’s many historical
windmills, Ebeltoft, a fishing village, where the sail ship Fregatten Jylland is
moored, the beautiful lake district of Silkeborg / Skanderborg, where Denmarks
highest “mountain” Himmelberget is found (only 460 meters high). Marriager,
a typical and well preserved historical Danish town, throws you back into time
where both architecture and culture are very true to Danish tradition.
Odense,
as capital of the island region of Fyn, is the birthplace of Hans Christian
Anderson. Nearby is the little town of Munkebo with a variety of arts and craft
ceramic factories. Near Kvaerndrup is a well restored and maintained “Schlot”
or nobleman’s castle.
A
car ferry trip of about an hour linked Fyn with the 30 km long island of Aero.
In summertime, this region is especially popular as holiday destination.
Another ferry crossing was necessary between Marstal and RubkØbing on
Langeland. A variety of artists are found in the many small villages of
Langeland. Also typical to this region is the traditional nave churches centered
in every small town.
By
yet another ferry trip between Spodsberg and Tårs brought us to Lolland and
Falster, the most southern region of Denmark and easy accessible by ferry to
various German ports. This region is well known for game and bird hunting and at
our guest pension at NykØbing Falster a group of lousy American hunters took
over the dining room : reindeer and pheasants were even a more important subject
than Bin Laden.
At
Roskilde, just west of København, is a viking museum with a beautiful restored
vikingship - telling the story why the Danes are not restricted by water between
their many islands.
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København
is a fairytale city, often called the “Venice of Scandinavia” :
many waterways cut into the city’s heart of which Nyhavn is the best known
with its well restored row of narrow harbour buildings, most with its popular
restaurants and linking the pedestrian Storget shopping area.
Obviously
a trip to København has to include a visit to the word famous Den Lille
Havfrue (little mermaid character from the fairytales of Anderson)
guarding the Inderhavn of the city.
Our
trip to Denmark was concluded by a weekend visit to Hakon and Lisa Kofoed
in København. A new friendship was formed, warm Danish hospitality was
experienced, Bourdeaux red wine was consumed and cultures were shared. |
We
went with them to their weekend retreat, a holiday cottage at the fishing
village of Tisvildelje, facing the Kattegat and North Sea. We had lunch in
a small local restaurant sharing a platter of typical and traditional
Danish food like marinated herring and Sjaelland’s pink salmon.
An
invitation to visit them again next year during their summertime, will seriously
be considered!
Johann
& Monique Beukes
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