Denmark

20 May 2015

We crossed into Denmark yesterday. The weather has gotten cooler as we came North. The sun goes down about 10pm. Some trees are just beginning to get their new green leaves. The rhododendrons are in bud, and a few are flowering. 

They are incredible, and we look forward to when they are in full bloom, enmass.

The towns are very picturesque, with the red brick streets with pitched roofs.

And the thatched roofs are more common. 

In Southern Denmark the landscape is flat, and no more than a few meters above sea level. We drove out on a causeway to the island of Romo. There was a wide flat beach with tightly packed sand. We felt a little pretensious in our 4WD truck when even these fellas were able to manage the beach! 

This is a huge tourist attraction with areas set aside for kites, sand surfers, motor bikes etc. it looks idyllic but there was a cold wind. Similarly a little further north a beautiful beach looks just like an Australian beach! But the cold wind was very different. 

The town of Ribe  has been preserved in its old building style. 

The outside tables on the cobblestone streets were very charming, but the wind continued. There were blankets provided for patrons who decided to sit outside in the sun! 

Then on to Copenhagen, via this bridge...the toll on the bridge was about $150AU! 

Copenhagen is on the island of Zealand. It is a vibrant cosmopolitan city. As in other European cities the city centre is dominated by pedestrian malls, and cobblestone streets. We arrived Saturday afternoon, and city was full of people, with buskers (and beggars!) and bands. The dancing was wild, with Aftricans featuring in the spectacle. The dancing was quite erotic, mainly salsa I think, and a lesbian couple really gave the eroticism of this dance its full expression! 

This is the "stork statue" in the city centre. These two young men suddenly stripped off and plunged into the cold water. There was lots of laughter and clapping from the onlookers. 

And watching all of these street scenes were a few Muslim women in full burkas - I'm not sure of the correct description of their clothing - but they had head and face covering with only the smallest of slits for their eyes. I wonder whether they were shocked or perhaps had their worst expectations of western culture confirmed.

This is also the Royal city and home of "our Mary", Australian girl who married a prince. I'm keeping an eye out for her in case she'd like a "g'day mate" in a familiar accent! These copper topped rooves are typical of the royal buildings. But I don't think she lives in this one. 

As in all of these big European cities we have seen, where the land is very flat, push bikes are everywhere. They are catered for with free bikes, bike lanes, and bike parking areas like this one in central Copenhagen. And they are extensively used in the twilight hours as well. There are also noticeably less cars in the city centre than we are used to in Brisbane! 

I can't resist -one more pic of central Copenhagen...

26th May 2015 That is the end of Denmark for us. We have stayed a few extra days (another public holiday!) to try to sort out our insurance, again! But no luck. The Auto club gave us a contact - which will not insure us if we are not EU residents! We have found two companies who insure touring motorbikes, and possibly motor homes. The price one of them quotes is hideously expensive, and we are awaiting a quote from the other. This is a huge debacle! Hopefully we will have it settled, at great cost though, next time we find wifi - in Sweden.