Jylland Trip

As the weather gets progressively warmer, we are furiously packing in activities in the out of doors. As promised to the girls when we moved here, we booked a trip to LegoLand in Jutland. Jutland (written Jylland and pronounced "Yoo-lan") is the largest Danish island and lies furthest west. One leaves Copenhagen on the east coast of Sealand, drives over a 20 km bridge span to get to a smaller connecting island, Odense, and then over another bridge to Jutland. Legoland lies about in the center and is about a 2 1/5 hour drive with good traffic.

The girls and I packed up last Friday and left on St. Bededag (National Prayer Day) which is a national holiday. Seems as though there were too many religious holidays over the year so they combined them into one. Most children of age get confirmed in the Lutheran church on this day and there are family celebrations all over the country. We found that driving to Jutland was slow for all the relatives getting home to be with families.

Maya, Molly and I explored our hotel and Legoland the first day, taking it easy. The weather was a little cool and windy. Craig arrived late to the hotel from London (flying into Billund airport, built basically for the Lego and LegoLand's needs). Then Saturday we attacked LegoLand when the gates opened, headed right for the Quick Pass machine and ordered up the rides of our choice, with no waiting lines. The weather was typical: partyly sunny, breezy and mid 50's. After 4 hours we had seen and done everything we wanted and the park was so crowded that we knew it was time to go. This particular park was geared toward the younger age group and while the Lego sculptures were fantastic, and the park was clean and friendly, it was worth doing once and moving on.

That afternoon we drove an hour north to the town of Silkeborg in the "lakes district". We stayed right in downtown in a Youth Hostel (private bunk room with bath) on the river. We walked all around this pretty city, had dinner at a Mongolian Grill and excellent italian ice cream. We played games and read in our private bunk house and woke to brilliant sunshine the next morning. The hostel, like most inns here, served a buffet breakfast of incredibly fresh white and dark grainy breads, muesli, cheeses, meats (pate too, of course), fruits, yogurts and coffee by the urnful.

Not really knowing the youth hostel way, we were surprised that we needed to do our own cleaning and stripping the (rented) sheets before checking out. So after our morning chores, checking out and packing the car we set out on foot to explore Denmark's only forest. We had a lovely walk through rolling hillsides and arborous views. There was a mountain bike race going on that made us long for single track trail in the Oregon woods. Over the 5 km trail, the girls collected sticks, laughed with each other and Craig and I were able to talk undisturbed by cell phone.

Later we drover yet another hour north to the town of Viborg where a Danish work associate of Craig's lives and invited us to join his family for lunch. Jesper and Pia have 2 girls, ages 6 and 9. They served a typical Danish smorbrod lunch of breads, meats, fish (yes, herring too) eggs, cucumbers and tomatoes. Coke and beer to drink. The girls got along tremendously despite the language barrier, playing on the swing set, with dolls and toys and the family dog. After lunch we strolled through their neighborhood, the woods and to the lake nearby. They plied us with dessert and more coffee and wished me a happy mother's day, which all of us had completely forgotten. They don't celebrate Mothers' Day here, so it slipped right back our consciences.

All that was left was a 4 hour drive back home through the pastural countrysides of Jutland. Nothing but farmlands and small towns. Spring is the best time to be in Denmark. We arrived home about 8:30 pm from our 3 day journey. The girls had school the next day and it was very difficult to get to bed. It stays light until 10 at night. The sun actually rises at 5 am, but there is almost an hour of daylight prior to that. The birds start chirping around 3 am. They chirp at night when we go to bed too. It's so weird to go to bed with light and wake with light. Thank goodness for black-out curtains.

The PTA is gearing up for the Spring Fair at school. This is an annual fundraiser event with games, food, auction, prizes and fun for the whole family. Craig will be grilling burgers at the American Table (see that McMenamins training comes in handy!) and I'll be working the 5th grade game. Other than that, Maya is continuing to work on her Exhibition project, Molly is doing her things and we are awaiting the arrival of Lee and Sheila Cohen this Tuesday for a week visit.

Yesterday I rode downtown, bought an organic salad at my favorite shop, and sat and ate on the Gammel Strand and watched the tourist boats on their canal tours. Later, rode to the King's Library and then over to Norrebro for an appointment. The city is pretty awesome. And the tourists have arrived! It's like some one opened the gates and put out a sign that says "We're Open". Everywhere you look there is a tourist with a map, double decker buses and canal boats full of gawkers, packed walking street, museums and shops. And a lot more English being spoken. It always startles me when I hear other Americans!

Well, off to the next adventure,
Love and Light,
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