I went to the mainland (Jutland) to see my great mate, Morapedi. We met when he came to study in NZ for a semester. It would have been about two and a half years ago since we saw one another. Lucky for us, we had a long carride from Aarhus to catch up. The city was a vibey student metropolis. It was quieter than usual since it was summer time. We picked up a car and drove out to Hvide Sande (the west coast of Jutland) to the family beach house. It took around 2 hours to go from the east to the west coast which makes it easy to quickly get around. Unlike NZ, Denmark is relatively flat which stretched far with wheat fields. I think the common diet for Scandinavians has to be bread and cheese. It was amazing driving west to gain the full experience of the late summer sun; it would set around 11pm.
On arrival to the beach house, we were surprised to see Pedi's Gran and Uncle. So we enjoyed a cup of tea with them before taking refuge in our hyggelig (cozy) beds. The next morning the sun was up bright and early, unlike our lazy bodies. Gran knocked on our door at 10am, most likely perplexed at why two young people are wasting the day in bed. We woke up to a bread, cheese & jam breakfast which fueled us for our explorations. The beach town was small and easy to walk around until we were interrupted midday by a phone call. Pedi's Gran wanted us to come home as his other Aunty & Uncle arrived for lunch. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to eat homemade food and this was no exception. I tried smoked herring and fish balls. All of which I genuinely enjoyed. There was no shortage of bread, especially rye bread (the healthiest of breads). The day beckoned us to relax at the beach in the sun so we obliged.
I was shocked at the white, silky sand that was on offer. That was my highlight from the beach since the strong wind was only pleasing the nearby kitesurfers and the ice cold water was less inviting. However, we still took a refreshing dip in the ocean - probably the same temperature as what you'd find in Dunedin during winter. We retired early to the house to warm up and sunbathe in the warm evening sun. The treats of travelling to visit friends is when their family prepares food to share. I enjoyed a pre-evening meal with the relatives of (surprise, surprise) bread and cheese plus rhubarb pie. The rest of the evening consisted of card playing, football watching, and a late night dinner where I tried the taste of summer - koldskål. An absolute must-try if you visit Denmark in the summer. It was topped with cookies and highly delicious!
The next day we woke up and drove back to Aarhus. We went to Ida's place, Pedi's girlfriend, to set up base camp for the next few days. It wasn't long before we were out the door to get food before the most important football match for Denmark (vs Croatia). At a nearby street food market, I tried another traditional dish called Tarteletter (chicken pie). As soon as we'd finished eating we had to quickly make our way to the outdoor venue that was showing the football matches. Even 2 hours before the game it was packed. We squeezed through the crowd to claim a small space on the turf. Conversation and dramatic supporters helped pass the time as we watched the Russia vs Spain game. It was finally time for the big match of the night. The gates were closed to limit the amount of people while everyone inside had to stand to make room. Every minute of the game you could feel the intensity of emotions. Unfortunately, with the game tied it was down to penalties to decide the winner. Emotions were high and the loss hit hard. It was fair to say everyone made a swift exit from the venue to forget the night and go home.
With only two full days left to enjoy Denmark, we woke up to start exploring. After a fresh and fruity breakfast by the lake we went to grab a coffee. On our way back to the car we stopped in at a small restaurant to get a very Danish lunch that we would enjoy at a our next stop. We drove out to a seaside view, where the summer house of the Danish Royals was located. At the park we devoured our smørrebrød - with the most Danish of them being the pickled herring. Don't be so fast to turn your nose up to it, when prepared well it can be mouthwatering. With our bellies full we trotted off to the park. This was no ordinary park. This park was home to families of deer. They pranced around in the hopes to receive treats from all the humans. We wisely had carrots on hand to make some new friends.
From the deer park we walked by the Kattegat sea - a highlight for me after enjoying the TV show Vikings. We slowly drove home for dinner and then went out to a coffee shop which main focus was board games. We played until the cafe closed. It made me think how New Zealand should increase its creativity when it comes to quirky cafe shop ideas.
My last day in Denmark was aimed at going to the highest point of the country. It wasn't hard to find. The building we were at was only 10cm shorter than the natural highest point; which was hidden in a farmers forest. They should really start to capitalise on that touristic landmark. We drove out to a forest for a walk. It is so easy to forget to exercise when you are constantly with friends eating delicious food. It was so refreshing to be in the forest, walking around for 4 hours as we inhaled some vitamin N(ature). By the time we got back to the car we were shattered. We drove straight home for showers, a good meal, and some card games. I was so pleased to have all this time with such good people. I have been truly spoiled and am beyond grateful for the generosity shared with me. Pedi and Ida made my time in Denmark incredibly memorable and I am so grateful for everything I saw and experienced. The next day we had an early start to drive to Kobenhavn for me to catch my bus.
Next Stop --> Stockholm, Sweden
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