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Published: September 25th 2014
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Train ride from Aarhus to Slagelse took 2.5 hours. We travelled south from Aarhus to Fredericia and then crossed the bridge to Fyn, island between Jutland and Zealand. Across Fyn then over the "Lillebaeltsbro" (bridge) to the town of Slagelse on Zealand. There we were met by my cousin Lene and her husband Leif. Lene and Leif live in a housing complex and within that estate are several community houses which are available for the residents to use for parties, family gatherings etc for very little cost - what a good idea! Lene's house has 2 bedrooms and since they had their son, daughter in law and granddaughter also coming to visit there wasn't enough room for everyone. Lene had hired one of the bedrooms attached to the community hall for us. What a great way to provide lodgings for visitors. We settled in and caught up with the family.
The next day we were treated to a great experience. Lena and Leif took us to a Viking settlement called Trelleborg, site of a Viking fortress dating back to the year 980. There were many displays of buildings, utensils, tools and folk dressed in viking clothes going about the business
of typical viking activities of the time. On this day there was also a well known Danish TV chef and his entourage of lesser chefs and apprentices visiting the settlement, presumably to record a program, which would have been about preparing venison. How do I know? Because, we saw a crowd assembled in a circle up ahead and further investigation revealed a man in the process of slaughtering a freshly killed deer. As he cut the animal open he explained in great detail the anatomy of the animal and described the organs he was removing. The crowd including many young children were fascinated, as I was.
We also enjoyed a lovely sailing trip out on the Skaelskor Harbour. My mother grew up in this town and again it is typical of the quaint and pretty places to be found everywhere in Denmark. Part of the appeal is that there isn't advertising everywhere, I think it must be very controlled. The forests in Denmark are very pretty, particularly the beech trees, as you drive or walk through you almost expect Little Red Riding Hood to step out.
One afternoon we went to visit my aunt Emma, my mum's sister,
Basic anatomy
Slaughter man demonstrates to crowd how lungs work and her family. More great food, lots of catching up with lovely people and Aunt Emma is looking really well. She lives in a house by herself and apart from minimal community help, she looks after her home and garden by herself.
The Danes are very proud of their country and long history and many if not most home owners have a flag pole in the front yard. The Danish flag is by far the most attractive in the whole world (really!) They have a long narrow flag which is permitted to be used for every day called a vimpel but on special occasions, birthday, anniversary, national days, the full size flag is hoisted.
Have I told you about the food? If you think that miserable excuse for a pastry called a "Danish" back home is good, you haven't tried the real thing! Melts in your mouth and tastes soooooo fantastic - and as everyone knows, I am a cake aficionado. Sadly there's only one Danish Baker in Melbourne and he's in Frankston. Apart from that there is also the picked herrings, red cabbage, liver wurst, pressed meats......... Nope, not losing any weight here!
We had a
Harbour in Skaelskor
My mother's home town lovely time with Lene and Leif and their family, thank you or as the Danes say - mange tak.
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