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Published: August 8th 2013
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Well, I'm scribbling this from our hotel room in Athens but it's going to cover a trip to the northern tip of Denmark, back to Gothenburg, two nights in Copenhagen and our flight down here today and the first 10 hours in this amazing, slightly schizophrenic city.
Part one:
Our trip to Denmark a few days ago had been organised by Raymond and My and we were to go on a fast ferry across to Fredericshavn in northern Denmark then a train up to Skagen where the watch name comes from, then a walk out to the northernmost tip of Denmark along a hooked sand spit where the Kattegat and the Skaggerak meet. Gavin and I impressed the women somewhat by being able to sing most of the words to "Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen" which includes the words, "I sailed up the Kattegat and into the Skaggerak..." Or something. Their hysterical giggling we took to be complimentary.
So, up at the crack of drawn, not quite, as the summer in this part of the world has long days but it was around 5.30 so we could get down to the fast ferry in time for kick off. It was
image Kattegat
Or possibly the Skaggerat. a big vessel and it was fast, clean and quiet except for the passengers giving the pokie machines a decent workout!! Very smooth but the seas between Gotheburg and Denmark are quite sheltered I'm told. A couple of hours and we were dropping anchor.
Fredericshavn is a touristy kind of place but very pretty all the same. Dozens of shops and bars setup for tourists from Denmark and people like us. It's the setting off place for the Skagen Spit and between a million and a million and a half people go through there each year. We were six of them. Trains over here are another world from the 6.30 from Upper Hutt to Wellington. This one was modern, clean, quiet, fast, comfortable, stable, on time, enjoyable. It took us out to the town of Skagen, again very touristy and attractive and designed to fleece the casual visitor, where we hopped in a taxi rather than walk the 41/2 k's to the start of the Spit walk. It was another hot day. The Spit itself is about 31km long but much of it is built on (e.g. Fredericshavn and Skagen) so you don't get the same feeling of vastness
or remoteness that Farewell Spit provides.
There were literally hundreds of people doing what we were; kids, mums and dads, grannies, baby's all heading out to sing the words of the Danny Kaye song where the two seas meet. Only a 20 minute walk out and a lot of that with our shoes off, in the sea. Photo opportunities followed. It was an enjoyable outing. Back the way we came with a bit of time to have a meal and look around both towns. Some shopping was done so we helped the Danish economy.
Our voyage back was on a slow ferry and took 3 1/2 hours of screaming, kid filled delight, drunken conversations(not us) and pokie mania. Got home around midnight after a good day doing something none of us would have done of our own.
Alcohol is very expensive in Sweden - high taxes on it. One of the reasons so many go across to Denmark is for the cheaper alcohol. There was a duty free shop on board and the beer etc was way cheaper than just a few metres away on Swedish soil. Hence some of the "happy" travellers on the way back.
Central Station Gotheburg
Copenhagen awaits 4 hours away. Part two:
Our last day in Gothenburg before taking a train to Copenhagen. A slower wake-up today. Raymond wanted to show off Swedish Elk or Moose so we walked up into the big park and indeed did see them. They were lying down so the effect of their huge size was muted to say the least but we saw the damn things!
Following moose sightings we wandered downtown to see the old city. I have to say my impressions of Gotheburg have taken a turn for the better since day 1. It's a very attractive place with many areas that you'd be glad to call home, in summer anyway. The old city is picturesque with narrow streets, old wooden and stone buildings, cobblestones, sidewalk cafes and quaint shops, apartments within the old buildings and not many cars. It had quite a bohemian feel to it. And we had the best salads we've eaten in years at one of the vegetarian cafes. And then it was last minute packing, farewells to Raymond and My who had been such great hosts to us oldies, down to the station and on the long distance train to Copenhagen.
And there I'm going to stop as it's getting late and Lyn's sleeping a few metres away with little snuffles. Finish tomorrow.
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Disey and Linds (aka TTATs)
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Goodbye Scandinavia, hello Greece
Hi there fellow Travellers, It sounds like you had a wonderful time in Scandinavia - being well looked after by locals helps no doubt. We look forward to the blogs about another part of the world. Enjoy!