The Little Mermaid and some "laughs" by the fountain

Copenhagen, Denmark 2012

 "Far out in the ocean, where the water is as blue as a cornflower, as clear as crystal, and very, very deep..." there lived a young mermaid. So begins one of Hans Christian Andersen's — and Denmark's — best-known stories.

One day, a young mermaid spies a passing ship and falls in love with a handsome human prince. The ship is wrecked in a storm, and she saves the prince's life. To be with the prince, the mermaid asks a sea witch to give her human legs. In exchange, she agrees to give up her voice and the chance of ever returning to the sea. And, the witch tells her, if the prince doesn't marry her, she will immediately die heartbroken and without an immortal soul. The mermaid agrees, and her fish tail becomes a pair of beautiful but painful legs. She woos the prince — who loves her in return — but he eventually marries another. Heartbroken, the mermaid prepares to die. She's given one last chance to save herself: She must kill the prince on his wedding night. She sneaks into the bedchamber with a knife...but can't bear to kill the man she loves. The mermaid throws herself into the sea to die. Suddenly, she's miraculously carried up by the mermaids of the air, who give her an immortal soul as a reward for her long-suffering love.

credit to http://www.ricksteves.com/news/travelnews/0807/little_mermaid.htm

Amalienborg Palace Changing of the Guard

I adore a marching band.   Just as we finished our polse sandwich, we turned around on Stoget (pedestrian walking street) to see the Amalienborg Guards parading to the palace for the ceremonial "changing of the guard".  

"Real Food" real good!

http://unlike.net/copenhagen/food/bio-mio

Bio Mio is so yummy and fun too.  It's located in the old "meat packing" district in Copenhagen.  A trendy scene, asking customers to make food choices cafeteria style then select the chef behind the counter and place your order.  The chef will take the electronic card you received at the entrance and add up your purchases.  All the food is made from local and thus, fresh resources.  It was delicious.  My only regret was not getting what my eldest son picked (pork loin - see top right picture). 

Entertainment too?  No, just the Bearyhead being, well the bearyhead. 

Hot Diggitty Dog

The pølse, Denmark's answer to our hot dog, is sold from sausage wagons (pølsevognen) throughout the city. Yummy (but messy)  For about 2 euro a "dog" it's a "crowd pleaser" for our family of 5 for just under 12 euro -- HOT DOG!

Copenhagen's Treasures-Scandinavia Part 5

Gundestrup Cauldron

Peat bog, Gundestrup (Denmark)

First century B.C.E.

Silver partially gilded

Diameter 69cm., Height 42cm.

Copenhagen, Nationalmuseet
Educational Link:  http://www.unc.edu/celtic/catalogue/Gundestrup/kauldron.html

Our first day in Copenhagen, ties together are famous Celts (see Ireland June 2011) and their raiding "cousins" across the seas.  Our Viking exploration continues in Copenhagen's National Museum.  This is an outstanding museum.  It really tells a complete story of the ancient civilizations and provides terrific historical pieces and artifacts.  A very interesting piece is show above (definitely one on the "must see" list according to Lord Clark from his epic Civilization) in the Gundestrup Cauldron.   What is so impressive here is the condition.  It is in excellent condition for a 2000 year old artifact.  This is thanks mostly to the peat bog's preservation characteristics.  I adore the way the Danes have illuminated the cauldron to show off it's highly polished silver -- it adds so to the mysterious and ominous (this may have been used in religious sacrifices) nature.  In it's presence, even behind the glass case, I feel it's pagan power draw me.  

Ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen-Scandinavia Part 4

Logistically speaking, Scandinavia provides wonderful (albeit super expensive) transportation inside each countries' borders and everything inbetween.  This is the ferry we sailed overnight from Oslo to Copenhagen.  Because Norway has very high taxes on certain goods, many of the Norwegians hop a ride to Denmark, where once away from the shore, duty-free shopping begins. 

The Most Beautiful Train Ride in the World - Scandinavia Part 3

'Norway in a Nutshell' claims the title "Most Beautiful Journey in the World" and I sincerely agree!  We begin the journey on the 8:11 train out of Oslo to Myrdal.  Here we change trains to the Flamsbana, the private train which will land us in Norway's Sognefjord.

 

 

Now the boat ride through the Sognefjord.  Beautiful blue skies, crystal clear waters, and happy Gallaghers glide where Vikings once ruled.  The landscape commands your respect.  The massive cliffs evoke fear while still softly whispering their secrets.  The meandering glass-like, still waters entice you to see what lies around the next corner.  My spirit beat in harmony with the ancient Viking's as we slid between narrow passage ways.  The message spoke of travel and adventure; Wunderlust.  I too, want to go a viking.

My favorite time of the day came at evening song, when the light receded but did not complete fade from the sky.  This is approaching the summer equinox when the days are at their longest.  Here the boys made a game of attempting to remain in the icy waters the longest and Joe and I sat back and took in the view from our apartment's balcony.

Scandinavia Part 2 - Frogner Park

Frogner Park is a gem in the heart of Oslo.  Wonderfully located just outside the city center, it is a place for young and old to gather for picnics (with “one time grills”) and evening strolls.   The garden is masterfully decorated by Gustav Vigeland.  During his career, Vigeland made a deal with the city to cast over 600 figures beautifying Oslo in return for a great studio and state support.  It is an ideal in public planning.  It is loved and respected by its people; no police necessary, no graffiti present and no fences need.

Vigeland’s theme for the park represents the cycle of life.   His sculpture is poignant and powerful, showing all stages of life from birth to death.  The enormity, larger than life scale of his creations, lends itself to self contemplation.  The wide open spaces throughout the garden leave room for reflection and tranquility. 

Scandinavia Part 1 - Viking Museum

Our history unit culminated!  This year's exploration of the Vikings and the Celts left us longing for more information on these ancient civilizations.  In Ireland last June, we got up close to our Celtic ancestors and this year we venture a little further north to Scandinavia.  Those brutal, yet poetic Norsemen hold delights and mythic lore that speak to my three young men.  This is the Vikingshiphuset in the Bygdoy neighborhood (greater Oslo) where we begin our field trip.  This impressive museum holds the best-preserved Viking long ships in existence.  The Oseberg ( 834 AD) ornately carved sailed on inland waters during festivals, but not in the open ocean.  The Gokstad ship (950 AD) is a practical working boat, capable of sailing the high seas.  It is just such a vessel that explorers like Eric the Red sailed fro Norway to Iceland to Greenland and then onto North America.  

France Again? To Burgundy and Beyond

Our wonderfully charming Gite challenged our GPS and Joe's patience, but once we found it, we were so happy to share a lovely bottle of Burgundy wine together.  The woman that runs/owns this little hide away farm, lead us up and up and up to our room amongst the rafters.  The spiral staircase was, not exaggerating, 33 steps, with one GIANT one at the top.  We always remark how this "would never be allowed in the US".  But part of the fun and adventure of traveling, if you have a good sense of humor, is trying something different. 

Delicious wine, asking a farmer directions and wee bit of all those stairs!

Our dinner began at 8:00, with typical French flair -- the boys ate Escargot and (WOW) and  Ham in Parsley Aspic (see below)

And as if you might still need further encouragement to visit the region of Burgundy, there's THE wine!

 The city of Beaune, famous for it's grapes on the Cote de Beaune are some of the finest Burgundy Wines in the World.  We sampled a few lovelies with plans to return without the kids another time :)

Also located in Beaune, is the Hotel Dieu a medieval hospital for the poor.  The Hospices de Beaune received the first patient on 1 January 1452. Elderly, disabled and sick people, with orphans, women about to give birth and the destitute have all been uninterruptedly welcomed for treatment and refuge, from the Middle Ages until today.  Over the centuries, the hospital radiated outwards, grouping with similar establishments in the surrounding villages of Pommard, Nolay, Meursault. Many donations - farms, property, woods, works of art and of course vineyards - were made to it, by grateful families and generous benefactors. The institution is one of the best and oldest example of historical, philanthropic, and wine-producing heritage, and has become linked with the economic and cultural life of Burgundy.  (wikipedia)

notice the surgical instruments - YIKES!

outside colorful tiles and gargoyles

The colorful tiles have an interesting story to share.  Apparently, the local craftsmen would leave the tiles to dry in the nearby fields where animals would happen chance to leave behind an autograph.

Now for a "little" art.... as we view

The Last Judgment Polyptych in Beaune, 1446-52 by Rogier van der WEYDEN

The altarpiece was intended for the chapel that stood at the end of the 72-meter-long hospital ward. The patients were to be able to see it across a partition, and its considerable dimensions and composition, clearly distributed over the entire surface of the picture and easily surveyed even from some way off, helped it to meet that requirement. Opened out, the retable shows the Last Judgment, a clear admonition to the sick to remember their own mortality and turn their minds to God. This is easily understandable, since the spiritual care of the sick was as important as their bodily care, and in the thinking of the time only those in a state of spiritual grace could be restored to health.
(courtesy of http://www.wga.hu/html_m/w/weyden/rogier/08beaune/index.html)  I don't know if I would find this very comforting!!

We always research an area a bit before we go and Rick Steve (aka Rickyboy) is our favorite!
http://www.denverpost.com/travel/ci_20364735/burgundy-wine-barging-and-beyond-france

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of a awesome "corner" of France.