WONDERFUL WONDERFUL COPENHAGEN: VEJLE, ODENSE, AERO ISLAND

VEJLE

We have arranged another min trip within Denmark this time, to Odense and Aero Island and we were invited to stay at the home of Poul Erik's sister, Aase, who lives not too far away from Odense at Vejle. Vejle is about a two and a half hour's drive from Vaerlose. It is situated on Jutland which we reached after crossing the island of Funen and the Great Belt Bridge from Zealand. We arrived mid afternoon. Aase has a lovely home and garden and it was nice to make her acquaintance over afternoon tea. We were invited to Aase's friend Niels' home for dinner that evening. Aase left to help Niels' with dinner preparations and came back for us at 6 p.m. We enjoyed a very nice evening and dinner in Niels' beautifully renovated (by himself) home. Aase dropped us back to her home and we will take in nearby areas tomorrow.

Breakfast in the garden

Aase's Comfy Lounge Room

JELLING

We drive to Jelling after breakfast through very pretty counryside. We have been told about the Museum here (or Experience Centre) as it is called. It is located right next to two monuments erected by two Viking kings, Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth. (Bluetooth technology is named after King Harald - Ericssen and others pioneering this new invention). Each time I look at my FitBit I will think of King Harald Bluetooth. The museum is a unique and engaging insight into the fascinating history of the location and the world of the Vikings. Using the latest technology you can touch, feel and watch when the world of the Vikings unfolds in the interactive exhibitions. From the moment you enter the experience centre you will become an active player in an historic Viking voyage. You can team up with the sword-wielding warriors who according to legend were resurrected from battlefields to join the gods in Valhalla. You can tremble with fear at the brutal sacrifices of the Vikings. And you can also experience the more peaceful side of Viking life – the everyday life of peasants and enterprising merchants. Sit back and listen to the exciting stories in the flicker of the flames. Enter into the barrow of King Gorm the Old. Witness the introduction of Christianity to Denmark and the unification of the kingdom under the rule of King Harald Bluetooth. We spent quite a lot of time here absorbing all of the above. And then more time in the gift shop buying a few souvenirs. Amazingly this museum has free entry.

We went to the rooftop terrace which offers a magnificent view over the Jelling Monuments. The monument area is the size of 20 football fields, consisting of two rune stones, two barrows, a church, a stone ship and the vestiges of a 1.4 kilometre stakewall that surrounds it all. Considered Europe’s most prominent Viking monuments, the Jelling Monuments enjoy UNESCO World Heritage patronage. From the terrace on the exhibition centre you can travel in time and see through digital binoculars to what Jelling once looked like 1,000 years ago.

View of the Mound from the Rooftop Terrace

We also walked through the Jelling cemetery which is beautifully maintained with sculptured shrubs and small trees. Unique.

Jelling Church and Cemetery

Harald's Rune Stone

We walked to the top of the mound and viewed the runic stones, the two mounds and the first church which were raised and built in the 10th century AD. Jelling and the historical monuments have been symbols of the founding of Denmark and the Danish monarchy. The unified kingdom of Denmark was founded by the Viking kings Gorm the Old and Harald Bluetooth in the 10th century making the monarchy of Denmark the oldest in Europe.

A very interesting experience.

AARHUS

We then drove to Aarhus, had a look around, very buzzy on a Sunday, lots of people eating out at the many cafes alongside the river. We joined the crowd of diners and enjoyed lunch here and people watching on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

ODENSE

This pleasant city on the island of Funen is best known as the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. We took the one hour scenic river cruise passing beautiful countryside along the way.

Swans along the river

We visited the little house where H.C. Andersen lived with his parents from the age of 2 to 14. The house contains the very humble rooms which comprised the home of the great fairy tale writer and to which his dearest memories of childhood are attached.

H.C Andersen's childhood home

We then followed the footsteps painted on the walkway which led to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. This was very informative and told the story of his life, some lovely exhibits here..

Some Exhibits from HCA's fairy tales

Very well displayed

Aero Island

We took a ferry from Svendborg and arrived 75 minutes later at Aeroskobing, population 6,800. “Kobing” means trading town and refers to the city’s role in the Middle Ages as a commercial and maritime center. Ferries also run from Faaborg to Soby on the northern tip of Aero.

As the ferry eases into the dock, visitors are treated to views of the low hills, the red terracotta rooftops of the town and a colorful pop-bead string of small bathing huts on Vesterstrand, a long, narrow spit of land. We were told that these huts are treasured family heirlooms passed down within families.

There are three towns here, Aeroskobing, Mastal and Soby. We stayed at Aeroskobing at a small comfortable hotel. It is a very quaint little town and has old cobbled streets that run down to the harbour. Aeroskobing is the busiest of the three towns here. We drove to the other two towns for a look around, not very far away, through pretty countryside and thatched roof cottages.