Monday, June 30, 2014

Last day at the beach house

A few pics from our last day at the beach house on Fyn. 





Bye to the beach house! 

We went to Bogense on our way to say good bye to Jeannette and had ice cream for breakfast. Why not? We are on vacation!


Goodbye to Jeanette & Steven. 
"Jeg leaker dig" is I love you in Danish!

Our new apartment. 
Off to explore more of Copenhagen before coming home Thursday!
👍


















Trip Update!

We have having a fantastic time on our trip! Some posts will. E out of order or newly updated due to have to wait for internet access to publish. The beach house we stayed in on the island of Fyn was beautiful, peaceful, secluded and without internet access. This mostly a good thing. We spent time reading playing, going for the beach and exploring. Today is Tuesday July 1st and after saying goodbye tot the family yesterday we drove back to Copenhagen for our last 3 days. I had to scramble to find a place to stay, since we had left this partner the trip unscheduled in order to allow the family/democracy to come up with a plan. After considering many options such as trains to Amsterdam, boats to Oslo Norway and driving to , we decided to come back to Copenhagen to explore a bit more. I used the rental site Airbnb to find another great apartment on Copenhagen at the last minute while on our trip to the Southern Danish island of Aero yesterday. Some people mock the highly technological world we live in, but there are advantages such as the following: while sitting on a picnic bench on a remote island watching the kids play In a park, without the ability to make a phone call with my iPhone 5, I was able to log into the free aero harbour wifi. I logged into my airbnb account and sent requests to 4 potential apartment owners, checked the ferry schedule for our return trip that afternoon to Fyn. Since my battery was running low, I plugged it into my solar charger that had been charging all day while hooked tourney backpack as we ride 14 kilometers around the island on bikes. 
Solar charger!
Within 15 min, I had confirmation of an apartment and booked it. Wow! That's cool! The kids now refer to me as either Inspector gadget or Swiss army dad, because I always have what they need in my backpack of tricks, when they ask for it and yes matter where we are. After booking the apartment, I layed in the grass to catch a 15 minute nap, before we headed back for the port where the ferry would pick us up. Just as I dozed off under the warm Danish sun, I heard a girl crying and rose the see a mother carrying her daughter to a picnic table. Swiss army dad was on duty again and I pulled my first aid kit out of my backpack and went over to help. She had a nasty cut on her heel and despite the language barrier, they understood that I knew what I was doing and cleaned and dressed her cut.

So to back up a few steps, let me tell you how we got there.  Haley has a friend living in Denmark who said that we should go to the island of Aero and ride bikes. Erik had been asking to rent and ride bikes from day 1, but the opportunity for a fun/safe ride had not yet come up. So, we packed up the van, picked up my cousin Steven and headed South for Svenborg (the southern port city. From there we drove into a ferry for a 75 minute ride over to Aero. Aero is a beautiful, old island with a rich history of Viking activity and has been largely preserved I it's state from medival times. We then rented bikes and ride about 5 miles along an amazing Oceanside trail. It was great having Steven with us as we got to spend time catching up and he got to know the kids better. He is a great guy and since he speaks fluent Danish, he was our official interpretor. I really couldn't have done this part of the trip without him as several times when we were lost, he just asked the locals where we were and got us going the right direction. He also had a Danish phone that allowed him to call back got the house and touch base with  the family. We had a bit of suspense at the end of the day when we got back to the ferry port and they said there were only 2 ferry runs left for the day and the one we had hoped to be on was booked. Spending the night there would not have been the end of the world, but it definitely was not the plan. Steven again inquired what to do and they told him to park our car in the "no reservations/take a chance" lane. Luckily I did that right away and we were 1st in that line. With a full ferry and everyone on the edge of there seats, we finally got the wave to drive aboard and we one of the last fee cars to make it on. Wow. Below are pictures of that trip and ou last morning on Fyn. Yesterday we drove back to Copenhagen, turned in the rental car and moved into our new apartment in the hip area of  Vestebro. Enjoy. 
In line for the ferry to Aero
Makayla with Harriett on the Ferry. 
Erik trying on a new Viking hair style!
The medival town of Mastrel on Aero. 
On our bike ride. Beautiful scenary and weather!! Lucky!
Hot stuff makayla. The ride back (5 miles) was into a bit of a head wind and Amy's tush was not happy with the seat. She endured though and did great. I ride with Amy, Steven was ahead with makayla and Haley & Erik were way out in front having a blast on point. 
Amy on the Tour De Aero. 

Thankfully and mostly due to Steven, back on the Fairy home!











A great reunion in Somderso


PSpent the day in Odense with Steven. 
Got to see the other Magasin location that my uncle Jon used to manage. 
Lunch in Odense.

Shopping in Odense. 
Beautiful park in Odense. 
Sculpture in Odense. 
Then after touring Odense we went back to Somderso. 
Nicole, Nikklas, Michele & Mickey had us over for an amazing dinner and wonderful family reunion in Sondrrso!

Reece & cousin Jeanette!
We had a fantastic Danish meal and the kids has a blast getting to know each other. 
Play is a universal language!
After dinner we went back to the cottage and saw another beautiful sunset!
Thank you to Niklas. Nicole and Niklas's parents for a wonderful dstay on Fyn!!!
Mon Tak. A million thanks!!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

A great reunion in Somderso

Nicole and Nikklas had us over for a wonderful reunion in Sondrrso!
Reece & cousin Jeanette!

Friday, June 27, 2014

Lego land!!

LEGO LAND Billund
Had a great day at Lego land, but we have limited access to internet so I will have to post tomorrow!!
Boy did we get lucky! We had a 30 minute thunderstorm hit right after we entered the park and had to take cover on a restaurant.  Then the Viking gods smiled on us and the rain stopped. The rest of our day was great and not crowded since many medt when the rain hit. The rain started again on the ride home to make my drive a little ore challenging. Very cool the share the original Lego land withy the kids!
Lego city of Copenhagen 
Only 41 years have passed since I stood in about the same spot to pose for picture while visiting Denmark withy mom and dad. Legos stay the same, by I look a little different! Haha. 
Makayla & the kids had a blast. 
On our way out after a fun day!!








Thursday, June 26, 2014

Last day in Kobenhavin


Copenhagen as we say it means "merchant's harbour," which reflects its origins from a Viking fishing village to a trade Capitol of Scandinavia. 
Today we finish our stay here with a tour of Christianshavin, the "free living" area of the city given to members of the Danish resistance after WWII. There are no rules there and so you find all kinds if peoe doing all kinds of things with art, construction etc etc.  then we will rent bikes and tour some of the beautiful gardens they have before renting our car and heading to Fyn to see my cousins. A full day if fun. We have enjoyed our apartment here in the old part of the city, but are ready to head across the bridge to the rural roads of Fyn for our next adventure. 
Farvel Copenhagen.