Tag: Horsens

Walking on the Beach, Walking in The Woods

Dear Jasper and Kestrel,

Cousin Liza took me for a long walk down the beach by her house the other day. I had been there before, but it’s always fun to hear her take on things.

It was a sunny, chilly morning, and the light was sparkling on the water. The fjord doesn’t have waves, just little laps on the beach it is perfect for boating. Liza has started taking sailing lessons, and she posed by the boat she uses. All the boats are stored upside down in the boat yard. There is no fence around anything. “Stealing isn’t as big a thing here,” she said. I realized how much of our energy is the U.S. is spent keeping our stuff safe from thieves.

Further down the beach, we sat in huge wooden chairs that can be rotated into or out of the wind or sun. A very nice spot to perch!

We found two of Thomas Dambo’s trolls, called Laura and Julian, playing tug of war with a slack-line that you can walk on. We decided against it.

There were hammocks, which we rested in and watched the trees dance over our heads. We took pictures and messed around with color editing as we cuddled in the hammock. It was so nice to have quiet time with my youngest grandchild.

We got tired and hungry and headed to her place, where your Uncle David made everyone quesadillas. Then it was time for a short drive and a delightful walk through the Bollerskovene Klokkedal Skov, which is a national park just across the fjord from Horsens.

Broad, flat paths and burbling creeks made for a pleasant walk. We found a small bridge and I taught Liza how to play Pooh Sticks.

That lead to some engineering under the bridge to release the sticks. Engineers play differently than other folks, for sure. It was wonderful to see David and Liza having fun together!

And, as we walked back to the car, I got all three of my Danish family to pose. Aren’t they adorable? David drove us back to town and we all had naps and then a snack-ish dinner together.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Wild Flowers, Rune Stones, and Deer

Dear Jasper and Kestrel,

For our second day in Horsens, we headed out of town to Jelling. Of course, there is always a snag, and David’s Tesla needed charging, so we had a layover.

Liza and I enjoyed the massive wild flower field by the service station, and had a fine time identifying and photographing them. With the rain and long summer days, flowers grow really well here, even when no one takes care of them.

At Jelling, we met Auntie Olga’s friend Dennis. He is from Russia and getting used to life in Denmark, too.

The rune stones are rough, stout stones about seven feet high, carved all over with symbols. They were placed here, between two burial mounds, by the Danish King in the year 965 A.D.

This one, which shows a very stylized Jesus on the cross, was carved to show that King Harold Bluetooth (yes, really) had converted to Christianity. It is called Denmark’s Baptism certificate.

In case you were wondering, Harold’s initials, written in Danish runes (ancient letters) is the symbol we now use for Bluetooth wireless technology. Bluetooth was invented by a Dutch engineer while working in Sweden, so I guess it makes some sort of sense? Cool, anyway.

Scientists have discovered that the stone were originally painted!! Over a thousand years the paint has worn away, but tiny traces remain, and a replica of one of the stones has been created with what they think the original colors were. I was stunned. With the color, they look almost Mayan.

After some delicious ice cream, we said good-bye to Dennis and headed to our last stop of the day, the Deer Park outside of Vejle, south of Horsens. The deer were very gentle, of course, but not always cooperative.

One little girl followed the small group around with a handful of grass and kept offering it. She may have a long term strategy, but while we were there, the deer weren’t having it.

By this time, we were all pooped and drove ‘home’ for a well-deserved lay down.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Into Horsens

Dear Liza,

After four delightful, exhausting, art-filled days in Paris, our vacation changed gears. Your mom and Bridgett stayed in Paris, Katie and the kids went off to see friends in Germany, and Grandpa Nelson and I headed to Denmark to see you and your dad.

Our plane got in very late, so our first experience in Denmark was a good night’s sleep. (This is more important than you might think).

There are so many wonderful murals in Horsens. Two of my favorites are a robot hand freeing some birds, and a young man reading to a friend. I like that the murals reflect peace and friendship rather than anger or violence.

The next morning, you took me on an adventure to show me all your favorite places in town. Horsens is small, just about 61,000 people, and is very tranquil and safe.

We bundled up because it was very windy and just above freezing, though bright and sunny. The Industry Museum has a great play area with some challenging climbing structures. You lured me up four levels to this net-walk thing that led to a nutsy spiral slide. It put my Adventure Grandma muscles to the test.

By the fjord, you posed with this wonderful statue of a little girl sitting on a polar bear’s shoulder. I love the way she is patting his cheek.

After a few hours walking in the wind, we were worn out and had some down time. Grandpa Nelson and your dad kept talking.

We headed off for a drive to a beachside town called Julesminda. There, you showed me a climbing challenge I had to pass on. Steep, very narrow cages bridged the gap between tiny platforms disguised as fairy huts that climbed right up the side of a hill. I enjoyed watching you, but my nerves (and joints) failed me.

Later that day we drove up to the Highest Point in Denmark, called the Mollehoj. It is 561 feet high, which is not very high, actually. Mt. Tabor in Portland is 636 feet.

A thousand years or so ago, it was the burial place of Viking kings, but modern Danes carefully moved the kings elsewhere and built a tall tower (to make the high place even higher).

It is a fine place for a windblown selfie and a sweeping view of the surrounding landscape.

What a wonderful first day in Denmark!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Getting Ready for Winter

Dear Liza,

A lot has happened since I wrote to you in August! You and your family have moved to Horsens, Denmark, and are discovering wonderful things to do there.

I have started learning Danish on Duolingo to get ready for our visit.

I had surgery on my ear to remove a skin cancer, and then a skin graft to put me back together. I am healing nicely.

Summer has ended and Fall has begun, with all the gardening that entails and beauty it brings.

I have planted some Hairy Vetch (a real thing) as a winter cover crop for my garden patch. It should put some nitrogen back in the soil and give it a nice green mulch come Spring.

I wrote a story about imaginary Liza and imaginary Grandma Judy, called “International Adventure Grandma”.

It has maps and secrets codes and I really enjoyed writing it! It is currently being edited by a trusted friend and I promise to bring a real hold-in-your-hand copy when I come visit in the Spring.


I expect to get back to writing this blog regularly, and hope you will come along and see what I’m up to.

Love,

Grandma Judy