Family Plans
I had a great time with my cousin Dave in Aarhus, Denmark, in May 1998.
Sunlight from 4:00 am to 10:15 pm. Min Temperature 45 deg F in the morning and 50-55 during the day.
In Spring all of the Danes put on shorts and stay in the sun. (after a long, dark winter!)
Buildings and Churches are huge and beautiful. Dave's house is 70 years old. Outer walls are 19 in. thick. He owns top two floors, a lady owns the bottom two.
No autos are allowed in the downtown shopping district-only delivery trucks. People walk in the street as well as on the sidewalks. We walked all over town - no crime. Bicycles are all over - bike paths on every street - they all use hand signals to prevent accidents. Every building has bike racks.
Everyone speaks English and loves to shop. There are also shopping centers, department stores and many specialty shops - bakeries, butcher, etc. Toys R Us and Mc Donald's out in the suburbs!
State pays University tuition and expenses for all grade qualified students. The rest go to trade schools in 11th and 12th grades. Sales taxes are 25% and income taxes are 40% if you purchase a home and 50% if you do not. All medical and prescriptions are paid for and a retirement, too.
We visited a retired couple, Helle and Hellmuth Andersen, (pictured here with daughter Hellene) who live in an 11th century city, Fjellerup, in a 100 year old half timber home with a thatch roof. He was in charge of Denmark Museums. Hellmuth says most cities ending in "up" are from the 11th and 12th centuries. Their daughter, Hellene, fixed a delicious lunch for us.
Visited Birgit and Lars Jenson, who live in a school teacher's house with a huge classroom attached where the farm children used to go to school. Solid brick walls, inside covered with plaster. Birgit is exposing the bricks in several areas. She works at the University; Lars teaches computer science. Lars bar-b-qued dinner.
Toured the coast. Visited the site of a "moving" sand dune. Saw Tilsandeded Kirke, built in the 14th century. Sand has covered the church and all but 2/3 of the bell tower. Sand drifts started in the 16th century. It reached the Church at the end of the 18th century. To worship, people would clean the sand out. Church was closed in 1795.
Went to the northern tip of Denmark where Kattegat and Skagerrak Bays meet. You can put one foot in each bay. Current is terrific a few feet out and the only beach where no swimming is allowed.
In Aarhus is Den Gamle By, set up like an old city would be with real shops and tradesmen's buildings - most from Aarhus. Some have been moved in. Coblestone streets (hard to walk on!). There is a map telling the origin of each building. River runs through the center. Even the mayor's house, (huge), is there.
We took a carriage ride through the adjacent Botanical Gardens sponsored by the University.
Dave took me to his favorite bars, one full of antiques where Dave cooks gumbo, etc. for special occasions and he and friends (like Brian) play music. Here's Dave dispensing beer from an antique brass beer dispenser
I saw much more. These are some highlights. All of the people seem happy and are warm and friendly. The day care center near Dave's puts the babies on the porch in carriages to sleep and play all day in 50 deg F weather. They are all bundled up. Pre schoolers play out in heavy snowsuits. I wouldn't mind living there to escape our summer weather, but wouldn't like the long hours of darkness in the winter.
We have internet pals, Steen and Anna Marie. They signed Billy's family page - from Aarhus. They live a few blocks from the University. Billy e-mailed to him that I was going to Aarhus, so Steen e-mailed me. He kept me informed concerning the strike (which ended before it gave me any problems) and weather. Anna Marie makes bobbin lace and plays the organ. Anna Marie is making 2 bobbin lace table runners for Teri and me. It takes 1 hour to go 1 inch by 12 inches. Dave and I met them for lunch and they invited us to dinner at their home. Delicious! They are very nice. We had a very enjoyable afternoon and evening.
We walked home at 9:30 pm - thru town - like true Danes! It was about a mile. Took us 30 minutes, still daylight! Many people were out.
I met many more of Dave's friends, who are all very friendly. I can see why Dave loves Denmark.
For more information about Denmark and its history, click here.
Mo and Lynn took a trip to the Island of Utila, Honduras in Feb '98. Lynn's mother's family settled on the island several generations ago, and this was her second trip back to visit relatives. They had a wonderful vacation and thank Judith, George, and Dorcas Gabourel and all the friendly people they met on the Island. Click on one of the following to see some pictures from their trip:Mo and Lynn's Excellent Adventure
Billy, Judith Gabourel, Lynn & George Gabourel at the Lugana Beach Resort, our last night on the Island.
Lynn in the Gabourel's backyard with freshly picked bananas
Mo & Billy in the Gabourel's backyard
Lynn feeding a monkey on the way to Blue Bayou
