So after driving 1297 miles down through Sweden, trying to escape the snow, I caught the ferry from Helsingborg Sweden to Helsingor, Denmark. There was no way I was crossing on the Oresund Bridge. I know that I have faced my fears with bridges and heights in Norway but this one I was not quite ready for and I had been told it cost 90 euros so I took the cheaper ferry option and didn’t even have to drive that much further to get it.
I arrived in Copenhagen on Saturday evening after 5pm as I had found some parking that was free after this time for the whole weekend. A nice spot just outside of the main town area.
I had decided that it was date night as I hadn’t treated myself to a meal out for some time. I had a budget of 32 krones as that was what I had in cash. Well I was soon to realise that the restaurants in the area I was staying were very expensive and my 32 krones was not going to buy me much, so I ended up in the supermarket buying tortellini, american pancakes and a bottle of wine, all for under £10. Way under budget! It was actually very enjoyable and I didn’t have the awkwardness of being in a restaurant by myself.
The next morning I decided to take the bicycle and do a cycle tour first. I headed to Christiania, a hippie settlement since the 1970’s in a disused military base, so of course I was intrigued. There is a wall surrounding it full of amazing art, which I took video off so you will need to watch my next vlog on YouTube to see that. Once inside you are not allowed to take photographs as cannabis can be purchased here illegally, although no longer openly, as many residents are campaigning to clear Christiania of all drug activity, but you can definitely smell it in the air. It has a real hippie vibe, with lots of stalls, numerous places to eat at low prices and plenty of super tasty, veggie and vegan options as well as lots of different live music venues.
Next up was Hans Christian Anderson. He’s of course looking at the Tivoli theatre
A few other photos along the way
I returned the bicycle to the van and headed out on foot to Nyhavn, the heart of Copenhagen, where the canal is lined with bars, restaurants and boats. I stopped for lunch at what turned out to be a building once owned by the White Star company and you could buy tickets here for the Titanic. Apparently 14 people did, the 12 men died and the 2 women survived. I had a very tasty lunch of a meatball sandwich (a burger as it turned out) and a traditional Danish drink called ankvit (vodka with spices). It warmed me up very nicely indeed.
After lunch I headed for the one attraction that can’t be missed when visting Copenhagen. It is of course Den lille Havfrue, the little mermaid. You have to wait patiently to get your space to take your photos. She looks so sad because unlike the Disney version, there is no happy ending. The prince she rescued from drowning marries another woman whom he thought saved him. The moral of this story is don’t bother rescuing drowning princes.
I left Copenhagen the next morning to catch the ferry from Sjaellands Odde to Aarhus where I treated myself to a beautiful spot at Aarhus marina where I could plug into electrics to give the leisure battery its first recharge since leaving the UK back in July. I also got a shower, which always feels like an indulgent moment. I love the appreciation I now have of the things most people in conventional life take for granted. So next time you take a hot shower really enjoy it as so many people in this world do not have this luxury.
Feeling a desire to get back to nature after my city visit my next stop was a pine forest in Flensburg. It was 18 degrees and it was so nice to feel some warm sunshine. The pine forest was full of different mushroom species and I found myself taking lots of photos. Mushrooms are very beautiful to photograph and I even found a heart shaped one and a heart shaped out of a tree stump. Love really does seem to be everywhere I go.
Another pine forest, with beautiful lakes and I am now in Germany, Einemhofer Forest, Vierhofen. Hooray, after driving 3 hours in rain. However, the sun made an appearance and I went for a cycle ride around the lakes. I’ts a spot Lucy van pic
The next day was the most hideous drive on the German motorway system. I hate that the cars drive so fast, as when Lucy and I are overtaking a slow lorry (and there are a lot of them) we are only going 60 miles an hour and the speed of the cars in the fast lane rock the van, that’s how fast they drive! My stop over in the woods calmed me.
Next stop Yvoir in Belgium, a cute and quirky village in a pretty spot by a lake
Onwards to France and I stayed off the motorway today for a more relaxed drive, although it rained the whole way. However, the reward at the end of it was a beautiful canal and lake in Monampteuil. It seems that when I arrive at my destination the rain stops.
I headed to Versailles the next day negotiating the motorway through Paris. Not the best experience but yet again I was rewarded with a beautiful stop over.
Tomorrow I head to Versailles, a place on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint but that will be for next weeks blog, although as I am a month behind hopefully I will apply myself and get it done sooner.
I have spent the last two weeks in Southern Spain, having a break from driving. A perfect location at Roquetas de Mar on the beach with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Sierra Nevada mountains on the other. However, I am now looking forward to getting back on to the road headed to the Algarve
If you would like to follow my journey please subscribe at the bottom of the blog page. It would be great to have you along and please don’t forget to leave some feedback or just a comment to let me know you are out there.
I thought I’d missed a blog when I saw you were in Spain.
But here is part of it. It’s lovely to see places I’ll probably never get to. Take care.
Hi Katy, I’ve got a bit behind with the blogs, outside enjoying nature instead of sat behind a computer screen. Still trying to get the balance right. I’m currently working on my Spanish blog so hopefully that will be posted in the next couple of days. Hope all is well with you. Love to you x
Only just discovered your blog and I love it! You are amazing to do all this journey by yourself.
Love
Jill
xx
Hi Jill, so glad you have now discovered it. Feel free to share it. I am so glad you love it. It has been a very adventurous time and I have learnt so much about myself along the journey. I have grown so much from the experience and have found that I am truly braver and stronger than I thought I was. Love to both you and John. Suzi xx
Hi Suzi great traveling thru Europe with you . Have just picked up our Manhattan this weekend so hopefully our adventures will start soon . One question can you answer how do you pay for things obviously bit off cash but for long time traveling do you use prepaid currency card or credit card . Keep up the blog safe traveling regards Colin and Maureen
Hi Colin & Maureen, apologies for the delay in replying to you. Thank you for your following. I use a card called transferwise as this allows for all currencies at good exchange rates and you can transfer money onto it whenever you want, although there is a small charge each time you do it, but much less than the bank charges if using your normal debit/credit card. You can order it online. I did start off with the post office travel card but it did not cover all the Scandanavian currencies I required. I carried very little cash with me. I hope you enjoy travelling in your Manhattan as much as I have done and am still doing.