Denmark – A Picture Book Come to Life!

Never before in my life have I come to appreciate the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” as much as I have come to appreciate it while in Denmark. I have said it since I first got here in August, and will be saying it long after I leave; I feel as if I have been plucked out of my life and placed in the pages of a beautiful story book. I don’t think I could ever get tire of looking at the houses, which are oh so charming, the nature, or any other facet of Denmark. I love to walk around slowly in Denmark, taking the time to absorb the world around me.

I feel that the only way one will really know the sense of peace that I feel when I am here is either through being here in person, or by those pictures that really do say a thousand words. When I was in Jutland or Jylland (på dansk) this past weekend I took a couple of such photos, and wanted to share them with you. Hopefully you will be able t to feel a bit of Denmark’s magic!

This was where we stayed in Århus – Danhostel Århus

A Danish house by the water in Brabrand.

If you may remember, this past Fall I went to see the Jelling Stones with my host parents. I went and saw them again (they are in Jelling). These two stones have the oldest writings in Denmark about the Kingdom of Denmark. What I learned this time when I went to see them is that this stone has pictures on two of the sides. This side shows a snake wrapped around a lion with the snake biting its own tail.

This side of the same stone is a picture of Jesus. The purpose of this side of the stone is to symbolize that Herald Bluetooth brought Christianity to Denmark.

This is taken walking around the outside of Trapholt (modern furniture and art museum) in Kolding.

A picturesque view over the water in Kolding.

A traditional building in Kolding, complete with a Straw roof.

Another picturesque view over the water.

Part of the walking street in Kolding... now you see why  I walk so slow.

Kolding

A little shop I almost didn't realize was there...

Kolding

 

Hopefully you were able to get an idea about the serenity that one can find in Denmark... if you take the time to pause and look around.

 

If you are thinking to be a PIRATE, beware of the Danes!

Danes, the descendants of the feared Vikings, comprise approximately 10% of the force in the Gulf of Aden combating PIRACY!! Most of my life I had thought that in today’s world Pirates only exist in children’s stories which involve someone walking a plank, treasure chests, and brightly colored parrots.

Yet during the last few years one has heard of Pirates from Somalia... and it is these pirates that we learned about this past weekend with our War Crimes and Human Rights class. Now I associate Pirates with Grenade launchers, skiffs with ladders, and ransoms.

It was truly a one of a kind experience. Only in Denmark would they allow a group of American students to go to the Navy Military Police facilities, as well as the headquarters of the Admiral Danish Fleet to learn about piracy.

We could only take pictures in certain areas, due to security concerns. Not that the Navy’s Operations center had anything to worry about since this was one of the pathways to the WWII bunkers it is situated in.

Though not used as a bunker, being in one definitely has its security advantages... like this door.

Here is one of the communication areas of the Navy Operations center.

It was great to learn about modern piracy from different angles such as human rights law, world security, politics and ultimately justice.

Now I will never view Pirates the same way again, unless I am actually reading a book about pirates, parrots, and treasure chests of old.