Tuesday, October 7, 2014

ROOTS - not the movie - 19

     The last couple of days in Denmark have been busy; my niece Nina is getting married so Nina and her parents are busy with plans and getting things together. Finally the big day arrives and we all drive to a hotel in the town of Randers
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randers
http://www.globosapiens.net/travel-information/Randers-1770.html
and check into Hotel Randers http://www.hotels.com/ho194372/hotel-randers-randers-denmark/ where the dinner and dance will take place tomorrow evening.

      After unpacking and doing away with the "dust" of the journey at the hotel bar we go around town a bit to sight see. My last time in Randers was the spring of 1962 while I was on the good DFDS ship Oklahoma. It is an old city with a lot of history.
http://www.visitranders.com/ln-int/randers/visitranders

     Among the points of interest is Saint Mortens (Martin) Church http://www.spottinghistory.com/view/3125/st-mortens-church/
http://urd.dk/sct-morten/short.htm


    We came across an old pharmacy, or should I say a really old Apothecary, and there are very few of those around in the modern world today. In this country, the US, they are generally known as Compounding Apothecaries. It is a good example of history on that side of the Atlantic and history on this side of the Atlantic. Here the news casters on Television will use phrases like "Way back in August ..." and now it is almost October. This apothecary is 380 years old, really from "way back .."
This was actually directly across the street from the hotel.
 As can be seen the apothecary was founded in 1634, and 142 years later the American Colonies declared independence from British rule.

     Some participants in the wedding plans were getting their hair done, others were buying last minutes needed stuff.
One of the stores where we shopped.
He just had his hair cut and fixed up really nice.
A crucifix  made of driftwood. This is located inside of Saint Mortens Church.
The bride Nina and the groom Carsten after the wedding. And it began to rain.
   So rain drops are falling from the sky, well, why not add a little challenge to the situation;
The antique automobile hired to transport the newlyweds to the hotel wouldn't start but eventually it was persuaded to do what it was asked to do.
Make sure they do not get wet.

The cranky old engine "cranked" up.

The newlyweds and well wishers.
     Just a few more photos from the wedding.
The flower girl.

The Groom and Bride

The young lad enjoying the day.

Max on the left, Frank in the middle and yours truly to the right.

The bride and her sister.

Berith, Nina and Carsten

The children with their mother.

The obligatory shot of the newlyweds cutting the cake.

The Bride

The parents oft the Bride.

The parents of the bride and groom.

Proper table settings, no paper plates or pastic ware.
This is way beyond Fajitas, Rice and Beans and Bud Ligth, in other
words, it is done correctly.

A tender moment between Uncle (Farbror) and the bride.


Uncle (Farbror) and bride.

Dancing the Wedding waltz

She is dancing, I am trying.
    Thus endedth the wedding. Tomorrow is departure day and we had a nice brunch in the home of the young couple. Then it was time for a few last photos and off to the airport for the flight to Copenhagen (København) where we will spend the night until our early flight back to New York and then Houston.

The newlyweds on the back porch.

Add caption

Norma enjoying a bit of rain, the first we saw in our three weeks in Denmark.
The Gudenaa (Guden River) can be seen in the background.
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guden%C3%A5
More rain.


My brother Max (on the right) and yours truly (on the left).
This is the last photo taken in Denmark.
     A great trip to my roots comes to an end. The memories will always be there.

In the near future we will go to Mexico.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

ROOTS - not the movie - 18

    Today, again a bit more than 7 years ago, was a day of leisure, without planned activities during the day. It was also a typical Danish summer day.
This photo is from about 11 AM (11:00)
We mostly just cooled our heels but did walk around the little town of Nr. Nissum Seminarie By. My brother and his wife were busy running around getting stuff ready for Saturday, because on Saturday my niece Nina is getting married. I recall going with Max to the local car wash where I purchased the DK stickers that are on my car. DK is the internationally recognized abbreviation for Danmark. Remember, it is Danmark, not Denmark, the people are Danes, not Denes. I did purchase a fair supply of them knowing they are made for the North European climate (see temperature gage above) and not the Texas sun and heat. In this heat they do not last more than a year or so, and I only have two left.

     Later in the day we went to my niece Beriths house and spent a little time there, and walked around the bay which is on the Limfjord. Here we encountered an authentic replica of a viking ship, as well as a play area for the kids made like a viking ship.


We are coming to conquer your lands and your people.

Authentic descendants of the Vikings

The viking ship in silhouette as the sun is almost setting.

The finely carved figure head.

The interior of the hull with the thwarts clearly visible.

Imagine crossing oceans in something like this!
All the way to New Foundland and back!!

Mast and rigging detail.

This gives whole new meaning to the term "to go in Vik",
that is to go in search of, to go exploring.

     This particular boat was used in a trip across the North Sea to England and back, and I am sure the present residents around Lindisfarne had a much better understanding of the panic that gripped the area a bit more than 1000 or so year ago when they saw a fleet of viking ships come up over the horizon. Below are a number of links of those historic events as well as more information.
   
     This evening I also got to enjoy another "Jolly Cola", the first coke type drink I ever had, at about the age of 9 which means it had to be sometime in 1954.
My first coke type drink was a Jolly Cola.

    There is a ferry landing right where my niece lived, and the little park was made for people waiting for the ferry. 
The ferry just left the landing.
Notice the correct color fishing boat far left.
      One of the hazards of living near the ocean, especially when it is almost on your doorsteps, is the fact that you will have the constant company of seagulls, and their droppings on just about everything.
This almost looks like a mad artists rendition of an island with sandy beaches, on the left,
and mountains on the right, in a mighty blue ocean or perhaps a view from space.
      A walk along the beach of the North Sea and another Viking grave were the last activities of the day.


A Viking grave


In the next post will be a few pictures from our last two days in Denmark.



Tuesday, August 12, 2014

ROOTS - not the movie 17

      We have only a few days left in Denmark and there  are many things to see and do. Today (again this was a bit more than 7 years ago) we are going to some caves where cheese is stored for proper aging and we are also going to go back in Danish history about 150 to 200 years so.

      First to Mønsted Limestone Caves, bring a coat, as it is a bit on the chilly side underground. All of the links are in English unless noted otherwise.
http://www.monsted-kalkgruber.dk/en/attractions/the-great-caves
http://www.monsted-kalkgruber.dk/en
http://www.strahlen.org/vp/dk/monsted/monsted.php
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=moensted+limestone+cave&qpvt=moensted+limestone+cave&FORM=IGRE

The articles following here is copied from www.gearthacks.com

Description: When the Danes became Christians more than 1000 years ago, a new extra source of income was created, "Limestonework and limeburning". With the new religion churches followed which were built of stone. The stone was held together using burnt limestone slaked to mortar, a new building material in Denmark at that time.

Under Mønsted a limestone mountain was found. The limestone which was earlier a useless stone now became a source of income. In the space of 200 years more than 2000 churches were build, equalling 10 a year. This building activity gave Mønsted it's start in the limestone industry, which ended finally in 1978.

Mønsted is only 14 kilometres from the town of Viborg, which in the middel ages was known as the "Capital of Jutland". Along with it`s cathedral there were 12 churches, convents, monasteries and many houses. A bishop who was willing to build and rich citizens meant that Mønsted always had costumers for the burnt limestone, which meant a steady production from the mine. In the sixteen hundreds when Viborg experienced a depression, the limestone production carried on. Mønsted had long before found new markets elsewhere. In 1860 when production was at it`s peak, there were about 3000 loads of burnt limestone delivered to customers all over Jutland from Mønsted and Daugbjerg.

In 1872 the farmers sold all the rights of limestone to the industry "Mønsted Kalkværker" which later became a part of "De jydske Kalkværker". The limestone was no longer only used for mortar. The metal industry and the chemical industry also bought the limestone and the agricultural industry used the limestone for the fields. Even the worst limestone was for sale, and the once before useless rocks of flint were used as fillings in streets, foundations and brickwork. The limestoneproduction was now full time work throughout the year. During winter people worked in the caves and during summer in the open limestone quarry. Despite the use of wagons and hoists, the limestone was still hewed with hoes.

In 1953 the work in the caves ended and two years later also in the limestone quarry, but the limekiln continued to burn limestone from Djursland untill 1978.

There are 200 tons of cheese in Mønsted Limestone Caves. The cheese is from a small dairy in the town of Vellev. After being brought here the cheese spends 8 weeks maturing in the caves. The cheese is turned once every week. The air humidity of 98% and a temperature of 8 degrees create perfect conditions for the maturing of the cheese. Most of the cheese is exported to Germany where it can be bought as "Cavecheese". You can also buy the cheese in the kiosk here in Mønsted Limestone Caves. This is perhaps the best souvenir you can get from a visit to Mønsted Limestone Caves. end

       It was definitely on the cool side, but not just temperature wise, in the caves. It was very interesting to see these massive man made tunnels underground. This work took place over almost 900 years. Unfortunately, the section where the cheeses were stored was closed to the public due to some maintenance work, so we didn't get to sample.

Here are our photos from that "under the earth" excursion.
Norma and I in one of the cave sections.

In another section

My niece Nina and Norma
     With the average temperature under ground being 8 deg. C / 46.4 deg. F the camera batteries bit the dust, and  we were not able to take any more photos. I have always chuckled at the requirement to wear hardhats in such places. If the caves were to collapse the hats would be of no use whatsoever, not even for body identification purposes, however, they do offer a bit of protection in case of small pieces dropping off of the ceiling.

     Back out into daylight and then on to Aarhus and the Old Town of Aarhus. Back in my seafaring days I had been to Aarhus, or as it is also spelled in Danish Århus, a number of times but that was back in the early 60's, in other words, about 45 years ago. Århus is the second largest city in Denmark. Here are a number of links with good information; 
and there is a lot more available so just google Aarhus.

Aarhus is also famous for its Cathedral and it dates back to the beginning of the 13th century, or from a time about 290 years before Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World, just to put things into perspective.
Unfortunately we didn't make it to the cathedral.

The Old Town  was a surprise to me, a welcome surprise  I must say. It was delightful to see history restored and preserved in such a fine fashion.
Again a google search for Old Town Aarhus or Old City Aarhus will provide many links.

Here are some of  our photos from that afternoon. This was also the first time, after almost three weeks in the Denmark, that we saw a piece of trash on the street, in this case an empty cigarette pack.
Nina and Norma posing in front of an impressive three story building.
Norma on the second floor balcony.
A close up


Interesting style, a balcony with a turn in it.

Do you think that is enough firewood for the winters?
Norma say she likes the second floor better.
My Danish ancestors were a welcoming people.
The sign on the wall says (translated)
Outpouring of Beer and Wine
Inside a wood working shop.
Here oak barrels are made.
In the grocery store

Taking a needed rest in the Old Harbour were the
Viking ships used to tie up.

Norma is checking the laundry.
      We stopped into one other little shop in the Old Town but for some odd reason I do not have any photos from that one. We were greeted by a young lady in period costume who handed us each a glass of water and a piece of Danish pumpernickel bread with lard and salt, which was the custom in the old days.
Since were were speaking English among ourselves I made the comment that this is really good for the arteries, particularly if one suffers from a bad cholesterol problem. The young lady, representing her time period which was probably in the middle 1600's said to us, in English "We don't have that problem". I am sure she was right since in those days people did hard physical work and burned off the fat, and in those days no one  had ever heard of cholesterol.

At the end of the day we meet my brother Max, my sister in law Mariann at a  restaurant for dinner after waling along the North Sea (Nord Soen) a bit. It is here that we have another restaurant situation;
Max, Mariann, Nina and Norma

Yours truly.

Norma enjoying the cool waters of the North Sea.
  
Come on in, the water is fine.

Once a farrier, always a farrier.
He is actually removing stones from the shoe sole.
     So we had a nice dinner and when it came time to pay I paid, with my American Credit Cards, which was accepted. When the ticket was brought to the table I mentioned there was not place to add a tip to which the waitress replied "I don't need your tip, Sir. In this country we receive proper pay for the work done and do not have to depend on the handouts of others". Well, excuse me - I find the statement very much to the point but also a bit ironic as a large percentage of the Danish  population receive very generous benefits under the "welfare" system in place, which is in fact "handouts of others" , albeit mandatory handouts since the funds are generated in the form of taxes.

Another good day comes to an end.

More to follow in the next post.