Before you visit the Land where LEGO came from, that's usually our first contact with it in childhood, do not forget the bike chain. They love cycling and have more bicycles than cars. 32% of the people cycle and an average Dane cycles about 3km a day. There are over 3700km of cycling paths and the cyclist counter in a large city turns out to be quite an attraction. Oh, and having an umbrella with you, is a death giveaway that you're a tourist. There's always something in the air. Time is their ally. Most public transport arrives to the station early and this is usually the reason why so many people here use trains.
Like in most Scandinavian countries, here too, first come first serve – which means you have to show a ticket with a number you get in every cue. Their VAT is 25%, so many things seem much more expensive than at home. There are just over 4 million people in Denmark and they are the first European nation that allowed the marriages of the same gender. About 35% of all weddings end up in divorce though. Women are usually well situated, which might be because they only have 3 months of maternity leave. If you believe in luck, then Danish might be the luckiest people in the world – but check this out for yourself. About 92% of people are Lutherans, but never show their faith fanatically. The royal family is highly respected – and even I had a chance to meet the Australian born princess Mary.
They are world leaders in the field of wind energy and produce 20% of their electricity on their own. They are also strong in the fields of technology, pharmacy and biomass. They produce their own oil, have a lot of fertile land and cattle on pastures. They consume a lot of pork and have 28 million swine annually. Also they have a lot of fish, for they are surrounded by sea. They open to the Northern and Baltic Sea and have long white sand beaches – especially at the end of the Danish island of Skagnu. There is also the northernmost hostel in the land, where you can relax at the typical Scandinavian wooden cottage, after passing a long drive pass Fredrickhaven. Mostli hostels have the names of the towns. Hostel Skive has modern architecture. The oldest town is Ribe, where the hostel has a great view of the town and is near the fisher’s village of Esbjerg, where there is a huge brick hostel. Usually breakfast and linen are not included in the price. For many years the Danish showed their Viking past by the image of the marine country and sailors. They built mighty bridges that connect the Jutland (their largest island) with the mid island of Funen. In Herning, Kolding and Frederici they have new and modern hostels.
The most famous Danish writer has got to be Hans Christian Andersen, whose home is in Odensej. Who has not heard the story of the girl with the matches or Thumbelina? Also, there is a hostel, with an excellent location right next to the train station, where only a street crossing away is the old part of the town. The statue of Andersen stands in Copenhagen at the island of Zealand. Copenhagen, as the capital, has many places where you can board in one of the hostels – including the old part of the town – but the problem is the parking place. There are several HI hosteling hostels here. Go for a coffee in Roskilde. I bet you still remember the song Barbie Girl by Aqua! The Danish really love the watery coffee, but even more they prefer beer – and have many breweries. And don’t forget the cider – a mixture of fruit wine, which reminds me more of our radler.
They are real designers of furniture, great at fashion and architecture and especially in towns of Arhusu, Vejle and Horsens, they also do hand crafts.
Because the travels never really and, but just continue, you might explore the whole of Scandinavia. It might be a bit more expensive, but is so much more magical.
Urška
