I Fart, therefore I am
With some amusement, Sarah noticed that the red button that lit up whilst we waited for the elevator in our Copenhagen hotel said "I FART." I remembered reading something about the fact that this was some common phrase, but had to look it up - It actually means "in use" but really, I FART is much more interesting to an English speaking family.
Our hotel in Denmark was not as nice as the others we have stayed at, though adequate for our needs. We were one block from the railway station and just barely on the wrong side of the tracks and on the edge of the red light district. Lots of street noise also which kept us up late at night and early in the morning.
On the other hand, the price was right in a very expensive city and we WERE just a block from the train station (and on the other side of the station is Tivoli Gardens), so the location was convenient in terms of our sightseeing and traveling.
Kalmar
We took the train to Kalmar today, crossing the bridge from Copenhagen to Malmo, and then changing trains in Malmo. Kalmar is in Southern Sweden and is very lovely. The weather is really pleasant also - sunny and warm with a nice breeze. We had a low-key dinner at a cafe on the square and then took a walk to the waterfront and back through town to the hotel, buying ice cream cones for all on the way. Mike will post some pictures later tonight. Our hotel is right on the town square and the room is gorgeous - nicely furnished with a desk, couch, leather chair and ottoman plus the bed and wardrobe etc.
Tomorrow we travel to Stockholm and spend a couple of nights there - then on to Helsinki and Tallin.
This has been a really relaxing trip, in spite of the many travel connections. We have enjoyed doing the long bits by overnight boat - a very civilized way to cover some mileage - and it is nice to arrive at a destination having had a good sleep, good food, a swim or sauna if we want it, and a shower, rather than having spent hours in airports and uncomfortable steerage class airline seats! It also compares favorably to the cost of a hotel + travel for the three of us. Although there is some cost in respect of travel time, I highly recommend overnight ferries for travel when possible!
Scandinavia
There is no denying that Scandinavian men and women really are gorgeous - and it's not just the blond hair and light eyes. I can only conclude that there is something to be said for a few generations of good education, excellent health and dental care - and low rates of poverty. Also a low birth rate and a generally healthy diet and lifestyle - notwithstanding a high rate of alcohol consumption. One nice change from the town where I work in England is that every 4th teenage girl in town is not pushing a baby buggy! England, like the US, has a really unacceptable rate of teen pregnancy ... the worst amongst western nations.
It has just been very easy to travel here. Although it is a bit disorienting to not understand signs at all - fortunately for us virtually everyone understands English so we travel with ease. The train systems etc are orderly and efficient and people in general are polite and friendly - no shoving or crowding on the trains etc. The children are really cute - it feels like we are walking around in a Hanna Anderson catalog - the little girls really do wear cute striped tights and leggings and lots of colorful clothing. It seems in these family-friendly countries that children are welcomed just about anywhere we would care to go - great for traveling with a young child.
Well, I am tiring out and ready to prepare for a bath and bed. Photos and more blogging to follow from Mike.
Love. Margo
Our hotel in Denmark was not as nice as the others we have stayed at, though adequate for our needs. We were one block from the railway station and just barely on the wrong side of the tracks and on the edge of the red light district. Lots of street noise also which kept us up late at night and early in the morning.
On the other hand, the price was right in a very expensive city and we WERE just a block from the train station (and on the other side of the station is Tivoli Gardens), so the location was convenient in terms of our sightseeing and traveling.
Kalmar
We took the train to Kalmar today, crossing the bridge from Copenhagen to Malmo, and then changing trains in Malmo. Kalmar is in Southern Sweden and is very lovely. The weather is really pleasant also - sunny and warm with a nice breeze. We had a low-key dinner at a cafe on the square and then took a walk to the waterfront and back through town to the hotel, buying ice cream cones for all on the way. Mike will post some pictures later tonight. Our hotel is right on the town square and the room is gorgeous - nicely furnished with a desk, couch, leather chair and ottoman plus the bed and wardrobe etc.
Tomorrow we travel to Stockholm and spend a couple of nights there - then on to Helsinki and Tallin.
This has been a really relaxing trip, in spite of the many travel connections. We have enjoyed doing the long bits by overnight boat - a very civilized way to cover some mileage - and it is nice to arrive at a destination having had a good sleep, good food, a swim or sauna if we want it, and a shower, rather than having spent hours in airports and uncomfortable steerage class airline seats! It also compares favorably to the cost of a hotel + travel for the three of us. Although there is some cost in respect of travel time, I highly recommend overnight ferries for travel when possible!
Scandinavia
There is no denying that Scandinavian men and women really are gorgeous - and it's not just the blond hair and light eyes. I can only conclude that there is something to be said for a few generations of good education, excellent health and dental care - and low rates of poverty. Also a low birth rate and a generally healthy diet and lifestyle - notwithstanding a high rate of alcohol consumption. One nice change from the town where I work in England is that every 4th teenage girl in town is not pushing a baby buggy! England, like the US, has a really unacceptable rate of teen pregnancy ... the worst amongst western nations.
It has just been very easy to travel here. Although it is a bit disorienting to not understand signs at all - fortunately for us virtually everyone understands English so we travel with ease. The train systems etc are orderly and efficient and people in general are polite and friendly - no shoving or crowding on the trains etc. The children are really cute - it feels like we are walking around in a Hanna Anderson catalog - the little girls really do wear cute striped tights and leggings and lots of colorful clothing. It seems in these family-friendly countries that children are welcomed just about anywhere we would care to go - great for traveling with a young child.
Well, I am tiring out and ready to prepare for a bath and bed. Photos and more blogging to follow from Mike.
Love. Margo
posted by Margo Nelson at 10:45 am
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