GULLFOSS

Here we are in Iceland and about to explore the Southern coast, which is different from our last time here when we explored the West and Northern areas. We left at 8 am in darkness and the light did not appear until 10:00 AM, so it is weird and throws off the bio clock!
We toured a very famous Viking stronghold in the area and it was snowing big fat flakes. It was also windy, and maybe I didn't have enough layers, as I was getting chilled. We donned our crampons which helped navigate the slippery areas and iced. Those crampons became my best friend for many days!

The waterfall at GullFoss was incredible with icy splendor and roaring water. Iceland is water water everywhere! We had seen it last on the middle of summer, so the contrast was stunning. Steve and I hunkered down and made it to the end of the trail, but the warm van was so nice to crawl back into.
Around lunch time we made it to Geysir....which we call Geyser in English. This geyser blows about every 7-8 min and there were many tourists hanging around waiting. It was brutal cold and windy and I opted to walk to a restaurant and enjoy a piping hot bowl of tomato/basil soup with good bread. All the bread in Iceland is wonderful. Always fresh and served with soups. 
It was a long day of travel as we drove into Vik. The happy hour at the bar had just ended, but I ran to the bartender in desperation and he poured me a 1/2 price glass of wine. Believe me, even at 1/2 he price.....in Iceland...that is expensive!
We still had dinner to go to...so it was a long but, cold day on icy roads, icy trails, icy wind......oh Iceland!

CHRISTIANIA

Our last day in the fabulous city of Copenhagen, Denmark and the wind is howling. Doesn't bother the Danes that much, but I was cold as we walked around the Harbor and saw some big wooden sailing vessels. We meandered until we came to the "alternative" city of Christiania, smack in the middle of Copenhagen. What started at as a squatters take over of an old military establishment, has evolved for 45 years to what it is today.....a thriving artist, alternative, hash using, music venue and big tourist attraction. We met a very funny Swedish woman named Nina, who even might have been the de facto mayor. She had come to Christiania as a young hippie girl from Sweden to protest wars and the establishment, and she stayed off and on all these years. It is a hard place to explain unless you are there, but she answered all our questions and said we could take pictures ..EXCEPT on "Pusher Alley" where all the hash is sold. It is still illegal in Denmark to sell or use drugs, and Christiania has done it's best to eliminate all hard drugs...but the sellers do not want their pictures out for all the police to see. There are raids all the time, but the stalls have it down to a science to bag it all and fast...when the cops show up. It was very interesting and I swear One could get high just off the fumes.
Anyway....lots to tell of this place, but I am sure it is all on line if one wants more info.
The rest of the day we jumped on and off the metro and went to food courts and churches, but it was COLD wind chill factor, and coming back to our warm room was great! We rested and then ventured out to a place to eat expensive appetizers for dinner. Great last day.......now...we are off to Iceland!

SWEDISH AFTERNOON

We took a bus back to the airport where we caught a fast moving train that took us into a tunnel beneath the sea, and a 5 mile bridge for a quick 20 minute trip to Sweden. We had to show,our passport to passport control who were on the train, but they didn't stamp it. We got out on a cool afternoon in Sweden's 3rd largest city, Malmo. We did a little shopping, walking, talking and also went into the large Gothic Catholic, turned Lutheran,  church in the Big square. 

We went to place called Victors for a delicious lunch of...TaDA...Swedish Meatballs! When in Sweden....eat Swedish Meatballs! 

After lunch we just walked around and saw more sights until we were cold and wanted to get the train back to Copenhagen. By now, we are getting the hang of how easy it is to get around on public transportation in this part of the world.  One doesn't really even need a car, and most people just use a bike. 

We walked into our hotel and it has a small BAR at the reception desk....so...well, it was "wine time" after all. I took the glass to our room and enjoyed going thru all the photos I have taken with my new phone. It has a better camera than my camera! So guess that is what I will keep using.

FISHING VILLAGE

Today we made good use of our "passes". We got up and walked to the Metro and took it to a bus location. On the other side of town. The bus took us to a world away in time, but in actuality, it was only 11 K from Copenhagen.

We got off in Dragor, which is a quaint fishing village which has been preserved in time. We walked around the harbor and watched an old salt fisherman bringing in his catch. 

Then we saw a Navy like boat and walked over and talked to the mate, who used to be the Captain, but was "retired" because of his age....76. The ship was actually like our Coast Guard, and they had been out to sea for a memorial of a deceased shipmate. He explained their work which was mostly volunteer. Then we spied some fire department sea divers who were doing practice drills in the sea. Eye candy....oh yeah!
Finally, we strolled along the cobble streets and saw the old thatched roofs and quaint architecture of a time long ago. We ended up in a cozy warm coffee shop for hot chocolate and cappuccinos.....and a "seasonal specialty" pastry. It was such a fun morning seeing how the old ways were preserved...but we had bigger fish to fry for the afternoon......Sweden! So we reversed our transportation and got ready to go to Malmo.

RIDING WITH PASSES

After Breakfast today we got a 3 day anywhere pass so we could ride any buses, trains/metro, or ferry in and around Copenhagen. Then we set off to explore the sights. It was a cool day and I kept getting cold. We hopped on a d off a d went to parks, the Royal Palace, Tivoli, the canals, all the while watching out for the bikers who are everywhere! 

Tivoli is usually closed all winter, but they have decided to open in Feb. so we watched as they sprayed fake snow on everything, including us if we got to close. We saw the changing of the guard at the Palace, and in the cool winter day. Steve and I split on of Denmark's famous open face sandwich and a beer at Tivoli.

The fashion in Denmark is very tight pants...both sexes, and fur coats, or fur gloves, but fake or real, I couldn't tell. Danes definitely have their own fashion sense, and I love it.

As we were headed back to our hotel, we decided to go to the fancy department store that has all the good chocolate downstairs. They were giving out lots of samples...so we indulged...AGAIN! We came back and rested and got cleaned up for a nice dinner out at a small place called Kompasset, which is typical of the small-ish restaurants around the area. We both had 
Halibut served on squid ink and vegetables. Portions are always on the light side in Denmark, so no doggie bags. We talked to some Danes about their customs vs ours and enjoyed a laid back evening.

WANDERING COPENHAGEN

  After a leisurely breakfast in the "downstairs cave" we packed up and moved to another hotel called The Strand.  We loved our warehouse hotel, but the Strand was more centrally located in this beautiful city. Luck prevailed and we had a fine cloudy...but no rain day. The STRAND was also an old converted warehouse, but done differently. The rooms are pretty small, but when we entered the door, there was a wonderful bottle of chilled champagne waiting for us. We don't know why, but we have learned NOT to question these lucky moments.

We started a walking tour of the area and got orientated to the city. Everyone comments on the bicycles in Denmark. It is so true. There are 4.2 million and only 1.8 million cars. Cars are "taxed at 150% of price, so DUH! Plus itnis a very flat country and the bike lanes are specified and well organized. With such a huge population of bikers...they RULE. We heard funny stories of tourists out with the locals....and most of the stories were not kind in favor of the tourists. All the hotels have bikes to loan their guests, and I am sure Steve will be on one soon. Helmets are not required, and we saw very few people with them on. Suits, dresses, long coats, sports clothes, shorts...everyone rides a bike.

I also tried the Denmark hotdog that is the favorite, and it was great! Will probably have another for lunch tomorrow. We found a beautiful department store with a grocery on the bottom floor, so we bought some samples of wonderful Danish cheese, and crackers and a big 'ol smoked mackerel for Steve and we hoofed it back to the hotel for a champagne picnic.

We also found a chocolate shop...deadly, sinful, and decadent with samples and funny chocolatiers. Ok, we will
probably be back there again soon.
The days are getting a tad longer, so the streets are decorated with bright ornaments and lights to bring on the spring. All the shops are gorgeous, the clothes are gorgeous, the people are gorgeous...what's not to like. Weather doesn't even phase these hearty decedents  of the Vikings. They just bundle up, sit out side and drink coffee or Tuborg, and go along like it is summer.

NORDIC WINTER

We traveled to Seatac on a rainy stormy Janurary day for a flt to Denmark via Iceland.  It was my birthday! We decided last summer itmwould be fun to see some Nordic countries in the winter and maybe see some Northern lights...but I was starting to wonder..."what were we thinking!" We grabbed a Taxi...$$$$ in Denmark and got to our interesting hotel called 71 NYHAVN, located in the old sailing district. 

The hotel had been an old stinky warehouse for fish, timbers and whatever had been in port in the old days of sailing. The renovation was incredible as they kept all the old rough hewn timbers and stone work. The front desk guy was hilarious and a big fan of American football, even tho he had never been to the US. He even knew  all the stats on the Seattle Seahawks, so he was loving chatting up Steve….plus he thought he was Danish with that “Torgesen” last name. By the time we were thru , he had upgraded us to a suite, and we had a very enjoyable stay.  We tried to go out and walk a bit…..but it was cold and windy and I needed sleep. We crawled into bed at 2 PM for a 5 hour nap…which was dumb, because the rest of the night was up and down and awake a lot.  We were too tired to try and go out and eat, so we just opened the mini bar in the room and had at it!