tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16114053416131031442024-02-08T15:55:26.920+01:00SHINIMICHI - A Visual Travel JournalShinimichi is a photo journal by two part-time traveling story tellers & full time dreamers inspiring you through short and long journeys to take a break from everyday lifeMichelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-86147767315973776782018-07-12T15:14:00.000+02:002020-04-10T08:12:26.122+02:00Discover Søhøjlandet: A Weekend at Skanderborg Lake (Part II)<div class="sponsorpost_greybox">↠ sponsored post ↞</div>
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As a new day dawned during our <a href="/2018/07/discover-sohojlandet-weekend-skanderborg-lake.html">weekend at Skanderborg Lake</a> we ran barefoot through the grass kissed by dew and plunged excitedly into the lake. We watched how the expanding ripples swiftly woke the lake still asleep and felt how the cooling freshness of the water magically brought our tired bodies to life. More and more people joined us for a refreshing morning dip as the sun rose higher above the horizon. Our cheeks were still glowing from yesterday and although the sun had barely reached above the tree crowns, we could already feel the tickle of the sunrays.
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<div class="subline">↠ A bicycling trip along Skanderborg Lake ↞</div>
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The day was spent biking along the Southern part of Skanderborg Lake from the city of Skanderborg to Vestermølle Museum on the opposite side. The Lake-Highlands (Søhøjlandet) is shaped by the ancient ice ages so we were challenged with a few steep inclines as we made our way through the morainial landscape, however, most of the route was relatively flat. Leaving Skanderborg, we brushed through the lush and leafy forest and continued along a flourishing path running parallel with Skanderborg Lake. Before hitting the main road we stopped by <b>Junges Plantage</b>, a primitiv shelter ground with a fireplace and direct access to the lake.
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The further we got away from the city, the more we were accompanied with beautiful views over the cerulean blue lake and with images of the idyllic pasturelands and fields woven in green and yellow tones. Our hair blew madly in the wind as we biked through the landscape and we felt free on the open road. Approximately half way we reached Skanderborg Golf Klub, from where we followed a gravel trail behind the golf courses to <b>Hylke Strand</b>. A local friend had tipped us about this small secluded beach, which served as the perfect spot for a coffee break. We kicked off our shoes, snacked a few strawberries and watched how tiny waves came rolling into shore.
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Before continuing our journey we stopped at <a href="http://www.restaurant-skanderborg-so.dk/" target="blank">Restaurant Skanderborg-sø</a> located at Skanderborg Golf Klub. Yet again, our foodie hearts were fluttered as we were served scrumptious Danish Open Sandwiches (Smørrebrød) in the form of Stjerneskud (Shooting Stars) - a soul soothing traditional Danish dish of fish, shrimps and garnish. From the restaurant balcony we watched how golfers enjoyed their weekend games in this beautiful lakeside setting and agreed, that these people had found their way to paradise.
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Before taking on the final stretch towards our pickup point we stopped to climb <b>Fårbjerg</b> (79 m), a vantage point from where we had a grand view over Skanderborg Lake and its neighbouring distinctive moraine hillscape. From the top we could easily point out Skanderborg city and tried next to designate our final destination, Vestermølle Museum. This made us notice, when viewed from a birds perspective, that our total biking route of 15 km seemed much longer than it actually felt. The afternoon sun was strong and powerful, so we did not stay too long at the top although the view stood clear and vibrant and definitely deserved a few more minutes of appreciation on this lovely summer day.
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<div class="subline">↠ Waiting for M/S Dagmar to take us home from Vestermølle ↞</div>
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When we arrived at Vestermølle Museum we only had a few minutes before the tour boat <b>M/S Dagmar</b> would pass by and we thus went straight down to the pier. We passed by the idyllic Restaurant Vestermølle where singing and toasting echoed out from the banqueting hall and where laughter bubbled through the garden. A bunch of kids were catching fish from the pier and eagerly told us stories about their individual catches. M/S Dagmar quickly arrived and it was time to head back. An entire cruise through Skanderborg Lake with this darling lady takes 1 h 30 min and includes several jump on/off points along the way; including Danhostel Skanderborg. We jumped on the boat and lounged back, enjoying the soothing cruise ride back to our starting point. We were all happy smiles at this very moment - smiles conjured from our glowing skin, our tired bodies and our round bellies, all as a result from our weekend at Skanderborg Lake.
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<div class="sponsorpostinfo">
<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
This post is part of the <b>Discover Søhøjlandet</b> series, an ambassador project made in collaboration with <a href="http://www.visitskanderborg.dk" target="_blank" rel="nolink">VisitSkanderborg</a>, the official tourist office for <b>Søhøjlandet</b> (The Danish Lakelands). Visit Skanderborg Lake yourself and find the trail provided by VisitSkanderborg in their <a href="https://www.visitskanderborg.com/ln-int/skanderborg-ry/brochures-and-maps-download" target="_blank" rel="nolink">The Danish Lake District 2018</a> brochure on page 22.</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-50408108057508523392018-07-09T22:39:00.000+02:002020-04-10T08:04:59.021+02:00Discover Søhøjlandet: A Weekend at Skanderborg Lake (Part I)<div class="sponsorpost_greybox">↠ sponsored post ↞</div>
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<font size="3">This year, the Danish summer came way earlier than anticipated and since its arrival in May, life has been a continuous europhoric blessing. The passing months have perfectly encaptured those mesmerizing summer feels of hot weather and long bright days we all love so dearly. With Sheena passing by Denmark for a weekend, we made the most of it and relished ourselves in the warm embracing sun while nourishing our souls with well-missed Danish cuisine. After previously having spent time <a href="/2017/06/discover-sohojlandet-through-old-skanderborg.html">in the old market town of Skanderborg and its surrounding forest area</a>, we were happy to come back to enjoy more of <b>Skanderborg Lake</b>.</font>
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WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS<br><br>
Situated in the middle of Dyrehaven and directly along the shore of Skanderborg Lake, we stayed at <b>Danhostel Skanderborg</b> which fitted our weekend plans perfectly. From there it was a breeze to bike to the city centre of Skanderborg for some shopping, take a splash in the lake at <b>Skanderborg Søbad</b>, go for walks between the old trees in Dyrehaven, visit <b>Skanderborg Bunkerne</b> to brush up on some history and conquere the water in a canoe. We spent one of the days bicycling along the Southern part of Skanderborg lake, making stops at <b>Junges Plantage</b>, <b>Hylke Strand</b>, <b>Skanderborg Golfklub</b> and <b>Fårbjerg</b> before ending the 15 km trip at <b>Vestermølle Museum</b>, where we took the tour boat <b>M/S Dagmar</b> back to the hostel.
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The weekend was a well needed break for both of us and Skanderborg Lake provided us with the perfect combination of both relaxation and action. This is one of the reasons why we have fallen so much in love with our local area, The Lake-Highlands (Søhøjlandet): adventure, nature and a calming atmosphere goes hand in hand here.
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↠ <a href="/2018/07/discover-sohojlandet-weekend-skanderborg-lake.html">A Weekend at Skanderborg Lake (Part I)</a><br>
↠ <a href="/2019/02/discover-sohojlandet-weekend-skanderborg-lake-partII.html">A Weekend at Skanderborg Lake (Part II)</a>
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<div class="subline">↠ Inside the military bunkers hidden among the forest trees ↞</div>
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With our weekend-home neatly encircled within the beech forest of Dyrehaven we felt encouraged to bewilder ourselves among the trees and took a step back in time. During World War II, the German Luftwaffe had their headquarters among the beeches and traces from the occupation still remains. The main building of Danhostel Skanderborg is in fact the old officers' mess and just a stone throw away from the hostel is <b>Skanderborg Bunkere</b> (<b>The Museum of Liberation</b>) - two bunkers that have been transformed into a museum. We had a guided tour by an employee from Skanderborg Museum, who took us through the two bunker exhibitions that focused on the Luftwaffe activities, and the Danish activities during the German occupation, respectively. It was an intriguing little museum filled with information, small insightful stories and many preserved artifacts from the war time. Travelling around Denmark we have come across several bunkers, but this was our first time inside one of these secretive stone blocks. We both loved the fact that photography was forbidden as limited exposure maintains the mystique of the bunkers and feeds to the curiosity of bypassers.
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<div class="subline">↠ The imaginative & cheeky univers by Ole Lund Kirkegaard ↞</div>
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The annual festival "<b>Sløngeldage</b>" which celebrates Skanderborg-born and late children author Ole Lund Kirkegaard was taking place on these particular days. The city centre was thus decorated with colorful artwork - some being permanent others temporary - of cartoon characters extracted from the unique and quirky universe created by Kirkegaard. For fun we went treasure hunting to see how many famous motives we could find as our inner children were hungry for play. On our treasure hunt around the city we found an impressive mural "Det Røde Hus" (The Red House) on Adelgade. We also came across several of the 38 cast iron tiles which are placed in the pavement and decorated with motives from Kirkegaards books, as well as two-headed dragons and quirky colorful houses.
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We grabbed a light lunch at <b>Kafé K</b> at Kulturhuset before heading into Skanderborg Lake which we had been dreamingly gazing at from the café window.
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<div class="imagetext50left">Lunching at <b>Kafé K</b> with a lovely view over Skanderborg Lake. Behind the big oak tree we spotted the tour boat M/S Dagmar, which we later on had the pleasure to ride.
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<div class="imagetext50right">We beated the hot weather with flavoursome lemonades
and treated ourselves with a delightful tapas combined with a summer-inspired salmon salad. A nice and light lunch on a hot summer day.</div>
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<div class="subline">↠ Canoeing to the small forest island Æbelø ↞</div>
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Skanderborg Lake is part of Denmarks longest river system (Gudenåsystemet, 160km long) flowing through the Lake-Highlands (Søhøjlandet) in Jutland. We usually spend time in another part of Gudenåsystemet, namely <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/2016/11/discover-sohojlandet-canoe-trip-from-ry-to-himmelbjerget.html">The Lakes of Himmelbjergssøerne</a>, so visiting Skanderborg Lake was a nice change of scenery. During the afternoon we picked up a canoe from Danhostel Skanderborg and made our way to <b>Æbelø</b>, one of three isles within the lake - the others being Kalvø and the tiny Sct. Thomas & Sct. Helene. It was a short trip that could easily be done in less than an hour, however, with extra time at hand we made a stop on the peaceful forest island itself. There we hung out by the jetty and drank the sun until we felt our stomachs rumbling, hinting us to fuel our bodies with other than solar energy.
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<div class="subline">↠ From silver cutlery to wooden sticks, traditional Danish food always caters to our tastebuds ↞</div>
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A quick bike ride to the border of Dyrehaven and we arrived at <b>Hotel Skanderborghus</b> idyllically situated between Skanderborg Lake and Lillesø. Here we enjoyed a relaxing evening accompanied by traditional Danish food which had our hearts jump in joy.
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<div class="imagetext50left"><b>Hotel Skanderborghus</b>' à la carte restaurant serves Danish and French dishes. We feasted ourselves in juicy beaf steak with Béarnaise and potatoes; and <b>Skanderborg-gryde</b> - Danish pork tenderloin dazzled in a creamy paprika-flavored sauce with mashed potatoes.</div>
<div class="imagetext50right">The evening was topped off with homemade desserts made with that heartwarming grandmother touch. We had delicate icecream cake and cruncy old-fashioned Danish apple cake that was best described as a glorious parfait in disguise.<br><br> </div>
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The night was warm with a pallid blue sky overhead as we headed back to Danhostel Skanderborg, so we decided to extend the relaxing mood with some sweet bonfire fun near the lake. We took a walk down memory lane as we sat around the crackling fire and neatly prepared some snobrød (Twisted bread: an amazing Danish campfire tradition). The air quickly became a mixture of smoke and stories of our childhood experiences in the Lake-Highlands (Søhøjlandet) and an aroushing feeling of nostalgia flowed through our veins. We stayed near the fire until its dying breath and before heading to bed, we agreed that we still had other ways of exploring Skanderborg Lake.
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<div class="sponsorpostinfo">
<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
This post is part of the <b>Discover Søhøjlandet</b> series, an ambassador project made in collaboration with <a href="http://www.visitskanderborg.dk" target="_blank" rel="nolink">VisitSkanderborg</a>, the official tourist office for <b>Søhøjlandet</b> (The Danish Lakelands). Visit Skanderborg Lake yourself and find the trail provided by VisitSkanderborg in their <a href="https://www.visitskanderborg.com/ln-int/skanderborg-ry/brochures-and-maps-download" target="_blank" rel="nolink">The Danish Lake District 2018</a> brochure on page 22.</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-53770971949878301462017-11-29T09:26:00.003+01:002020-03-29T11:55:02.380+02:00Between the Centuries-old Fishing Villages of Cinque Terre <img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Europe/Cinque-Terre-Italy-2017/i-QRgRLdD/0/3f935f35/XL/IMG_2649-XL.jpg">
<div class="imagecap">Gazing over Manarola, one of the centuries-old seaside villages in the coastal area of Cinque Terre</div>
<div class="sponsorpost">↠ sponsored post ↞</div>
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<font size="4">In September, we visited the Ligurian captial <b>Genova</b> as part of the #KLMtop10 campaign with <a href="https://www.klm.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">KLM</a> and afterwards extended our Italian trip to the highly popular <b>Cinque Terre</b> - the famous five fishing villages on the Ligurian Riviera. Drawn by the postcard-perfect scenery and the romantic description of this coastal community, we were simply dying to see what all the fuzz was about.</font><br><br>
<b>The Cinque Terre, Italy</b> - Cinque Terre is a string of five centuries-old fishing villages, namely Monteresso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, perched high along the rugged Liguria coastline. Brimming with pastel-hued perfection, these clusters of puzzle-piece houses are tugged between vineyards and mountainside terraces. Private automobiles are banned thus visitors jump between the famous five by boat crossing the water, by railway cutting through the cliffside or by hiking the mountains. <b>The Cinque Terre National Park</b> encompasses an extensive network of hiking trails - including <b>Sentiero Verde Azzurro</b> (marked as SVA, 11 km), the famous coastal path passing through the Cinque Terre villages. Being avid hikers, braving the vertiginous medieval staircases and narrow paths spiraling among rocks and shrubs, was the ultimate way for us to experience the Land of Five.
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<center><font size="5">↠ A Photo Diary of Sorts from two days in Cinque Terre ↞</font></center>
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The second we got out of the train in Riomaggiore it became a reality. We had to take the bitter with the sweet, when visiting a massively popular destination as The Cinque Terre. The air in Genova's <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/2017/11/authentic-italian-local-feel-in-medieval-old-town-genova.html">medieval old town</a> had been summing with a local feel and we had been blissfully happy in this low-key atmosphere. The villages of Cinque Terre was quite the opposite. Before we were getting lost in the capitals's maze-like alleyways in all quietness, now we were loosing ourselves in the hectic crowds of bustling tourists. Luckily, our plans involved putting our leg machinery to work and thus the mountains became our euphoric escape from the hordes.
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<div class="imagecap">Early morning walk between the colorful houses in Riomaggiore while the village is still fast asleep</div>
<div class="story"><b><u>Riomaggiore</u></b> - It was in the morning hours that we really got the chance to digg deeper into Riomaggiore and discover the beauty lying within its narrow steep stairways. While most of the village was still fast asleep and the streets only occupied by few working locals, we wandered around the village freely and with a much greater appreciation of the smaller details normally drown away during the busy and crowded daytime hours. In the upper end of the village, where the <b>church of Saint Giovanni Battista</b> and <b>Castle of Riomaggiore</b> are located, we found a nice spot to sit and eat breakfast while looking across the mosaic work of multi-colored houses.</div>
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<div class="imagecap">Narrow valley view of Riomaggiore seen from the water front</div>
<div class="story">Down by the sea we tried climbing out on the rocks to get that full frontal and classical Cinque Terre village view. Morning dew was still glazing the rocks, making them extremely slippery, so we quickly retreated our efforts and went down to a safer spot. Viewing Riommaggiore from the harbour, we grasped just how tightly enclosed the houses were within this steep and narrow valley and it seemed almost impossible to manoeuvre around the homes stacked haphazardly on top of each other. We watched the boats swaying gently on the calm water until the morning stillness broke into disturbing chatter, thus hinting us to move on.
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<div class="imagecap">The furthest we went out on the slippery stones down by the water front</div>
<div class="story"><b><u>Manarola</u></b> - Since the SVA-paths to both Riomaggiore and Corniglia were closed, we initially wanted to stay for half a day and take our time in Manarola. We had planned to treat outselves with small plates of culinary art at <b>Nessun Dorma</b>, which, on top of divine food, blasts its guest with gorgeous view of the Manarola harbour. However, things did not go as planned and this time it worked out for the better.</div>
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<div class="imagecap">Glimps from the village of Manarola</div>
<div class="story">In the other end of Manarola, we found a path taking us up to the wineyards. We went up there to see the village from above and get away from the crowds. The further up we went, the more we noticed people decending from the top of the hill. Curiously, we asked a woman what was up there and she told us that there was a path to Corniglia. Without much hesitation we climbed to the top and continued on the path, which we later discovered was path <a href="http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Eiti_dettaglio.php?id_iti=3469" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">no. 586</a>.</div>
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<div class="imagecap">In the deep end of Manarola, we found a path leading up to the vineyards</div>
<div class="story"><b><u>Path 586</u></b> - This trail was jaw-droppingly gorgeous, showcasing us a dazzling panoramic view of Cinque Terre's natural grandeur and the sparkling azure blue sea below. We passed through shady olive groves, lemon orchards and dozens of terraced vineyards. Every inch equally amazing. Simply grinning in the strong sun, we almost could not believe how fortunate we were. We made a quick stop at <b>Madonna delle Salute Church</b> in <b>Volastra</b> before continuing along the path, which - to our pleasure - leveled off for a while. Lastly, the path traversed pine woodland before eventually descending down steep stone stairways, into the streets of Corniglia.
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<div class="imagecap">Path 586 connecting Manarola and Corniglia took us through beautiful terraced vineyards</div>
<div class="story"><b><u>Corniglia</u></b> - The sun was slowly setting as we arrived in Corniglia, the smallest and most secluded village of the famous five. We were completely knackered from our unexpected hike over the mountains, but felt exhilarated after a day roasting in the afternoon sun and drinking in breathtaking landscapes. Corniglia was different form the other villages - encompassing a quaint and quiet character: A charming attribute which its sisters seemingly have lost over the years of fame. Being nestled high on top of a small promontory (100 m.a.s.l), we descended the Lardarina, a 380-step brick staircase, to catch the train back to Riomaggiore for a well-needed rest.</div>
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<div class="imagecap">The tiny village of Corniglia seemed to hold a quaint and quiet character</div>
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The next morning we got up early to hike the SVA-path <a href="http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Eiti_dettaglio.php?id_iti=3577" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">592-3</a> from Corniglia to Vernazza (4.1 km). The path was less sceneric and more crowded, yet still worth the hike to add to the full Cinque Terre experience.</div>
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<div class="imagecap">Halfway on the path, we stopped at <b>Bar Il Gabbiano </b>to grab a cold lemonade on their terrace and catch the perfect view of Corniglia and Manarola.</div>
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<div class="imagecap">Our first sight of Vernazza, a village acclaimed to be one of the most beautiful in Italy</div>
<div class="story"><b>Vernazza</b> - For nearly two hours we walked on the coastal path traversing along the mountainside before reaching Vernazza. A stunning view sprung upon us as we arrived at the end of the path, allowing us to catch the first glimps of the village acclaimed to be one of the most beautiful in Italy. Cultural sights such as <b>The Church of Santa Margarita d'Antiochioa</b> and <b>The Doria Castle</b> with the <b>Belforte Tower</b> pooked above the rooftops, intriqueing us to discover what Vernazza had to offer. Having worked up an appetite we went directly to the main street, which catered to our hunger with a large variety of Italian street food.
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<div class="imagecap">If into food, one should try and explore the food scenery - we just opted for something quick to grab and enjoy by the seaside</div>
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<div class="story">Unfortunately, our stay came to short faster than expected as heavy rain forced us to take shelter. With no prospect of the rainfall stopping anytime soon, we jumped on the first train back to our room in Riomaggiore to wait it out.<br>
<br>Later that evening we returned to Vernazza to see if the check-point for the SVA-path <a href="http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Eiti_dettaglio.php?id_iti=3578" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">592-4</a> between Vernazza and Moneteresso el Mare was open. Earlier it had been closed - but now, to our luck, we had free passage and thus one last opportunity to admire a breathtaking seight of yet another one of the Five Land's idyllic pastel towns.
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<div class="imagecap">A classical view of Vernazza seen from the SVA-path leading from Monteresso el Mare</div>
<div class="story">Despite the overwhelming popularity of the Cinque Terre, its ravishing beauty still knocked us of our feet. With the <b>SVA-path</b> stretching through all the five famous villages on a 11 km path, it is possible to experience the Cinque Terre on a 1-day trip. However, remember to check the availability of the different paths on the official <a href="http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Eindex.php" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">website</a> before planning your visit. Personally, two days did not cut it for us and we could have spent a few extra days really digging deeper into the villages' true charm, hiking more in this magical Italian rugged coastal landscape and last but not least visit Monteresso al Mare.
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Combining a stay in the busy Cinque Terre with a stay in the calmer Lingurian capital of <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/2017/11/authentic-italian-local-feel-in-medieval-old-town-genova.html">Genova</a>, seemed for us to be a perfect way to experience the best of both worlds on the Ligurian Riviera. Certainly, we learned what all the famous five fuzz was about and having a quieter city - such as Genova - to retreat to, can only be good for the soul.
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<div class="sponsorpostinfo">
<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
The trip to Genova, Italy was arranged as part of the #KLMtop10 campaign, uncovering KLM destinations around the world, and made in collaboration with <b>KLM Royal Dutch Airlines</b> & <b>Amsterdam Airport Schiphol</b>. The extended stay in the Cinque Terre showcases an alternative destination on the Ligurian Riviera with Genova as the starting point.
</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-41233359031034826102017-11-05T08:45:00.000+01:002020-03-29T13:30:19.298+02:00Found that authentic Italian local feel in the medieval old town of Genova<iframe class="vimeo" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/238125543" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
<div class="sponsorpost">↠ sponsored post ↞</div>
<div class="story"><b>Genova, Italy</b> - I once had a short-lived life in Northern Italy. It was Spring and almost every weekend I was hoping to find myself bathing in the sun at the Ligurian Riviera. The opportunity never came but the dreamful images stayed strongly imprinted in my mind. Fast forward to three years later, <a href="https://www.klm.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">KLM</a> invited us to join their campaign <b>#KLMtop10</b> uncovering KLM destinations around the world and which also included a visit to <b>Amsterdam Airport Schiphol</b>. After some considerations, Michelle and I harmoneously agreed to extend this years non-existing Danish summer with an Italien heat escape to the ligurian capital Genova and the coastal villages of Cinque Terre.
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Genova, we said? Yes - Genova...
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Genova is one of those fascinating Italian cities that oddly enough remains off the tourist radar: World famous as the birth place of Christopher Columbus, yet widely unrecognised.
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During our two days we mainly stayed in Genova's medieval old town. We had our inner-compasses and sense of direction taking us around this historical centre, eventually causing us to get lost several hundred times, only slowly realising how infact all historical sites are within close walking distance to each other. We were advised by our friend Winnie, who frequently visits Genova with her family, to do exactly so to experience the city’s true beating heart. So we passed through the numerous dark passageways (caruggi's) the way they should be discovered - with bewilderness and curiosity, constantly fascinated by the play of light and shadow being casted between the tall buildings.
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<div class="imagecap">Strolling around the narrow streets of Genova is the best way to really get that authentic Italian local feel</div>
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We paused at the quiet squares of Campo Pisano and Truogoli di Santa Brigida, caught a drink at the lively Piazza delle Erbe and watched how past and present fused around the fountain at Piazza de Ferrari. Along our way we savoured the Genovese basil pesto and were entranced by the smell of neighbourhood focacceria (we fell in love with the small shop, Le Fantasie Di Gio Sas on Via San Luca! ♥).
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<div class="imagecap">Some of our Italian bread cravings got fulfilled at the lovely focacceria, Le Fantasie Di Gio Sas</div>
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In the very heart stands the noble Cathedral of San Lorenzo with its contrasting black slate and white marble stripes. We used this beauty as a reference point for our intricate maze adventures and were happy to discover that one of my favorite gelato dealers "GROM" was located right next door. Several other churches and belfries were squeezed tightly among the residential houses: Chiese di San Donato, Chiesa di San Matteo, Chiesa di San Pietro - all of which made a splendid surprise as we stumbled upon these hidden houses of God.
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<div class="imagecap">Several churches are scattered around Genova - such as San Lorenzo (1), San Pietro (3) and San Matteo (4)</div>
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Genova has throughout history been defended by several walls, which remains are still visible today. The Barbarossa walls was the second defensive wall to be build and includes the monumental Porta Soprano situated next to Christopher Columbus' house. I loved the semi-circular towers of Porta Soprano, which made its appearance different depending on which direction you were coming from. Porta dei Vacco, the grand entrace to the neighbourhood we lived in, had a similar appearance. Whenever passing through these gates we immediately noticed the strong architectural transition from modern city to medieval old-town.
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<div class="imagecap">The towers of Porta Soprano seen in the background of Christopher Columbus' house in which the explorer grew up in</div>
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Initially, we wanted to visit The City Park of Walls (<a href="http://www.parks.it/parco.mura/pdf/Genoa.Forts.and.Walls.an.Urban.Park.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Parco Urbano delle Mura</a>) that includes the imposing and most outer wall “Mura Nuove” together with its fortresses - all built along the ridge of the hills enclosing Genova. Since we did not want to rush we decided to leave the park for a future hiking trip to be able to experience it in more depth.
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<div class="imagecap">The streets of Genova was made for walking, so that is just what we did - walking and exploring</div>
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Art and cultural exhibitions are something both Michelle and I enjoy - and we do not limit such experiences to rainy days. As so we spent one afternoon among the gorgeous 16th century palazzi of Via Garibaldi (UNESCO World Heritage site). These palazzi were build by Genoan aristocrats and showcase an extravagant lifestyle poles apart from life experienced among the numerous carrugi's. We visited the three museum buildings Bianco, Doria Tursi and Rosso Palazzo, where we looked at fine ancient art and gasped at the noble architectural features and interior design.
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<div class="imagecap">Admiring art and architecture while playing with light and photography at the museums on Via Garibaldi</div>
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At Rosso Palazzo we took the elevator to the rooftop and had an incredible 360° view of Genova and its tighly packed roofs strecthing from the mountains to the sea. Unlike various view points we have experienced in other cities, we did not have to fight with a herd of tourists for time at the top. Remarkably, we had the spot all to ourselves. We spun around like two cats on a hot tin roof and happily stayed up there for a little while to just chill in the sun.
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<div class="imagecap">An incredible 360° view of Genova from the small platform on top of Rosso Palazzo</div>
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From Via Garibaldi we went directly up Salita di San Francesco to the neighbourhood of Castelletto with its famous belvedere. From this wide terrace on the hills we had yet another striking view of the city which charm merely multiplied by the glow of the setting sun.
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This was the highest point we reached but Genova's dense hills have so much more to offer. How we wished to have had more days to crisscross the hills by its secret narrow slopes of bricks and stones (creuze) and to enjoy more rides with the city's multiple elevators and funiculars, which whiz you inside the mountains. Unfortunately, we did not have time to ride the perculiar Ascensore Montegalletto that changes midpoint from horizontal to vertical, and brings you close to Albertis Castle, home of the Museum of World Cultures (Museo delle Culture del Mondo).
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<div class="imagecap">We walked up the somewhat steep street hill of Salita di San Francesco to reach the panoramic viewpoint at Castelletto</div>
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<div class="imagecap">Cityscape of Genova with its roofs and towers from Spianata Castelletto</div>
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Genova certainly charmed us with its authentically local feel. It was wonderful to walk the alleys peppered with tiny shops selling local products and delicacies and to dine among Italien conversations criss-crossing through the air. Genova reminded me in so many ways of my days in Turin and left me with the same feeling of experiencing 'real Italy'. We only experienced a fraction of what this seaport city has to offer, but I am sure that if we had time to dig deeper we would have found even more Genovese gold.
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The Ligurian Riviera is plastered with fine destinations (eg. Camogli, Portofino and Sestri Levante) and Genova makes a splendid starting point for discovering the surrounding coastline and mountains. After days well spent in the capital city, we jumped on the train towards the famous Cinque Terre to continue our Italian trip for a couple more days.
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<div class="sponsorpostinfo">
<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
The trip to Genova, Italy was arranged as part of the #KLMtop10 campaign, uncovering KLM destinations around the world, and made in collaboration with <b>KLM Royal Dutch Airlines</b> & <b>Amsterdam Airport Schiphol</b>.
</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-14324467634979374202017-09-10T18:34:00.000+02:002020-04-09T21:57:34.058+02:00Swallowed up by clouds at Gaustatoppen, the highest mountain in Telemark<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZD2dGDf/0/1bb4fe88/XL/i-ZD2dGDf-XL.jpg">
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<b>Gaustatoppen, Norway</b> - this name has been lingering in my head ever since we had our <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/2016/04/winter-camping-in-notodden-norway.html">Norwegian winter camping adventures in Notodden</a> and our local friend Mariann told us with praising words and wild fire in her eyes about this darling mountain. With an evergrowing passion for conquering mountain tops and seeing that Gaustatoppen is only a few hours away from Oslo, it was just a question of time when I would return. One year later in August it happened and I found myself swallowed up by clouds at the top of this impressive elevation. Along with me was Jimmy from Malaysia, substituting my sister as she was busy harvesting barley in the Danish summer fields.
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Gaustatoppen (1883 moh) is the highest mountain in the county Telemark and towers a few hundred meters higher than the surrounding mountain range, thus rewarding its guests with an impressive view of one sixth of Norway's mainland. Running inside the mountain is the military-built <b>Gaustabanen</b>, a combined tramway and funicular, taking passengers to the top.
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The weekend started pretty rough with us being curled up in our jackets during a long night in the waiting hall of Oslo airport. Early morning when the public wheels started running we headed on to <b>Rjukan</b>, an industrial town nestled deep in a narrow valley below Gaustatoppen and which together with Notodden has been listed as a UNESCO World Industrial Heritage Site. Passing into Rjukan we were told how the 104 m tall Rjukanfossen waterfall and the local power plant has shaped the building and development of the town. Many of the town houses had been built for the early industry workers and even a cable car, <b>Krossobanen</b>, was build to whisk the town’s sun-deprived workers up to the sunny mountain top during winter.
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Being battered from our travels we decided to skip the historical tour of Rjukan. We even skipped a ride with Krossobanen bringing you to the local gateway of the largest mountain plateau in Europe, <b>Hardangervidden</b> - yet another destination I am dying to explore. Instead we went to <a href="http://www.gaustablikk.no/" target="blank">Gaustablikk Høyfjellshotell</a> where we sipped coffee on the sun-kissed porch and had an outstanding vista of Gaustatoppen. Ah, it felt good to be back in Norways dramatic landscape of dark forests, river valleys and mountains.
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Just look at this remarkable view of the grand Gaustatoppen seen from the porch of Gaustablikk Høyfjellshotell
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The summit of Gaustatoppen can be reached in <a href="https://www.ut.no/tur/2.6298/" target="blank"> multiple ways</a> all depending on your level of fitness and your hunger for challenge. Seeing that Jimmy was taking his first steps into active holiday, we had chosen the trail from <b>Stavsro</b> - the most recommended trail summing up a 4 km long path with a 700 m elevation. The weather was grim and drizzly as the public bus Fjellbussen dropped us off at our starting point. In front of us stood green hilltops and black-white dappled slopes, and somewhere out there was our final destination. We followed the wandering masses through a stone gate and then it was simply tailing the crowds, and following the red T-signs and cairns guiding one to Gaustatoppen summit. The majority of the trail is well-laid and wide, so there is no need for clownish scrambling unless you decide to stray from the main path and take shortcuts.
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Start of the 4km long trail going from Stavsro to Gaustatoppen summit
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The weather seemed to brighten up as we moved uphill <b>Gaustaråen</b> mountain; leaving Stavsro and the beautiful Heddersvatn lake further and further behind. A rainbow painted itself across the sky and we were two happy mountaineers delightfully pleased by the great views across the slopes. As we turned left on Gaustaråen moving on to Gaustatoppen mountain itself, vegetation became scarce and the surface was primarily strewn with boulders and scree. We could suddenly eye the radio tower on Gaustatoppen and for the novice mountaineer it became clear how far a distance we still had to cover. Jimmy's voice turned mute and it was now time to focus on every single step. The struggle became real - and as he told me later on: This was more mentally, than physically challenging.
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All smiling faces and cheers but soon after this the struggle got real for one part of this duo.
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Eyeing the radio tower in the distance. Our final destination.
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The whole scenery pulled on a monochromatic look as the clouds started to drastically thicken the closer we came to the top. We were left with less and less panoramic wonderness to endulge, however, with the narrowed visibility and heavy-hanging clouds I started to pay more attention to Gaustaråen and Gaustatoppen themselves - suddenly realising the sublime wideness and firmness of these mountains. Zig-zagging our way through boulders upon boulders we finally arrived to the radio tower. From here an additional 1km along a more narrow ridge of large stones had to be traversed to reach the actual Gaustatoppen summit. Since the sky had turned into a white canvas, we decided to play it safe and went instead to the one hundred year old stone cabin <b>Gaustatoppen Turisthytten</b> (Gaustatoppen Tourist Cabin) to warm ourselves with well-deserved waffles and coffee.
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Almost at the top, we turned around and saw this spectacular view of the wide mountain area of Gaustaråen and Gaustatoppen.
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Light drizzle was falling from the sky when we descended Gastatoppen using the historical <a href="http://www.gaustabanen.no/en/" target="blank">Gaustabanen</a>, operating 850 m within the massive mountain. Leaving a white canvas behind on the top of the mountain, we were now introduced to a pitch dark canvas inside of the mountain. While sitting in the tram, gracefully bringing us down, colourful pictures started painting themselves in my mind.
Having seen how beautiful the view was from the first part of our ascent, I could only start dreaming of how grand and phenomenal the view can be from the summit on a clear day. Despite the lacking photos from the summit, the hike was still an absolute success as I returned home with a transformed traveler whos thirst for photography and hiking had been sparked.
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↠ Information about Telemark - <a href="http://www.visittelemark.com/" target="_blank">VisitTelemark.com</a><br>
↠ <a href="http://visitrjukan.com/de/theme/gaustatoppen" target="blank">Information about Gaustatoppen</a> - Subsite of the official tourism board of Rjukan <a href="http://www.visitrjukan.com/en" target="_blank">VisitRjukan.com</a><br>
↠ <a href="https://gaustatoppen.dnt.no/" target="_blank">Gaustatoppen Turisthytten</a> - Subsite of the The Norwegian Trekking Association <a href="https://english.dnt.no/" target="_blank">DNT.no (English)</a>
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Sheena R. Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00600840828362457890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-50815479909600172462017-08-20T23:14:00.000+02:002020-04-09T20:16:18.461+02:00A day in the 'Land of a Thousand Lakes' in Feldberger Seenlandschaft<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-bZmWH8Z/0/506bcaee/XL/i-bZmWH8Z-XL.jpg">
<div class="sponsorpost">↠ sponsored post ↞</div>
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With more than 1,000 lakes, it is no wonder that the <b>Mecklenburgische Seenplatte</b> (Mecklenburg Lakeland) is named the 'Land of a Thousand Lakes' by locals. An extensive network of over 600 km of glacier-formed lakes and connecting canals makes this lakeland a paradise for anyone who loves water sport activities. As part of the Danish promo campaign <b>#EinSmuttur</b> arranged by Rejselandet Tyskland in collaboration with Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, we spent a day in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte to soak in Germany's largest lakeland.
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After <a href="/2017/07/einsmuttur-romantic-rugen-largest-island-germany.html">a couple of days in Rügen</a>, we continued our Meck-Pomm trip with a long morning drive to nature park <b>Feldberger Seenlandschaft</b> situated southeast in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte. The distinctive features of the Feldberger Seenlandschaft are the clear lakes and the partially untouched forests with their extraordinary flora and fauna; some of which we would experience during our 24 hours stay in the area. Tucked amidst a cluster of blue lakes we arrived to the small village of Feldberg around noon and immediately proceeded towards the sport and leisure station <a href="http://www.ruhepuls.com" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Ruhepuls</a> on the connecting half island Amtsweder to meet up with Robert Gardlowski. Robert welcomed us with a big smile and quickly briefed us on our Feldberger visit, while feeding us soup and wurst at the waterfront. Ruhepuls is German for resting pulse; a suitable and descriptive word for the harmonious combination of physical activity and peaceful lakeside environment tailored into todays program.
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<div class="subline">Peaceful kayaking in the Feldberger lakes</div>
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The day in Feldberger started with a few hours of kayaking, setting off from the <b>Ruhepuls</b> station by <b>lake Haussee</b> where we had picked up a dobbelt kayak. Being more than half a year since our last kayak trip, a tiny crash course on paddling techniques was necessary to refreshen our memories. Soon we were paddling in a perfectly synchronized movement like a set of siamese twins. With one stroke at a time we quickly moved forward and away from the lovely view of Feldberg and its towering church spire. From lake Haussee we continued via a short yet picturesque canal into lake <b>Breiter Luzin</b> (58 m), the second deepest lake of Mecklenburg. Both sides of this short connecting passage were lined with trees casting beautiful mirrow-images on the surface of the water - and we suddenly heard our amazon-thirsty voyager within us saying "stay, stay", leaving us with a deep desire to forever linger around this narrow and mystical canal.
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Moving to the open waters of Breiter Luzin we felt summer spirit being injected into us by every light ray striking our winter pale faces. This bubbly feeling building up inside of us simply had to be channeled through song and what other than Pocahontas “Colors of the Wind” now that our kayaking bodies were unified with the gliding water itself. As the words "How high will the sycamore grow, if you cut if down you will never know.." crossed our lips, we glared towards the sky in hope to see two eagles perched on a tree top. Feldberger Seenlandschaft is known as the Land of the Eagles and thus it would not be unlikely to catch a glimpse of a circling hunter in the sky. The expansive stretches of water and forest in Feldberger Seenlandschaft still offers habitat for eagles, otters and black storks - not to mention wild orchids and wild rosemary. The sole presence of these species can be considered as a prestigious natural stamp of approval for the purity and integrity of the Feldberger nature. Although we didn’t encounter any of them on our way, it was still heartening to be in such a lush and wild nature. haft is known as <b>the Land of the Eagles</b> and thus we were waiting for the golden moment to catch a glimpse of a circling hunter in the sky.
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Set on a forested peninsula on the shore of lake Breiter Luzin we arrived at <a href="https://www.seehotel-lichtenberg.de/" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Seehotel Lichtenberg</a>, where we were greeted by smiles and waves from sunbathing Germans in their birthday suits as we docked our kayak. One hour rest was unfortunately all we had available here, but it was enough time for us to enjoy a homemade lemonade on the hotels lake-side terrace and go wandering off in the nearby woodland, chasing mirror-wolves as part of their amusing visuel installation.
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On the way back to the Ruhepuls station, we took it with more ease and allowed ourselves to become immersed in the soul of the landscape. Our thoughts started to wander as we paddled peacefully on the water; where would the water take us if we had gone even further in this maze of lakes and canals? We both concluded that a few days would be more appropriate to fully submerge oneself into the Mecklenburgische forests, lakes and marshes.
<div class="citation">Besides Feldberger Seenlandschaft, the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte offers wildlife experiences and recreation at several other nature parks such as <b>Kummerower</b>, <b>Nossentiner/Schwinzer Heide</b> and <b>Mecklenburgische Schweiz</b>, as well as <b>Müritz National Park</b>.</div>
As an ideal place for kayaking, canoeing, and lakeside camping, suitable water vehicles can be rented in almost every village and there are multiple designated campsites to choose from. If you opt to follow The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, there are even rafts on which you can stay during long trips. Thankfully, loud combustion engines are taboo in most parts of these sensitive nature reserves - making the shores blissfully silent, aside from the chirping birds and the rustling of tree leaves and reeds in the wind.
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Late afternoon Robert sailed us across lake Haussee in one of those motorized rafts that we had been dreaming about all day. The deep colours of the water and the forest blended perfectly together, making it nearly impossible for us to spot the small wooden fishing cabin that would serve as the platform for the evenings festivities. Fisherman Oliver Pahlke (Oli) were waiting our arrival and had prepared an inviting homemade fish dinner - entirely based on his own catches. There were smoked eel and Fischfrikadellen garnished with dild sauce and lemon. It was all so fresh and delicious! We spent the night expanding our paunches while talking about our professions and dreams. Oli told us more about the concepts of sustainability and nature conservation practised in <a href="https://www.seenfischerei-feldberg.com/" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Seenfischerei Feldberg</a> and how traditional fishing and cooking methods are the basis of his work and tours. The evening quickly soothed into a relaxing atmosphere full of laughter and jokes as we all had to challenge ourselves with our brother tongue. Before we knew it we were back on our raft, waving aufwiedersehen to Oli who disappeared beyond the fire’s dimmed glow.
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The supercool rafts became our home for the night and after a wonderful comfortable sleep, we were ready to take on the last leg of the trip in Feldberger Seenlandschaft...
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<div class="subline">Mushroom/herbal walk at Hauptmannsberg- & Hullerbusch Nature Reserve</div>
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In the early morning hours, <a href="http://www.feldberger-seenlandschaft.de/anbieter/details/stamm/show/dr-jochen-kurth/" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Dr. Jochen Kurth</a> took us on a guided mushroom- & herbal walk at <b>Hauptmannsberg Nature Reserve</b>.
Left and right, Dr. Kurth pointed out interesting plants with effects towards diseases and improvement of general health. He even had us tasting some of the plants to distinguish the differences in taste. An almost culinary experience as our taste buds were exposed to the various plants that we encounted. Some saur, some sweet, some just pure leafy. Since we only had a couple of hours at hand, we didn’t make it to neighbouring <b>Hullerbusch Nature Reserve</b> which in fact is directly connected to Hauptmannsberg. A network of footpaths and nature trails covering steep slopes and rocky passages can be discovered in these natural reservoirs, but for now we only took a short roundtrip. The central area of the Feldberger Seenlandschaft, in which Hauptmannsberg and Hullerbusch is located, is part of the terminal moraine of the latest glaciation and offers some of the greatest contour differences in Northern Germany. Standing on top of Hauptmanssberg (121 m) we had a charming overview of the deep clear lakes, the sandy flats and the striking hilly terrain alternating with forest and heath landscapes. The sun was gleaming on us at this perfectly situated lookout post and it was in this very moment we could start comprehending the manifold and diverse forms of Feldberger Seenlandshaft formed by the Ice Age.
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<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
The trip is made in collaboration with the <b>German National Tourist Board (GNTB)</b> and is part of the Danish promo campaign <b>EinSmuttur</b> lanched by the GNTB and partners in Northern Germany. The campaign runs from June 2017 until March 2018 and you can find inspiration as well as special offers on the website <a href="https://einsmuttur.germany.travel/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Einsmuttur.germany.travel</a>
</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-6129171205818464912017-07-18T06:18:00.000+02:002017-11-05T13:21:02.839+01:00Ein Smuttur to romantic Rügen, the largest island in Germany<img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4165/35447776172_533ad65b91_h.jpg">
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In May we visited the German island, <b>Rügen</b>, as part of the Danish promo campaign <b>#EinSmuttur</b> arranged by Rejselandet Tyskland in collaboration with Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Rügens idyllic scenery and romantic atmosphere had us gobsmacked from its agricultural heartland of corn-fields & meadows, to its extensive forests and impressive rugged coastline. The combination of land and sea creates unique opportunities for both relaxing and active holiday - and with Rügen's close proximity to Denmark, it is an ideal destination for a short trip.
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Rügen is the largest island (926 km²) in Germany and belongs to the federal state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Northern Germany, situated off the Pomeranian coast in the Baltic Sea. If you live in Denmark you can reach Mecklenburg-Vorpommern by taking the ferry from Gedser to Rostock, or you can do like we did - cross the Danish-German land border, hit the German highway and drive towards east. Vivid images of what to expect were painted in our minds first time we heard about Rügen. We were quickly sold and the island did not disappoint, when we finally made it there. Passing into the island we were met by a picturesque scenery of rolling green pastures sweeping through the countryside, small inland villages being joint by ancient tree-lined avenues and rustic manors occasionally dotting the landscape. We both instantly agreed that Rügen would be a perfect destination for a one-week biking trip to pedal along the islands impressive 200 km biking paths, but for now we had to settle with one and a half day by car.
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<div class="subline">Catching a ride with Rasender Roland</div>
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First day was spent in the South-Eastern part of Rügen where the beloved <b>Rasender Roland</b>, a steam-powered narrow-gauge train, chuffs through the rural and blossoming pre-industrial landscapes between Putbus and Göhren. We enjoyed a short 30 min ride from Sellin Ost to Binz. The sounds and dynamics of the historic steam locomotive were hypnotic and it was such a thrill to watch the steam escape above us as we moved through nature with 30km/h in our open wagon ride. There is something wonderfully romantic about steam locomotives - and for people like us who love the musical Starlight Express, a story of Rusty the steam train who competes with various engines to become the "Fastest Engine in the World", it was difficult not to assign personality to this hissing and clanking wonder of an iron horse.
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Rasender Roland took us through the extensive dark-leafy <b>Granitz forest</b> which is part of the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve - and it even made a stop (Jagdschloss) within Granitz itself. We would have loved to jump off the train to explore the hilly terrain of push end moraines making up Granitz, and to enjoy an astonishing view across the island from the old hunting castle <b>Jagdschloss Granitz</b> located on the highest hill in the middle of the forest. Next time we are definitely going castle hunting and escaping into our own Grimm fairy tale within Granitz.
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<div class="subline">Seaside promenade strolls in Sellin and Binz</div>
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The Baltic coast of Rügen is renowned for its numerous seaside resorts and uniformly white-coated villages build in an extravagant <b>Bäderarchitectural style</b>. Binz and Sellin are classical examples of such white pearl coastal villages offering fashionable spa retreats.
While walking around these notable seaside resorts we felt a strong admiration for the noble manor houses and villas presenting themselves along the streets. The posh wooden buildings had a delicate appearance and were styled with ornamented porches and balconies on their facades. It was clear to see that Binz and Sellin were once catering mainly the German high society. We did not spend too much time among the white structures and instead headed towards the open sea.
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The <b>Sellin Seebrücke</b>, a historical antique wooden and particular picturesque pier, immediately caught our attention as we were standing at top of the steep staircase leading down to Sellin beach. The Seebrücke has seen its fare share of face lifts - and although it once stood 500 metres longs, its current 394 metres lenghts still attains its title as the longest pier on Rügen.
In <b>Binz</b> we went strolling along the wunderschönen beach promenade, overlooking a 5 km long white beach all scattered with typical German wicker sunchairs and one peculiar life-guard tower (<b>Müther Rettungsturm</b>, 1981) mostly reminiscent of a UFO.
Sellin and Binz are crowded tourist hubs during high season, and although they are not our typical destinations it was still worthwhile to experience the symbolic history carried within these beautiful white villages and fun to scout for the perfect fish brötchen (fish sandwich).
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<div class="subline">Staying at Im-Jaich Wasserferienwelt</div>
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For the evening we returned back to <b>Im-Jaich Wasserferienwelt</b> in Lauterback, our home for the next two nights. Im-Jaich Wasserferienwelt is situated on the Bay of Greifswald, part of the Southeast Rügen Biosphere Reserve, and is one of Im-Jaich Wasserwelten’s many fine marinas offering relaxing seaside holidays in Northern Germany. We were pleasantly surprised by the peacefullness offered here, which made it the perfect place for us to retreat after a along day of island discoveries. Im-Jaich Wasserferienwelt offers a long list of water activities and although we were keen on kayaking or going fishing in the bay, we settled with the sound of relaxing waters pulsing around us in our Maldivian bungalow-inspired <b>pile apartment</b>. We had a great panoramic view of Greifswald bay and from our wood deck we could watch Im-Jaich's <b>floating houses</b> which had a similar enchanting character to that of our own dwelling. The following morning we woke up to bright red colors shimmering through our windows and watched how our home turned into bright gold.
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On our second day we started off in Jasmund National Park (Unesco World Heritage Site) where we were swallowed up by the shadowland of the ancient beech forest and stood towering on top of the majestic white chalk cliffs <b>Stubenkammer</b> that runs along the coastline and overlooks the Baltic Sea. We hiked on the main path (8 km) from Sassnitz to Rügens highest point, <b>Königsstuhl</b>, a famous chalk cliff standing 118 m above sea level. The combination of fresh woodsy fragrance and sea breeze was a heavenly intoxicating wake up call, and with the unforseen summer heat jumping on us, we were similarly grateful to be shaded by the dense tree crowns.
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Along the elevated walking trail, there are three staircases that lead down to the pebble beach. We had heard that the staircase near Königstuhl was temporarily closed, so instead we went down at <b>Kieler Ufer</b> (Kieler shore) halfway through our walk to refresh ourselves in the ocean breeze and to admire the glorious parade of white chalk walls standing in vividly contrast to the dark blue water and the green, shadowy forest. Some of the worlds highest chalk cliffs actually occur in Jasmund National Park -as well as Møns Klint in Denmark, which together previously formed one single island - so it was no wonder, that this impressive sight had us pausing.
Before reaching National Park Centre Königsstuhl where you can learn more about Rügen's chalk coastline and its flora and fauna, and were we would finish our walk on top of Königstuhl itself, we made a stop at the <b>Victoria-Sicht</b> viewing point to observe the mighty chalk cliff from a distance.
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<div class="subline">Cape Arkona</div>
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The remaining of the day was spent in the area around <b>Cape Arkona</b>, a 45 metre-high cape on the northern tip of Rügen. We parked the car in front of the little village of Putgarten and walked for 2 km to reach Cape Arkona, where numerous historic sights were waiting - including an old marine navigation tower, two lighthouses, two military bunkers and the remains of a Slavic fortress.
Two structurally different lighthouses were standing right next two each other and in some way reminded us of an old married couple. The smaller lighthouse Schinkelturm (1826) is the second oldest on the German Baltic Sea and was taken out of service to the advantage of its larger partner (1901). Together with the navigation tower, these buildings offer spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of Rügen upon a small fee.
Following the trail behind the navigation tower we were met by a four-faced wooden statue representing Svantevit, the mightiest God worshipped by the Slavic tribe Rani. Continuing over the small hill we stepped directly onto the remains of the old temple fortress, <b>Jaromarsburg</b>, which served as a religious site for the Rani from the 9th to the 12th century until the Danish King Valdermar conquered and converted Rügen to Christianity. Since we had forgotten to bring cash and missed out on the perfect birdsview of Rügen and the Baltic Sea from the towers viewing platforms, we instead enjoyed an outmost beautiful overview of the entire area from within the ramparts of the medieval fortification.
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West of Cape Arkona is the Königstreppe (King’s Staircase), a beautiful 230-step wooden staircase leading down the steep cliff. Königstreppe was unfortunately closed so instead we went down a zig-zagging staircase on the cliffs of <b>Gellort</b> a little further away. From the top of Gellort we immediately spotted <b>Siebenschneiderstein</b>, a 165-ton glacial erratic boulder nicely tugged in to the ground of the grassland beach and marking the northernmost point of Rügen. Hurrying down the staircase we imagined ourselves dazing in the sun on top of the impressive boulder, however, as we reached the bottom a pair of love-birds had already conquered the erratics. Although the largest, Siebenschneiderstein was not alone as multiple big rocks were scattered all along the beach, making up the perfect jump route for us to enjoy the coastal line by other means. South of the remnants of the ramparts at Jaromarsburg is the Veilchentreppe ("Violet Staircase"), a descent to a different beach made entirely up by big rocks and peble stones. From here we initially planned to walk south along the coast to visit the tiny <b>fishing village Vitt</b>, but as the sky started to get dense and the air cooler, we decided to leave this experience for another visit.
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<div class="sponsorpostinfo">
<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
The trip is made in collaboration with the <b>German National Tourist Board (GNTB)</b> and is part of the Danish promo campaign <b>EinSmuttur</b> lanched by the GNTB and partners in Northern Germany. The campaign runs from June 2017 until March 2018 and you can find inspiration as well as special offers on the website <a href="https://einsmuttur.germany.travel/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Einsmuttur.germany.travel</a>
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Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-32290319635227153842017-06-27T07:24:00.000+02:002020-04-09T21:12:21.432+02:00Discover Søhøjlandet: A stroll through the old Skanderborg<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Discover-Sohojlandet/Old-Skanderborg/i-chnXdwM/0/b0a53adb/XL/IMG_4801-XL.jpg">
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<font size="4">Last summer, we spent an afternoon in the old market town of Skanderborg. The city’s train station has been a transit point for many of our worldly adventures but on this day the city itself became our final destination. The day was full of bubbly summer heat and a light breeze - just perfect for a small outing. Following the trail provided by <b>VisitSkanderborg</b>, we were taken back in time to experience the city's local charm and history.</font>
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The day started on the islet <b>Slotsholmen</b> where the old castle church <b>Skanderborg Slotskirke</b> stands towering above its surroundings. The castle church constitutes the remnants of a medieval construction, which through time has undergone drastic changes: Founded in the 12th century, then rebuilt and expanded to a large Renaissance palace (King Frederik II, 1570) before parts of it was replaced by a terraced garden (King Frederik IV, 1717-22). The castle was a popular residence among the royal family up until its last major change. Following a few years with lack of royal interest the castle started to decay, after which it was demolished (1770), leaving only the castle church that you see today.
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On this particular day of our visit, sounds of wedding bells was summing in the air reassuring us that the castle church has not been left forgotten but is still an important organ of Skanderborg. We took a walk in the flourish graveyard, before we sat down on the grass on <b>Slotsbanken</b> overlooking lake Skanderborg Sø, while trying to imagine that once a huge fortress stood here. Places like these always seem to evoke a certain sense of reverence and awe for the past in me. When I become aware of the abundant events that have taken place at historic spots, I always feel humbled to merely be a random bypasser.
Skanderborg is certainly not the navel of the world, but still, being reminded that past lives have been here before you is always fascinating.</div>
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<div class="story">We continued our walk towards the old market town of Skanderborg by crossing <b>Dagmarbroen</b>, a boulder bridge that connects the islet to the rest of city. The bridge name originates from the retired wheelboat Dagmar, which was the first passenger boat to take guests around Lake Skanderborg Sø (1869). Scenic round trips are still offered today by one of Dagmars successors (<a href="http://www.dagmar-skanderborg.dk/" target="_blank" rel="nolink">M/S Dagmar Skanderborg</a>), and had time been on our side, then we would definitely had been cruising the waters. Coincidentally, as we crossed Dagmarbroen, a group of kayakers heading into Skanderborg Sø appeared from beneath us. We could not help but think back on our own <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/2016/11/discover-sohojlandet-canoe-trip-from-ry-to-himmelbjerget.html">canoe trip to Himmelbjerget</a> and we instantly felt drawn to do yet another trip. Perhaps this summer will bless us with a kayak trip in the Danish Lake Lands? Or perhaps some of you out there are planning to make it down the beautiful lake system?
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We strolled through the oldest part of town made up by Adelgade, Borgergade, Bakken, Louisenlund and part of Alléen. This area is called <b>Kongebyen</b> (King's town) as the settlements original function was to serve the castle. Now the castle serves the town as several of the houses standing here today are actually built of stones from Skanderborg Slot, after it was demolished. With our guide at hand and an investigative curiousity we tried to identify Skanderborgs historic buildings. Turning onto Borgergade, we noticed a characteristic pattern of big <b>købmandsgårde</b> (old grocer's stores) standing on one side of the road and small <b>byhuse</b> (city houses) on the other. Finding those half-timbered architectural marvels here instantly carved hearts in our eyes and it made us happy to see that Skanderborg do preserve its cultural heritage.
Although Borgergade is a tiny street, it has experienced major social transformations during the last hundred years: First functioning as an important trade and craftsman district, then falling into the category as a poor mans home, until it lastly blossomed into an attractive neighbourhood. Borgergade and the aformentioned roads carry a wealth of stories, so for history lovers and other interested minds, one can dive further into the past and learn more about the history of Skanderborg and the local area by a visit to <b>Museum Skanderborg</b> (Adelgade 5). </div>
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A few old trees have been preserved and was shooting up from the walkway. We couldn't stop obsessing over the more than 200 year old, protected chestnut tree in front of Adelgade 20, in particular, showing off its rainbow coloured leaves and hinting us of Autumns possible early arrival.
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Late on the afternoon, our friend Ellen met up with us under the old beeches of <b>Dyrehaven</b> for a festive picnic. The forest was calm and we were nearly the only ones enjoying its peacefulness. It is funny to think how every summer this particular forest transforms itself into a buzzing hub for music lovers - making up the visual settings for <b>Smukfest</b>, one of Denmarks most famous music festivals. As we were passing through the shades casted by the dense tree canopies, we suddenly stumbled upon scattered acorns and were puzzled to find oak nuts in this forest. Later we noticed that oaks were actually also found between this woodland of beeches, but it was not until after the trip that we discovered that a grand old oak of historic value resides between the fine tall beeches.
This grandfather oak, which has relations to Christian the 4th, has been the gathering point for many festivities since early-1800 and still takes part in todays summer fiesta.
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The evening ended with a walk along <b>Sumpstien</b> in Dyrehaven, a path taking us across a bottomless swamp, where we were hunting miniature frogs and chasing mystical sun rays breaking through the green wilderness of the woods. There was something very pleasant about sneaking around in this unfamiliar part of Skanderborg and, honestly, this place actually caught us a little off guard - in a positive way - as it felt like we had found a secret hideaway only known by locals. Sumpstien can be easily overlooked, if you do not know where to search for it. A sign indicating the start of the path can be found in the forest behind the <i>Village of Sølund</i>. We followed the path all the way around lake <b>Svanesø</b>, and here we said goodbye to the sun from the birdwatch tower and watched the sky transform into brilliant red, as it was hovering over the lake.
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<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
This post is part of the <b>Discover Søhøjlandet</b> series, an ambassador project made in collaboration with <a href="http://www.visitskanderborg.dk" target="_blank" rel="nolink">VisitSkanderborg</a>, the official tourist office for <b>Søhøjlandet</b> (The Danish Lakelands). Visit old Skanderborg yourself and find the trail provided by VisitSkanderborg in their <a href="http://www.visitskanderborg.com/ln-int/skanderborg-ry/danish-lake-district-2017" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Tourist Brochure 2017</a> on page 29.</div>
Sheena R. Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00600840828362457890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-61514198248608607132017-02-28T22:27:00.000+01:002020-04-10T14:46:25.070+02:00Rebild Bakker draped in a morning gown of silky fog<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Denmark/Rebild-Bakker/i-BTGsV2H/0/d96656ed/X2/Shinimichi-Rebild-Bakker-11-X2.jpg">
<div class="location"><b>Rebild Bakker</b>, Rebild, North Jutland, Denmark</div>
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Undoubtably, there are days that are better than others for letting out your inner explorer but shady weather does not have to be the limitation. Sometimes the best way to discover new places are on foggy days; days where your eyes can not drift far away in the horizon but instead have to focus on what is right there in front of them. Our very first visit to <b>Rebild Bakker</b> (The Rebild Hills) happened to be on such a day, where the landscape was partially hidden behind hazy curtains. We had heard so much about this marvelous hilly heathland from friends who have been there before us and now it was just a question about walking through the curtains to uncover it for ourselves.
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<div class="citation"><font size="5">“</font>That Sunday morning, the landscape had casually draped herself in a morning gown made of silky fog. She was still slumbering as we entered Rebild Bakker - and who can blame her, it was weekend after all. With time she slowly dropped the gown and uncovered what was beneath: a hilly heathland painted in the colours of Autumn<font size="5">„</font>
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We could have spent hours walking the many pathways crisscrossing the hills of Rebild Bakker, but an old leg injury had us limiting ourselves to a short route around the hills <b>Nørrekol</b> and <b>Sønderkol</b>. Even though we did not walk many of Rebild's shady dips and round hilltops, we felt like we had entered another realm as the landscape was shrouded in mystery and wilderness.
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Rebild bakker is bounded by adjacent woodland and collectively the whole area is known as <b>Rold Skov</b> (Rold Forest).
Perhaps best known among all of the forests is <b>Troldeskoven</b> (The Troll Forest) with its characteristic crooked and gnarled beeches. We call them <b>troldetræer</b> (troll tress) here in Denmark; not only these beeches but generally trees that twist and turn in a peculiar manner. The <i>trolls</i> in Troldeskoven have yet another distinctive feature; each individual is composed of multiple trunks caused by an effect of their genetics and growth conditions. We were eager to see these knobbly tree creatures but had beforehand agreed to save that meeting for another day. Climbing one of the hills, we were suddenly caught by surprise as we discovered that a patch of <i>trolls</i> were living here too. Still slumbering through the dreary winter, they continued their sleep barenaked and unaware of our presence as we stepped inside their home to admire their uniqueness.
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The frosted hush of winter never really kicked in this season, leaving the sights and smells of fall to be perfectly preserved in Rebild Bakker. The colors of Autumn were totally transfixing, with the dark greens woven in between earth browns and yellow ochre. It is in moments like these, where we recall that the season that most often is associated with decay and deterioration, also has a charm and beauty of its own. The world sets to slumber, only to awaken and rebeautify itself. Never in a lifetime would we give up on this celebration of colors and renewability despite its affiliated downpours and darkness.
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Late afternoon Rebild Bakker was still in the same state as when we arrived, with its hills shrouded in a lingering fog - however, as we left the scene our mindsets had changed and we had grown an even greater appreciation of this day's misty and mellow Autumn feel.
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Sheena R. Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00600840828362457890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-27806927262389988392017-02-11T22:10:00.000+01:002020-04-10T11:41:24.796+02:00Close encounter with the ice cold waves at Agger Beach<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Denmark/Agger-Beach/i-7FwjWx2/1/c2f3ec27/XL/Shinimichi-Agger-Beach-2-XL.jpg">
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<div class="location">ph: Agger Beach, Thy National Park, North West Coast of Jutland, Denmark</div>
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The sun was slowly setting in the west but we were still far from ready to bid adieu to the Danish west coast. Instead of navigating us self back home, we went to Agger Beach to watch the sun be engulfed by the sea and to enjoy the final hours of light for the day. Stepping foot on the sand, the sunset was suddenly the last thing catching our attention. The westen wind was writing poetry in the water, more rampant and powerful than we had ever witnessed before, so our eyes were immediately drawn to the wild waves crashing into shore. More tempestuous waves have certainly been experienced on these parts, but coming from the central region of Jutland this was an ecstatic and enraptured moment for us. Like two fools we could not help ourselves and walked out on the groyne. We simply had to explore - the further out the better! Fluffy white foam were left as remnants of the tamed waves and were continuously spraying around us. Not surprisingly, the ice cold waves instantly attacked us without mercy. Shivering cold but full of laughter, we ran back like soaking wet dogs and said our au revoir.</div>
Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-68865135474650021452017-02-04T15:33:00.001+01:002021-02-18T10:02:30.124+01:00The lonesome Lodbjerg Lighthouse in Thy National Park<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Denmark/Lodbjerg-Lighthouse-Thy-National/i-xxsgZsz/0/c760e25e/X2/Shinimichi-Lodbjerg-Lighthouse-15-X2.jpg">
<div class="imagecap">Lodbjerg Lighthouse poking its head high up over the tall pine wood trees</div>
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It was on one of those uplifting days in January that we went from the east coast of Jutland and drove for two hours straight before making it on the opposite northern coast to <b>Thy National Park</b>. There in the heart of the large heath and plantation area of Denmark's oldest and biggest national park, stands the 35 meter tall lighthouse by the name <b>Lodbjerg Lighthouse</b> in all solitude among his forest friends of scots pines and other trees. Our visit to this lonesome lighthouse had been in delay for months as we were suppose to go here during summer last year but we never got around to it. This day, however, seemed like the perfect day to take off to this wild and windy part of the Danish West Coast as winter for once showed signs of blue sky and mild weather. At first the long drive felt a little disencouraging as we knew the early sunset would leave us with only few hours of daylight to visit the area. Nevertheless, all of our concerns were erased as soon as we arrived and enthusiasm immediately blossomed within us.
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<div class="imagecap">A quick look inside the old lighthouse before climbing to the top for a magnificent view of the dune heath</div>
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Lodbjerg Lighthouse is open daily and for a small fee guests can climb the stairs and witness what is hidden behind the narrow wooden door at the top. Nothing less than a great view of all-embracing dune heats, stretching to the very border where land meets ocean, revealed itself in front of us as we went upstairs and gazed across the west coast. The sun was trying to beat its way through a small cluster of clouds and it was only a matter of time before it would succeed and give way to hues of gold shimmering on the crusty landscape. We both stood waiting for that exact moment as long as we could, but the ice cold wind blew harder than expected, forcing us to quickly retreat back inside. Our shivering cold fingers begged for a small tea break before we marched out into the open dune heats to catch the light, we felt was coming.
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<div class="imagecap">Leaving Lodbjerg Lighthouse to explore the golden dune heats and the storming sea</div>
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Walking between the dunes we talked about the past few winters and how winter behaviour certainly is not what it used to be. Our childhood memories strongly recall landscapes blanketed in snow - not for the entire season but at least for more than two days. Lately it seems that these wintery images will be limited to scrapbook collections and "back in the days"-stories past down to coming generations. Winter has once again delighted us with it's schizophrenic behaviour: One day the weather is moody and dull, the next it is boosting with warmth. My expectations of snow has gone down to below zero percent.
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Today I was certainly caught by surprise - suddenly snowflakes came dancing from the sky. These angelic crystals gracefully settled themselves in the golden dune heaths, but not for long, quickly they disappeared again. For five minutes we stood in ecstatic wonder and watched how the snow magically drizzled over the landscape. Both of us felt pure joy from the visual stimuli that suddenly appeared around us. It is funny what emotions snowfall can provoke. I become like a baffled kid and I swear, it gets me every time.
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As we were marching towards the sea we suddenly became suspicious of a well-defined sandy edge that came before us - a steep eroded sand cliff appeared. This is the very effects of wind, water and sand carving and shaping the land through millions of years. Cautiously we neared the ridge and as we got closer, images of cliff collapsing and me tumbling into the lower coastal floor filled my head. The storming sea was just down there, but it had to wait. Later on we drove over to Agger beach, where we most certainly were not seperated from the water - but that is another story. We climbed one of the taller dunes and watched how the waves came raging in and felt the vigorous wind pushing our bodies, attempting to blow us off the edge. Before heading back to Lodbjerg Lighthouse we gathered in the grass, seeking cover from the hard wind and to defrost our frozen fingers once again. The sun accompanied us and as we thought the view could not get any better, a rainbow was vaguely painted in the sky and the windblown grass became bathed in an intensified golden glow.
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Thank you winter, for behaving so nicely that day.
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Sheena R. Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00600840828362457890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-50919882002172663172016-12-30T13:02:00.000+01:002017-11-05T20:35:58.197+01:00Getting physical as we climbed the Via Ferrata Rio Sallagoni route<img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/641/32185993655_0a8b640f1e_h.jpg">
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<div class="story">Ohh just look at us three Scandinavian girls ready for a bit of climbing between Italian rocks. All smiling and fearless ! Personally I haven't done much climbing in my life. Only the most obvious things like trees, ladders, fences and the occasional buildings to fetch a ball that had been kicked up on the roof top. Rock climbing was a new and doing it <i>Via Ferrata</i> style made the challenge less daring for an inexperienced climber like myself.
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Via Ferrata is the Italian word for <i>iron path</i> and it is an activity, that combines both hiking and climbing. These iron paths take one through mountain routes of varies degrees of difficulty but common for all of them is the safety that is provided for the climber through anchored steel cables, ladders and bridges running a long the path. Climbers secure themselves to the steel cable, limiting any fall if one might miss a step.
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That afternoon in the drizzling rain, I had fun with Janicke and Sofia climbing the <b>Via Ferrata Rio Sallagoni</b> route as we were guided by <b>Devid</b> from <a href="http://www.mmove.net/en-us" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mmove by Friends of Arco</a> through the long Rio Sallagon canyon and up to the ruins of Drena Castle at Arco, Trentino. In terms of difficulty, it was an easy route. Perfect for a first time climber! Right from the start we got the grasp of securing ourselves correctly as we made our way along the iron steps built into the narrow walls of the canyon. At some parts we came into more open spaces of green oasis where we could feel the ground beneath our feet again. Other times we had to cross cable bridges from up high to go from one side of the canyon to the other. Balancing on this cable wire is probably the closets I will ever come to feel like a ballerina. However, by no means in an elegant and graceful manner. After a small hour of being close and physical with the rocks, having our lips almost smooching its moisty surface and our hands thightly grabbing its every creases and bumps, we finally made it to the top full of excitement and cheer.
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Definitely something I could see myself trying again - perhaps somewhere a little wilder, hohoh !
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This post is part of the promo campaign #atLakeGarda in #GardaTrentino arranged as a collaboration between <a href="http://www.nordictb.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NordicTB</a> and <a href="http://gardatrentino.it/en/lake-garda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Garda Trentino</a>
</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-23828294127808470322016-11-29T12:26:00.001+01:002017-11-05T20:34:23.734+01:00The turquoise Lake Tenno and an Italian medieval village in the mountains<img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5606/31259565035_88eb77dfc1_h.jpg">
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Once in a while you will see things in life, which beauty is hard to take your eyes off. It happened to me, when I found myself standing in front of the mesmerizing emerald <b>Lake Tenno</b> - the small mountain lake famous for its intense turquoise color and clean water. Described as a gem in the <b>Trentino region</b> on the <b>Northern part of Lake Garda</b>, it's one of those places you should drop by if you happen to be around this part of Italy. Lake Tenno is a laid-back destination for anyone wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of Lake Garda. Here you can walk, swim or just enjoy a nice quiet picnic with your family and friends. We went there during a late October afternoon and I must say, I think the autumn colors of the dense forest surrounding Lake Tenno really made it pop! ♥ This calm oasis was like a little piece of heaven. It even became more angelic as an Italian church choir, who arrived at the lake minutes after us, started to fill the air with songs of prayer - hallelujah!
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From Lake Tenno there are hiking paths taking you either around the lake or leading you away from the lake and into the hills. We were short of time, so a trip around the lake will have to way until next time. Instead we continued on the path taking us to <b>Agritur Calvola</b>, a family-owned farmhouse inn, only half an hour walk away from the lake. As we enjoyed the peaceful mountain view from the road, we past through one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy, <b>Canale di Tenno</b>. This magical place of the past is quite adorable with its narrow streets and stone houses built into each other in a very compact manner, a style of architecture of the 13th century. Albeit a tiny village, I could easily had gotten lost in time while exploring every corner, every alley and all the small details of this place. But again - time had us rushing through the village as the day was starting to turn into night.
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We arrived at <b>Agritur Calvola</b> just in time to catch the sunset. For a little while we sat outside and watched as the sun casts its last rays on the mountain tops by Lake Garda, before finding our table inside the restaurant. It really oozed of that friendly local warmth you can only find in a family-owned place in an isolated village up in the mountains. The restaurant served dishes made from home-grown ingredients; very authentic for the region. Canederli, strangolapreti, pasta with olive, carne salada and rabbit was just some of the things we tried. It was simple, nothing fancy but still delicious and certainly beyond my expectations.
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One day when I find myself in the <b>Trentino region</b> again, I definitely have to come back to <b>Tenno</b> for a full leisure day at Lake Tenno and a revisit to the medieval village! On this trip, we didn't get the chance to visit <b>Castle Tenno</b>, so that's also on my list. I'm pretty sure I can convince Sheena to go with me and then we'll end the day with a real meat feast at Agritur Calvola because she really just need to try their rabbit.
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This post is part of the promo campaign #atLakeGarda in #GardaTrentino arranged as a collaboration between <a href="http://www.nordictb.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NordicTB</a> and <a href="http://gardatrentino.it/en/lake-garda/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Garda Trentino</a>
</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-11123623539025067662016-11-26T11:00:00.001+01:002017-11-05T20:32:59.285+01:00A morning mountain hike on The Ponale Trail <img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5465/31090042502_2362c33a8c_h.jpg">
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A morning walk on the <b>Ponale Trail</b> made for the perfect mountain escape back when I stayed in <b>Riva del Garda</b> for a few days in October. This pebbly gravel trail winds itself on the cliff side along Lake Garda and it used to be the only road connection Riva del Garda and the Ledro Valley. As we embarked on our uphill hike at the outskirt of the town, it didn't take me long to understand, why this path is so highly popular among both hikers and bikers. For each step we took, the Ponale trail feed us with one beautiful view after another. There was literally an amazing view awaiting around every bend along the trail! I think my fellow travelers Sofia, <a href="http://fantasiresor.se" target="_blank">Fantasiresor.se</a> and Veera, <a href="http://www.veerabianca.com" target="_blank">Veerabianca.com</a> will agree with me on this? Our slow-paced hiking might just have been due to us stopping up every few minutes to capture a shot - hehe. The entire hike from the centre of Riva del Garda to Ledro Valley is an approx. 9.5 km journey, which takes about three hours to complete. We didn't go all the way but instead stopped halfway at <b>Ponale Alto Belverede</b>, a small café on the mountain side, to have ourselves a refreshing aperitivo before returning back to Riva del Garda. Sitting on the roof top of this tiny café sipping coffee and drinks, while overlooking the quiet water of Lake Garda and breathing in fresh mountain air - now doesn't that sound like a great way to start your day?
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</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-17375932821319023972016-11-16T12:48:00.001+01:002020-04-09T21:24:06.634+02:00Discover Søhøjlandet: Canoe trip from Ry to Himmelbjerget<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Discover-Sohojlandet/Himmelbjerget-Canoe-Trip/i-Dg53z9X/0/XL/IMG_5061-XL.jpg">
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<div class="story"><font size="4"><b>Søhøjlandet</b> has become one of our favorite city escapes due to its wealth in nature and activities combined, being it biking on the hilly roads, hiking through large forests or spending time by the peaceful lakes. Growing up in this part of Denmark, it is only natural that this place holds a lot of fond memories collected since our childhood. During late Summer this year, we added yet another memory to the bank as we did some jolly old self-engined sailing from <b>Ry</b> to <b>Himmelbjerget</b> and back again on a two-day canoe trip.</font>
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It may have looked like a gloomy day out there on the water, yet the spirit was high and cheerful as we crossed the lakes from <b>Ry</b> to <b>Himmelbjerget</b> on our <b>two-day canoe trip</b> together with our friend and freetime kayaker Nina and her naughty dog, Panda. The day started out slightly cold and cloudy but it did not bother the four of us. You know what they say, there is no bad weather for an adventure - only bad attitude and poor clothing! We had picked up a canoe and a kayak at <a href="http://www.kanoferie.dk/forside" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Ry Havnefart</a> located next to the local harbour <b>Ry Rutebådshavn</b>, tossed all our camping stuff into the water vehicles and went off towards our final destination close to Himmelbjerget, a shelter ground roughly 7 km and 3 hours away. It had been years since we last went canoeing, and as far as we could remember, paddling for hours is far harder than it looks. Nonetheless, we had faith in our spaghetti arms to pull us through - literally speaking.
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The lake system <b>Himmelbjergssøerne</b> consists of the lakes Birksø, Julsø, Borresø and Brassø, and they are allocated like pearls on a string when seen from above. Breathtaking highland areas with winding softwood forests, scrubland and dry grassland are cascading down to these lakes, which are interconnected by the flowing water of <b>Gudenåen</b>, Denmark's longest river (158 km). Setting off from Ry, our trip took us through parts of this lake system - namely <b>Birksø</b> and <b>Julsø</b> - allowing us to witness the drawing nature of this area from the lakeside. We started off on Lake Birksø and aimed for its north-west corner, where the lake narrowed in and eventually became the creek <b>Alling Å</b>. Passing through this stretch had an intimate and somewhat amazon like feel to it (with a little help from our friend imagination) as vegetation became slightly more packed around us compared to out on the exposed water of the lakes.
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Half way through our trip we stopped at the primitive campsite <b>Alling Vest Teltplads</b> along Alling Å. A lunch break at the nearby hill <b>Bryggebjerg</b> (79 m) had been recommended as the view from there was said to be worth the short walk. Not passing up such an opportunity, we followed the path from the campsite going north along the creek until we reached the top of the hill. Or so we thought we did. We never actually made it to the top. Instead we made it to another view point with a bench; only 200 meters short from Bryggebjerg. Despite this mistake, the view didn't disappoint as we still had a great overview of Lake Rosvig and Lake Julsø. In the distance we could even eye the <b>Himmelbjerg Tower</b>, an iconic landmark in the Lake Lands. In no rush to leave, we had our lunch break at the bench and enjoyed the homemade paninis, which we had grabbed earlier on at the <b>Lakeside restaurant</b> by Ry Rutebådshavn. Next time we go here, we will definitely make sure to find the real Bryggebjerg!
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Back on the water once again, everything still felt quiet. The silence was only interrupted by the paddles breaching through the water surface and the occasional buzzing sound of a motorboat passing by. We continued on with the last leg of the day - heading firstly into Lake Rosvig and lastly Lake Julsø. Following the mainland on our left as we paddled on Lake Julsø, we eventually reached the shelter ground close to <b>Hotel Julsø</b> and <b>Himmelbjerget</b>. A small family was sitting at one of the benches by the shore but otherwise we had the entire place to ourselves. Behind the trees, our shelter for the night was hiding in its own solitude. Our immediate impression of this primitive accommodation did not pair up with our previous excited experiences with shelter-life. This shelter seemed dark and a dense odor of bonfire was encapsulating it, revealing its recent occupancy. Reluctantly, we started unpacking our things, however, as soon as we got settled in and got acquainted with the shelter ground, we all had a change of heart. This <i>was</i> our home for the day.
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<div class="subline">Visit to Hotel Julsø and Himmelbjerget </div>
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During the afternoon, the sky cleared up and we started feeling the warmth of the sun on our skin. With a slice of summer still lingering in the air, it was only fitting to reward ourselves with a cold treat for all our hard work on the lakes. We headed over to <b>Hotel Julsø</b> for a few scoops of ice cream before 'climbing' the 1.2 km to the top of <b>Himmelbjerget</b> - one of Denmark's highest natural points with its 147 m (482 ft) above sea level. The gorgeous late-summer weather really did make the landscape shine in all its glory as we stood there at the top overlooking the forest and Lake Julsø. This was our fourth time visiting Himmelbjerget this year but the scenery never gets old. Even though the height is nothing to brag about, we still keep getting drawn back to this place again and again. It's the trees, the lakes and the hilly landscapes. Together it all creates this oasis athmosphere, which calls for you to get lost in the wilderness of Søhøjlandet.
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<div class="subline">Happy campers back at the shelter</div>
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With the sun setting early in the evening, we turned up for the camp vibes as soon as we returned to the shelter. Armfuls of dry wood collected from the forest ground fueled the fire for the rest of the day. A simple stew of whatever vegetables we had found in the fridge, sausages and rice in a tomato sauce was left to cook over the open fire, while we prepared a dinner table by the shore. Everything was perfectly timed. Dinner got served just as the sun hit the horizon and we watched how the sunset temporarily painted the sky and lake with its orange light, before the sun disappeared completely. Soon darkness was all around us and all that was left to see was the warming flames from the bonfire dancing in front of the shelter. That night we snuck to bed early, happy and tired after a long day filled with fresh air.
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A few hours of paddling really did leave a mark on our exhausted bodies, yet every stroke and tired arm muscle were well worth the trip. We really do live for these moments. Moments where we are out there, emerging ourselves into nature. It's one thing to go somewhere and be captivated by something only through your eyes, but to actively experiencing nature through all your senses and feel both its beauty and rawness - now that's what makes a true outdoor adventure. One day we hope to go on a longer journey on Gudenåen, perhaps kayaking over multiple days and camping on shelter grounds along the way. For now a two-day canoe trip in Søhøjlandet served as a the perfect appetiser.
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<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
This post is part of the <b>Discover Søhøjlandet</b> series, an ambassador project made in collaboration with <a href="http://www.visitskanderborg.dk" target="_blank" rel="nolink">VisitSkanderborg</a>, the official tourist office for <b>Søhøjlandet</b> (The Danish Lakelands), to highlighten the area and its various offers on activities and culture.</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-62196141194528109982016-10-30T12:08:00.001+01:002020-04-12T16:57:06.474+02:00Standing at the edge of Preikestolen (The Pulpit Rock) in Norway<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/The-Nordics/Preikestolen-Norway/i-QWh87zd/6/a6e8595b/X2/Shinimichi-Preikestolen-29-X2.jpg">
<div class="imagecap">Standing at the famous Preikestolen right before the sun was setting</div>
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After spending a few days in <b>Bergen</b> and <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/2016/10/a-windy-vidden-hike-from-mt-ulriken-to.html">hiking the Vidden trail</a>, we continued our journey further South to <b>Stavanger</b> to meet up with a new friend, <b>Matthias</b> (<a href="http://www.snapshopped.com/" target="_blank">www.snapshopped.com</a>) - a young, lovely and talented photographer who we've gotten to know through social media. It has been more than a year since our paths crossed each other online and from the very beginning we were quickly inspired by Matthias' photography. What really stroke us, however, was the positive and sincere words, he always left on our blog. It wasn’t long before we knew, that somehow and somewhere we had to make a real-life connection with him. Luckily, life granted us the opportunity this year. With Matthias moving to Stavanger in Norway in May, setting feet into Scandinavian territory, we didn't hesitate for one second and soon we were on our way up north.
<div class="citation">Meeting, connecting and creating stories - see, this is why we travel ...</div>
With Stavanger being the gateway to one of the most iconic landmarks of Norway, <b>Preikestolen (The Pulpit Rock))</b> - a mountain plateau that hangs an impressive 604 meters above sea level and the Lysefjord - it was a no-brainer that we simply had to go there while visiting Matthias. He happily arranged the trip and together we decided to stay a night on the mountain in hopes to catch both the sunset and sunrise on Preikestolen. What you won't do for those pictures, right? :) We left Stavanger in the afternoon, first taking the ferry from Stavanger to Tau and then a bus to <b>Preikestolen Mountain Lodge</b>. This place serves as the starting point for the 3.8 km hike to Preikestolen; with the hike normally taking less than two hours to complete (one-way).
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The climb to Preikestolen is one of the more easier hikes we have done. This worked out great to our favor as we were a little pressured with time when ascending the mountain. Crowds of people were making their way down as we were heading up. You could see on some of their faces that they were struggling - some even in pain. A quick look at the choice of footwear explained why. They did not wear proper hiking shoes, which is necessary on this hike unless you desire a pair of burning feet afterwards. Despite being a relatively easy hike, the path is still very steep in places and can be a little challenging as you are climbing rocks of all shapes and sizes. So really do yourself a favor when you go here, <b>bring a pair of good hiking shoes or boots</b>.
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One hour and something later, we reached the Preikestolen plateau right before the Golden hour and were met by the most incredible light casting its rays over the deep blue waters of Lysefjord and the surrounding mountainscape. There were nothing more than a handful of people around to share this moment with us. Standing there in solitude with only the gentle gushing sound of a water vibrating through the air was definitely one for the books. Preikestolen has been a dream destination of ours since we started <a href="/p/tnj.html">The Nordic Journey</a> and to finally find ourselves standing at the very edge of the cliff was unbelievable and a little terrifying! Stepping close to the plateau edge and actually seeing its vertical drop to the fjord was crazy. It's a sight that will make your heart race.
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Had there been more days, we would totally have marched along the fjord, examining every little mountain top on our way. For now, however, we settled down at one of the rock formations overlooking Preikestolen itself and watched how day turned into night and into day once again. Unfortunately, the morning did not bless us with the same incredible light as the day before. As we crawled out of the tent, the only thing that met our eyes was the sun tugged away behind a dense carpet of clouds. With everything being mostly dark and grey, we agreed to slowly pack things up so we could descend the mountain, beating the crowds of people on our way down. As we took in the last views of the amazing scenery, a stroke of luck hit us as we least expected it. The morning sun broke through the clouds and cast its rays across Lysefjord and on to the cliff. It was an electric moment! A rewarding one for us three early birds, who had been up since 5AM.
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<div class="imagecap">Celebrating Norway's National Day on top of Preikestolen as we waited for the morning sun to break through the skies</div>
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Coincidentally, it turned out that we woke up on Preikestolen on <b>Norway's National Day, May 17th</b>, which made the whole experience that more special. The night before, we met these super friendly Norwegians Eirik and Anne-Sofie as they were setting up their tent not far from ours. They invited us all to join them in the morning to celebrate the national day with champagne and Danish rye bread. Anne-Sofie told us about her outdoor project <a href="https://everydayinmayblog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Everyday in May, Stavanger</a> - A month long project with the goal of her sleeping outside every day in May and at a new location each time. That's pretty rad! We applaud her project and thought it was a great way to inspire other people to get out in Nature too - cause really, it's not that hard ;)
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<div class="infoboxtitle">Useful Information</div>
Preikestolen (The Pulpit Rock) is a square formation of rock resembling a pulpit, standing 604 meters above the Lysefjord. It is one of the most iconic Norwegian landmarks and is found in the municipality of Forsand in Rogaland county, Norway. The Preikestolen Mountain Lodge serves as the starting point for the 3.8 km hike to Preikestolen and the hike itself normally taking less than two hours to complete (one-way).
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▶ Information on Preikestolen - <a href="http://preikestolen.no/?lang=en" target="_blank">Preikestolen.no</a><br>
▶ Information on Preikestolen Hike - <a href="https://lysefjordhikes.dnt.no/preikestolen-hike/" target="_blank">Lysefjordhikes.dtn.no</a><br>
▶ Preikestolen Mountain Lodge - <a href="https://www.preikestolenfjellstue.no/" target="_blank">Preikestolenfjellstue.no</a><br>
▶ Route description: <a href="https://www.ut.no/tur/2.2990/" target="_blank">From Preikestolen Mountain Lodge to Preikestolen</a> @ <a href="https://www.ut.no/">UT.no</a> by Den Norske Turistforening
</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-1548085083592199232016-10-05T12:57:00.001+02:002020-04-11T22:05:29.788+02:00A windy Vidden hike from Mt. Ulriken to Mt. Fløyen, Bergen<div class="story">
Who should have known, we would be back in Norway for a second time this year! Similar to our last trip, when <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/2016/04/winter-camping-in-norwegian-snow-you.html">we camped in the snow in Notodden</a>, it seemed that a perfectly timed coincidence had taken us across the sea to strike out into the wild Norwegian mountains once again. Our return to Norway was back in late spring with first stop being <b>Bergen</b> - also known as <b>The City among the Seven Mountains</b> due to its mountanious terrain. With such a stunning setting enclosing the city center, there are plenty of opportunities within the extensive network of hiking trails taking one around the mountain landscape to fit ones time, need and physical condition. We definitely wanted to take advantage of that and with two and a half day in Bergen, we were ready to make the most out of it!
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<div class="imagecap">Scenic view of Bergen, Norway from the top of Mt. Ulriken - Before setting off on the 13 km long hike Vidden</div>
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Or so we thought...
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You see, summer had been lingering around Northern Europe at that time - but I can assure you, that on these particular days, summer was no longer to be found. We arrived in Bergen in shorts and sweaters; utterly unprepared for the weather which was awaiting us. A sudden drop in temperature from an expected 18°C to 10°C caught us completely off guard. The wind was no joke too - it was forcefully brutal and we were <i>literally</i> blown away as we set foot in the city. The chill factor had our bones shaking and I felt like a walking icicle throughout our days in Bergen. In hindsight, however, we were rather lucky. Only few drops of rain fell from the sky while we were there and that is rather impressive seeing that approximately 240 days a year are characterised by crying clouds.
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Due to this unexpected change in weather (or more likely poor preparation and lack of proper packed clothes), I must confess that even with the numerous mountain trails offered right in front of us, we only made it out in the mountains once: On the 13 km long stretch across the plateau known as <b>Vidden</b> between <b>Mt. Ulriken</b> and <b>Mt. Fløyen</b>.
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<div class="imagecap">A quick ride with Ulrikbanen took us to the peak of Mt. Ulriken, where Ulriksmasten is located </div>
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The Vidden hike is one of the most popular day excursions in Bergen among tourist as well as locals - and we understand why after trying it out ourselves. Not only are you rewarded with spectacular views of Bergen from above but the rocky and rugged mountain landscape itself is worth getting first hand experience with. The hike takes approximately 4-5 hours and both peaks can serve as starting and ending points. The easiest way to reach either peak is to take the the cable car <b>Ulrikbanen</b> to <b>Mt. Ulriken</b> and the <b>Fløibanen</b> funicular to <b>Mt. Fløyen</b> - alternatively you can also hike to the top if you feel for some extra leg muscle workout ;)
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We began our day by taking Ulrikbanen up to the top of Mt. Ulriken; the highest (643 meters) of the mountains surrounding Bergen. Upon reaching the top, we spent a little time taking it all in. In one direction our eyes were immediately blessed with an unbeatable panoramic view of Bergen city tugged away between mountains and the fjord; and in the other direction, the impressive mountain landscape that would be our playground the next many hours. With the wind still lurking around and nothing to shields us from it, we knew beforehand, it would be a windy hike. Thankfully, the sun was out that day. So no matter how many cold kisses the wind would blow at us, we could expect to receive at least a few sunny warm kisses on the cheeks too.
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The first part of the trail from Mt. Ulriken was only marked with simple metal poles and occasionally some wooden pole signs providing information and direction. We got a little disoriented at first as the metal poles were well camouflaged in the wild grasslands and therefore at times hard to spot. However, as soon as we reached the exposed rocky mountain back, where stone cairns marked the trail and could be seen from far distance away, it became a breeze to find our way. The next 5-6 km across <b>Storfjellet</b> was the "flat" part of the hike, which allowed us to really just enjoy the scenery without having to work out a sweat. At this time of year, patches of snow were still covering the landscape and we had to watch our steps for muddy and slippery surfaces. The latter was in a way the most challenging on this hike besides the wind of course. Otherwise we found the hike relatively easy and actually rather pleasant.
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While the wind was blowing around our ears and we made our way from one stone cairn to the next, we noticed how some Norwegians were running and jumping through the terrain like mountain goats - fast and easy on their feet! We couldn't help but get a little envious of the active lifestyle that seems to be running in the Norwegian blood. No wonder they are proud of their outdoor culture. It made us talk about our own little <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/p/tnj.html">Nordic Journey</a> adventures and the way it sort of have had an impact on the way we like to travel or more precisely what it means for us to explore. Really taking time to immerse yourself in any given destination or activity, will make you appreciate the experience so much more. It's not about ticking most buckets off in the shortest time. It's about being present - and the outdoor culture has definitely given us that. We are still learning our ways through this form of active travel and the outdoor life in general but we are loving it more and more.
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More than half way through the hike, the trail began winding downwards taking us past a cluster of large lakes. The water looked incredible blue compared to the more dull colors of the wild grass landscape, which had not gained its lush green colors yet. At this point we were convinced that the rest of the trail would be hurdle free, but we were surprised. There was one last rough up hill climb to conquer before the trail once again would go down hill. As we came closer to Mt. Fløyen we noticed how the rocky mountain landscape slowly changed from the wild grassland, we had been traversing all day, to forests of pinetrees. This change in scenery was a nice touch to an otherwise already beautiful hike in the mountains. Unfortunately, we were starting to get cold and tired so our admiration for the forest landscape should by no means be reflected in the way we rushed through this last part of the trail.
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Five hours later, we finally reached Mt. Fløyen. Happy, tired and cold. For a short while we were sitting at the view platform to admire another great view out over Bergen city. There were still a few hours left before the sun would set and despite us both jib-jabbing all day about catching the sunset, we decided to go home. On any other day we would had spent more time at this peak and the surrounding forests. However, on that day we surrendered and saw ourselves defeated by the wind to even consider sticking around. With a short ride on Fløibanen, we soon found ourselves back in the heart of Bergen with a mountain hike richer than when we started the day.
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<div class="imagecap">The view platform at Mt. Fløyen provided us with a great view over Bergen city</div>
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<div class="infoboxtitle">Useful Information</div>
The <b>Vidden</b> hike is a 13 km long stretch across the plateau between <b>Mt. Ulriken</b> and <b>Mt. Fløyen</b> in Bergen, that takes approximatelt 4-5 hours to complete. Both Mt. Ulriken and Mt. Fløyen serve as starting and ending points. The easiest way to reach either peak is to take the the cable car <b>Ulrikbanen</b> to Mt. Ulriken and the <b>Fløibanen</b> funicular to Mt. Fløyen - hiking to the top is also an alternative.<br><br>▶ Information about Mt. Ulriken and Ulrikbanen - <a href="http://ulriken643.no/" target="_blank">Ulriken643.no</a><br>▶ Information about Mt. Fløyen and Fløibanen - <a href="http://floyen.no/en/" target="_blank">Floyen.no</a><br>▶ Route description: <a href="https://www.ut.no/tur/2.5987/">Vidden from Mt. Fløyen to Mt. Ulriken</a> @ <a href="https://www.ut.no/">UT.no</a> by Den Norske Turistforening<br>▶ <a href="https://www.bergenoghordalandturlag.no/" target="_blank">Bergen & Hordaland Turlag</a> - Subsite of the The Norwegian Trekking Association <a href="https://english.dnt.no/" target="_blank">DNT.no (English)</a>
</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-14499658752970571112016-08-08T12:59:00.001+02:002017-11-05T20:07:37.596+01:00Instagram Takeover @GoVisitDenmark - Summer Edition<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIcZ8ztjRkx/" target="_blank"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7783/28544573665_45737a9595_h.jpg"></a>
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This July, we had the honourable pleasure to do an Instagram Takeover <a href="http://www.instagram.com/govisitdenmark" target="_blank">@GoVisitDenmark</a>, the official Instagram account of <a href="http://www.visitdenmark.com" target="_blank">VisitDenmark</a>. Being approached by these guys and recognized for our stories and photos from travels around Denmark and the rest of the Nordics is a huge pat on our backs - not to mention, being featured on their channel and being able to connect with their followers was a great way to showcase ourselves while giving our take on why you should explore Denmark.
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Now a chance like this comes with great opportunities, so we thought very long and hard on where to take their followers with us during the 4-day takeover. Ultimately, we went locale representing Central- & East Jutland. Why not show them a part of Denmark which hadn't been covered as extensively like others (Copenhagen, you know we are talking about you). Not surprisingly our theme of the takeover became <b>nature experiences</b> and how you actively can enjoy the varied Danish nature through hiking- and biking trails or on road trips. We wanted to give their followers the sense that Denmark can be more than a city break in Copenhagen or staying at a summer beach house by the coast. So we brought them with us to three different areas, that would show them just that:
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<font size="5">↠ Road trip to the tip of the nose of Denmark, the <b>Peninsula of Djursland</b> ↞</font></center>
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<center><font size="5">↠ Hiking part of the ancient road <b>Hærvejen</b> from Viborg to Engesvang ↞</font></center>
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<center><font size="5">↠ Ways to experience <b>Søhøjlandet</b> (The Lake-Highland) ↞</font></center>
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We want to give a HUGE thanks to <a href="http://www.visitdenmark.com" target="_blank">VisitDenmark</a> for featuring us in their #DanesTakeover serie on their Instagram profile <a href="http://www.instagram.com/govisitdenmark" target="_blank">@GoVisitDenmark</a>. Interacting with their followers was such a great experience, so thanks a heap to them too for tagging along as we showed them around Central- and East Jutland. We really hope we inspired people to get out and explore the Danish nature and perhaps even gave them some ideas for future adventures taking them through our beautiful country.
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Full stories will be up on the blog later on. Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer - perhaps somewhere in Denmark? :)
</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-82595804991460355032016-07-01T07:58:00.001+02:002020-04-08T13:01:15.972+02:00To the Danish coastline and back: Sangstrup & Karlby Klinter <img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Denmark/Sangstrup-Klint--Karlby-Klint/i-w99DcBX/0/8bb22dfe/XL/Shinimichi-Sangstrup-Klint-13-XL.jpg">
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It was one of those sunny brisk days that you anxiously long for during those colder winter months. The clear sky might fool you but these photos were actually taken last year in November. Together with our mom we took a walk at <b>The Cliffs of Sangstrup and Karlby</b> (Sangstrup & Karlby Klinter) on the peninsula Djursland. It is a 5 km long stretch of coastal lime cliffs which is not nearly as famous as its bigger brother The Cliffs of Møn (Møns Klint) situated on the Southeastern part of Denmark.
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Its anonymous existence suited us just fine as we could fumble across the rocky beach while peacefully enjoying the subtle sound of minuscule waves rolling in and examinating the walls of rocky lime that have withstood years of erosion. I love digging deep into beaches to find unique pieces of stone, sea glass or seashells. What is it with walks on the beach that suddenly transform you into an avid collector? It is like your mind becomes so focused on everything that lies before your feet and nothing else. We collected a pile of pebbles and stones. They were all categorized by various self-defined classes but were eventually left behind to preserve the hidden treasures of the beach for the next-coming visitors. The sky was perfectly clear that day and a fresh breeze gently waved in from the Baltic Sea. Nothing feels better than to be refreshed with pure and bracing air that leaves you with a sense of internal rejuvenation.
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Karlby & Sangstrup Cliffs appear as very beautiful coastal cliffs. Karlby Cliff is connected to the even higher Sangstrup Cliff, only separated by a wide river valley, and you can walk along the water to Gjerrild Cliff and Sangstrup. But keep an eye on the water level! In high tide, the beach disappears some places and it is not always easy to find a place to get up from the bottom of the cliff.
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<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Denmark/Sangstrup-Klint--Karlby-Klint/i-xHsKKMv/3/082beb8c/XL/Shinimichi-Sangstrup-Klint-6-XL.jpg">Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-55184821537913151212016-04-28T21:31:00.001+02:002020-04-11T22:43:18.526+02:00Winter camping in the Norwegian snow - you bet we did!<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Denmark/Notodden-Norway/i-LMzRpBC/0/ee4bdf3f/X2/Shinimichi-Eikeskar-Notodden-6-X2.jpg">
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<font size="4">Never in my wildest dream had I imagined that I would ever spend a night outside in the freezing cold of my own free will. People told us we were insane to even think about camping in the snow - and we probably were a bit. Being fairly new to outdoor life, it was pretty much high spirit and a bunch of good luck that carried us through the cold nights. This was such an unforgettable experience and the perfect way to include Norway into our Nordic Journey adventures.</font>
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Of all the Nordic countries, Norway rank highest in terms of most pinned places we dream of visiting one day. There are the classic places like <b>Trolltunga</b>, <b>Preikestolen</b> and <b>Kjerag</b> - all of which could make for an epic summer road trip between <b>Stavanger</b> and <b>Bergen</b>. For the longest time we thought we would make it to Norway during 2015 but as things turned out, we never got around to it. Last summer were instead spent on biking the Finnish <a href="/search/label/Turku%20Archipelago%20Trail%2015">Turku Archipelago</a> and hiking the Swedish <a href="/search/label/High Coast Hike-15">High Coast Hike</a>. Yes, Norway had to wait. Though not for long. Early on this year, we received a surprise message from an old schoolmate, Nina, asking if we were up for some fun camping in Notodden in Norway. Now, how can you say no to that? The opportunity was too good to resist, so we jumped at the chance without knowing it would be our first camping experience in the snow.
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<div class="imagecap">The snowcovered campsite at the top of Eikeskar</div>
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The Danish Winter seems to have become an endangered season. As we were prepping for this trip, we heard rumours that Winter Wonderland still persisted up North in Notodden which naturally started a fire of excitement as we eyed a possibility of seeing proper snow this winter. From Oslo we took a 2 hour busride towards Notodden and as we distanced ourselves from the Norwegian capital, we soon found ourselves glaring through the window out on the thick snowcovered landscapes. It was absolutely magical and our inner children just sparkled to life! We got off at the bus stop <b>Nils Bjørnebu</b> situated outside of the city. From here a small 3.2km hike to the top of Eikeskar was awaiting us.
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<div class="imagecap">The half frozen Lake Heddal (Heddalsvannet) running below Eikeskar</div>
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The city of Notodden is surrounded by forests, lakes, rivers and mountains. We just couldn't wait to get an overview of it all at the top of <b>Eikeskar</b>, where we were to camp for the night. Eikeskar is only 416 meters high and not at all the highest top in the area. However, the view can still be rewarding - when the weather is clear, at least. As we arrived at camp site there was some fog in the air and the sky was covered in clouds. We had a good view over Notodden itself but we couldn't see much further than that. The tranquility of this haven nevertheless made up for the limited visibility and knowing that we were setting ourselves up for an unique experience, the fog merely added an extra touch to the story.
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The spontaneity of this trip was well reflected by the small challenges that arose while setting up camp. None of us had really considered the difficulties of driving the tent pegs into frozen ground; or well it had crossed our minds but never did we think that special pegs were needed. Anyhow we managed to force a couple down and luckily for us a group of trees stood perfectly clustered together for us to tie up, and pinch down our tent in between. Definitely not pretty nor perfect but it worked like a charm. The first hurdle before the night was complete.
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<div class="imagecap">Winter camping at the top of Eikeskar with view over the city of Notodden</div>
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As the sun was slowly moving down towards the horizon, we knew a campfire would be essentiel for our survival in this cold wilderness. A local friend, Mariann, would join us later at Eikeskar and bring fuelwood for the fire, however, we needed something to start with before she turned up. Being high on life and oblivious about the fact that Mariann eventually would be hindered in joining the nights event, we took a walk in the woods and casually scouted for sticks and brances that could be used as fuel. Not unexpectedly it became a hard task as everything were soaking wet from the winter snow. Darkness was crawling upon us, but we decided to swing by another lookout point before heading back to camp. This turned out to be the best decision of the day; a bag filled with dry fuelwood was laying there as it was sent from the heaven above. Talk about luck! We had fire for the night, and as soon as it was up and running Mariann's message ticked in notifying us about her hold back.
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Even though the stars were hidden away we still had our own private light show as Notodden was shimmering. The city looked so warm and cozy - and you couldn't help but wonder whether someone perhaps was looking up and thinking the same about us and our bonfire. The evening was spent with smores and stories from "100 myths about health and disease" until the fire could not persist anymore.
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<div class="imagecap">Marianne gifted us with a Norwegian national treasure - the chocolate-covered treat <b>Kvikk Lunsj</b></div>
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Yesterday evening hadn't exactly blessed us with any visible signs of the sun going down, so we were aiming for the following day to break loose with a spectacular morning light show. In the morning, as we peeped out through the tent opening there were, again, no light beams to be seen; the fog was still hanging around just a tad bit more heavy and grey. Well well, you can't be lucky in all aspects of life. We rolled out of our sleeping bags, contemplating on the sleep we had gotten through the night. All of us had litterally been freezing our butt cheeks and had seemingly been catching glimpses of sleep in turn. Nevertheless, we felt fresh and were ready to seize another day. We met up with Mariann, who spent the entire day with us - taking us three "kids" to the mountains to play in the snow, and welcomed us into her home with an overwhelming delicious breakfast table and a lovely dinner with her family.
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<div class="imagecap">A lighthearted night by the fire, gazing at the stars from our campsite at Tinnemyra</div>
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Succesfully surviving the first night in the snow, we were ready to take on another night. Mariann took us out to <b>Tinnemyra</b>, a lake located a little outside of the city. It was during the dark hours of the night, so we couldn't see much at that time and barely had an idea of what the place looked like. We settled ourselves at the bottom of the lake, where we shared the last laughters with Mariann before she had to head back home. The trail running along the lake was illuminated by a cleverly integrated light show, but it was nothing compared to the sight found right above our heads. Tonight, we were sleeping at a 5 million star hotel for free dollars - how amazing is that!
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<div class="imagecap">After yet another ice cold night, we found ourselves to have set up our tent RIGHT next to the frozen lake</div>
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The next morning we woke up to an incredible sight. It felt like we were encapsulated within a little magical realm of a snow globe - all we needed was a good shake, before the finest snow flakes would be sprinkled over us. The lake was completely frozen and for good reason; that night the temperature had dropped to -12°C thus ensuring that winter persisted in Notodden. No wonder it was bitterly cold that particular morning. Few minutes of non-attendance and my tea had simply crystallized - that's how cold it was. We were jumping back and forth between warming ourselves by the fire and scooping down some breakfast while packing everything down. We were lucky to have the fire running the whole morning, cos oh man, could we otherwise have conjured up some serious frostbites.
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<div class="imagecap">Rise and Shine! Packing up after two cold but incredible nights camping in the snow in Norway</div>
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<div class="citation"><font size="5">“</font>I do love it! You're the coolest twins i know! Thanks for an amazing adventure, for beeing such lovely travel partners and showing the world how uncomplicated, fun and beautiful life can be, if you just grab the crazy ideas and outlive them! <font size="5">„</font> - Nina</div>
We waved goodbye to Winter Wonderland with an incredible experience in our backpockets and a re-established friendship in our hands. Freezing our butts off during the cold nights were worth every second spent and we would do it all again in a heart beat. Nina, are you ready for next round?
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Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-3054293832267498612016-02-06T23:03:00.001+01:002020-03-31T11:20:17.277+02:00Driving to Mandø, an isolated island accessible only at low tide<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Denmark/Mandø-The-Wadden-Sea-2015/i-38pfZ3t/0/00b55eb8/XL/Shinimichi-Mando-lowtide-2-XL.jpg">
<div class="imagecap">The shallow waters during low tide allows one to explore the muddy ocean floor around Mandø</div>
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Back in October we went to <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/2015/11/denmarks-oldest-town-ribe-oozes-with.html">Ribe, an old Danish town full of charm and history</a>. Ribe makes an excellent base camp for day-trips to the <a href="http://eng.nationalparkvadehavet.dk/" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Wadden Sea National Park</a> (inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage list) and the close by islands of Fanø, Rømø and Mandø. Reaching each of these islands is done in different ways. The <b>island of Fanø</b> is connected to the mainland by ferry while the <b>island of Rømø</b> is connected by a 10km causeway. <b>Mandø</b>, however, is a tidal island so getting there is a bit more tricky yet manageable as access depends on the tide. Our local friend Ida had told us about the road to the little island Mandø. She was literally praising it and ensured us, that this trip surely was not one to miss out on. Going to Mandø allows for an unique and intimate experience with the powers of The Wadden Sea, so when planning this weekend, there was no doubt - we had to go to this isolated island! We packed some rubberboots and headed down south, ready for a weekend up and close with nature.
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<div class="imagecap">Simplistic scenery of extensive mudflats and tidal marshes encircling the island of Mandø</div>
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Getting to the little island of Mandø on our own, we had to take the 5km road <b>Låningsvejen</b> during ebb-tides. There was a short time gap of a few hours before the tide would rise again and swallow the road between the island and the mainland. It is possible to both walk or drive the stretch; we decided to drive and made multiple stops on the way to admire the tranquility of the salt marsh and the tidal flats. There is something spectacular about setting your feet on the ocean floor. A feeling of freedom rushed over us as we stood there in our rubber boots on the muddy seabed and gazed over the endless horizon. There was enough time for us to venture further out there into the 'open' sea. So we did - but with the high tide in our mind. One should never take things lightly when it comes to the power of nature.<br />Admire nature. Interact with nature. But most importantly, respect nature. For anyone visiting the Wadden Sea in Denmark this road is undeniably worth taking.
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<i>Before heading out to defy the forces of the sea it is advisable to study the tide schedule closely and refer to locals for advice, and just letting people know of your whereabouts if something unforseen should happen. There are stories of people, who have been caught by the tide and had to call for rescue from the top of their car roof! </i>
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<div class="imagecap">When accessing Mandø one can choose to drive straight ahead to Mandø town or take the ring road around the island</div>
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<div class="imagecap">Flat solitude landscapes of Mandø that would have been eaten by the sea, had it not been for the protective dikes surrounding the border of the island</div>
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The drive down Låningsvejen took a little longer than expected as we were simply marveled by The Wadden Sea magic that was unfolding itself right before our eyes. We were therefore left with little time to explore the island itself, but managed to pass by Mandø town. Here we walked the high dunes leading to the storm surge pole, which commemorates the many storm surges that have flooded Mandø over time. Again we found ourselves gazing over the sea - painting pictures in our heads of the breahtaking sunsets you could experience from this point. Going back to town we passed by the old Rescue Station now operating as a handicraft and souvenir boutique, and Mandøhuset a former sea captain’s home now turned into the district museum. What really caught our eyes though was the old windmill. They are a rare sight when we drive through the countryside of Denmark. However, once in a while one of these nostalgic beauties will cross our road and it just fills us with excitement.
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<div class="imagecap">The small quaint town of Mandø displays the simple lifestyle of the islanders, but nevertheless brims with plenty of history. Pass by Klithus Mandø to view the Nature exhibition about Mandø; the old Rescue Station serving as a handicraft boutique; Mandøhuset, an old sea captains home, now utilized as the district museum; Mandø Inn for a proper Danish meal; Mandø Church and the old Mandø Mill. </div>
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<div class="imagecap">To the West of the town, a storm surge pole is found below the dunes and commemorates the mayhem caused by floods through out history. The worst flood took part in 1634 and forced the islanders to move the town to a higher point, exactly where the town lies today. </div>
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<b>Ebbevej</b> is another ocean road connecting the island Mandø with the mainland of Denmark, however this road is reserved for the official tractorbusses and icelandic horses. Nevertheless, we drove over to the starting point of Ebbevej to have a quick walk around. Unlike Låningsvejen, this road is often flooded and therefore marked with willow brooms for visual guidance. These nude sticks really added depth to the otherwise desolated scenery. Both Låningsvejen and Ebbevejen is found near the Wadden Sea Center, which to our unfortune was closed as we passed by. On the positive side, this gave us more time to admire the dynamic ecosystem of the Wadden Sea, and to simply take in some fresh air while enjoying the extensive mudflats and tidal marshes encircling the island of Mandø.
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Ebbevejen is marked with willow brooms which guides the tractor bus and horses safely over the seabed to Mandø</div>
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This weekend-getaway to Ribe and the Wadden Sea National Park really made us realise what marvels are hidden within this country and why Denmark can be just as rewarding to travel in. There is still much to be uncovered of this unique natural landscape and we can't wait to step our feet back onto the ocean floor. Hopefully we will have time to go back in the nearest future, while the oyesters are still edible (Oyester hunting season from October till May) and while there is still a chance to catch the dancing starlings as they return from their winter break (in late March/early April).
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<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
Our stay in Ribe was made in collaboration with <a href="http://www.danhostel-ribe.dk/en/" target="blank" rel="nofollow">Danhostel Ribe</a>. For more inspiration on what to do and see in the Wadden Sea National Park, check out <a href="http://www.danhostel-ribe.dk/en/wadden-sea-national-park" target="blank" rel="nofollow">Danhostel Ribe's guide</a>
</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-17974818920218918402016-01-10T14:06:00.001+01:002017-11-05T19:49:57.529+01:00Photo Diary: A Winter Getaway to Riga<img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1640/24144279206_281feccafc_h.jpg">
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First day of Winter and there I was, standing in <b>Riga</b>, the capital of Latvia and the largest city in the Baltics. The morning sun gently kissed my cold cheeks as I stepped outside the hotel and turned my head towards the sky. The days before as I traveled through Sweden to catch my flight in Stockholm, the weather had been nothing but gloomy. You know, like one can expect from those last dispiriting days of November. But today was sweetly different. Blue skye. Only light cloudy. A perfect clear day to get acquainted with a new city.
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Two full days was all I had at hands to explore Riga. Still it seemed to be enough time for me to sink my teeth into the city and get a quick taste. Together with four fellow <a href="http://nordicnomads.no/nordic-nomads-going-to-riga/" target="_blank">Nordic Nomads</a>, I had crossed the Baltic Sea to try out modern Latvian cuisine in various restaurants and through a cooking class. Little did I know I was in for a serious treat. My prior knowledge of Latvian food was non-existent but I had a vague idea that simple pork, potatoes and cabbage would become my source of daily fuel. Oh was I shamefully wrong!
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In between the culinary feasts, my time was mostly spent in the heart of the city known as <b>Old Town Riga</b>. It's located on the east side of the Daugava River, which flows through and divides the Latvian capital in two. Here in the old town, the maze of picturesque cobblestone streets is rich in history, filled with character and an abundance of architectural gems. There's a reason why this historical center of Riga is listed on <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/852" target="_blank">UNESCO’s World Heritage List</a> and with more than 800 years under its belt, the Old Town (est. in the 13th century) knows how to throw in a few punches that will leave you stunned with admiration for this old champ. In particular the <b>Art Nouveau</b> is not to be missed in Riga. It's here that Europe's most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings can be seen with some of the best examples lined at the Alberta, Elizabetes, and Strelniku streets. I'm 100% smitten with the architecture, so I did not cheat myself from raising my eyes upwards when walking through the city.
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While a city is always best explored on ground, you can not take away that there is something fun about seeing it all from a birds perspective. For the best panoramic view of Riga, the top of the spire of <b>St. Peter's Church</b> is definitely not a bad choice. The church is located right next to <b>House of Blackheads</b>, another prominent landmark with a fascinating facade. Gazing over the city skyline, one could see the <b>Riga Central Market</b> housed in five pavilions (former German Zeppelin hangers) just outside of the Old Town Walls. It's a massive market place buzzing with locals getting on with their daily lives. A wide array of vegetable, dairy, meat and fish can be found here. Roaming around the local market is always an adventure for those who eat with their eyes and taste with their nose. Personally, I wish I had spent more time here to really soak up the atmosphere and capture the busy, colorful, raw and unpolised market life, and to cater my stomach with some local delicacies.
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As December had begun, several squares had turned themselves into their own cosy Christmassy havens. One evening I went to the <b>Old Town Christmas Fair</b> at <b>Dome square</b>. Christmas spirit was high, people were smiling and the light sparkled during the dark Winter hours. The small stands around the Christmas tree were packed with delicious treats such as glittering glazed gingerbread houses, roasted almonds, mulled wine and hot drinks. Also handmade warm socks, hats, scarfs and other Latvian handcraft were being sold. I don't know about you, but there's something about these Christmas markets that always puts me in a good mood. Hanging out at the stalls, trying to catch some warmth while setting your frosty teeth into those Christmas sweets, ahh that is one of the small joys of December.
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There is something about European cities that make them so wonderful. I'm not much for thinking too deeply about history but I do love that a city's character and facade is a reflection of its past historical events. Surely I have only scratched the surface of what can be uncovered in Riga, which only makes me want to come back someday and digg a little deeper. If anything, I'm counting on our Latvian Instagram friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eleinasweden/" target="_blank">Eleina</a> to let me in on all the Riga secrets. I met her for the first time in Malmø just three days before this trip (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/-n3HWFgB44/" target="_blank">Insta-proof</a>) and dreams of conquering the Nordics and the Baltics are already spinning off - haha. <b>Have you been to Riga? And what should one try to really get under the skin of Riga?</b>
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<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
The trip to Riga was made in collaboration with <a href="http://nordicnomads.no/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nordic Nomads</a> and Riga's official tourism office <a href="http://www.liveriga.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">LiveRiga</a></div>
Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-38254974569491066442015-12-06T15:53:00.000+01:002020-04-07T16:11:33.985+02:00Traditional Finnish boat houses in Hyppeis on Houtskär<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/The-Nordics/Turku-Archipelago-2015/i-kK9v7qR/0/4811e687/XL/Shinimichi-Turku-Archipelago-142-XL.jpg">
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<div class="imagecap">The red boat bouses at Hyppeis on the island of Houtskär, Turku Archipelago Trail</div>
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For most part of our <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/2015/10/a-finnish-summer-bike-trip-to-remember.html">summer bike trip on the Turku Archipelago Trail</a> in Finland we were blessed with good weather. Only twice did it rain. First time was during the night as we slept inside at Martha's Inn in Nagu while the second time came on day four on <b>Houtskär</b>. Now most of you will probably agree that rain rarely comes at an appropiate time. Well the timing on Houtskär was just that: Incredibly terrible and incredibly inconvient.
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That morning we left Nagu early with the aim of reaching the campsite in Houtskär before noon. Small 3 hours, 30 km and two ferry rides later we made it and got ourselves settled in at <a href="http://www.saaristo.org/index.php?palvelu=2236&lang=1" target="_blank">Kittuis Camping & Caravan</a> right next to the ferry harbor. Having the entire day a head of us we sat new goals: To see <b>the traditional Finnish red boat houses</b> in <b>Hyppeis</b> nothing more than 15 km away and to explore a little more of the island. Off we went on our two-wheelers completely oblivious about the rain shower that would accompany us five minutes later and throughout the entire trip to and from Hyppeis. Seriously, what the .... ! Rather quickly the <i>let's seize the day</i>-attitude got whiped off our faces as the road to Hyppeis turned out to be a struggle with the wind and rain working against us.
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After an hour of fighting our way through the first 10km, we took cover under <b>the Borgberg Look Out-Tower</b> at Järvis. At this point we had no idea if we were even close to Hyppeis or if the rain would ever stop. In an effort to keep the spirit high, we comforted ourselves with the best licorice and wine gum candy out there while patiently waiting for the weather to calm down. It did not. Eventually, we only stayed for a short time. The rain just would not stop and we started to get cold. Only thing to do was to throw ourselves into the rain once again! Thankfully as we reached Hyppeis a little while later some luck shined upon us and the sky cleared. We parked our bikes up the wall of <a href="http://www.hyppeis.fi/index.php/en/" target="_blank">Hyppeis Värdshus</a> and walked through the small village to find the red boat houses. They looked as were they abandoned and we imagined that they stored hidden treasures, family secrets, boats of all sizes or just plain old storage junk. We did feel a slight temptation to have a closer look, but held on to our civilised manners and had our imaginary thoughts spin off stories in all directions instead.
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The sky pulled down the curtains once again and it was time to head back the same dreary way. When we reached camp we were soaking wet, cold and tired. After a quick wash we gobbled down a bowl of oat meal and jumped straight into our sleeping bags. It wasn't even 7 PM but after a day like that all we wanted to do was sleep. Rain was still falling from the sky and continued on the whole night. This was one of those days that is absolute no fun as you experience it - but as soon as you find yourself being comfortable once again, then you reflect and re-experience all of the small good moments that was initially masked away. It was a shit day, but an ohh so fun one looking back in hindsight.
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<a href="/2015/10/finnish-summer-bike-trip-turku-archipelago.html">Chapter 1</a> |
<a href="/2015/11/biking-trip-sattmark-campground.html">Chapter 2</a> |
<a href="/2015/11/bike-trip-nagu-finnish-archipelago.html">Chapter 3</a> |
Chapter 4
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</div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-48505394997654620712015-11-26T15:58:00.000+01:002020-04-09T16:37:07.601+02:00Two days in Nagu with a day trip to Högsar<div class="story">
Day two of our <a href="http://www.shinimichi.com/2015/10/a-finnish-summer-bike-trip-to-remember.html"> Finnish summer bike trip on the Turku Archipelago Trail</a> became a short ride. The 24 km stretch from Sattmark to Nagu ended with another round of pesky hills, which completely out powered us and had our legs turned into boiled spaghetti - figuratively speaking that is. The thought of throwing myself off the bike and onto a soft green lawn grew greater for every mile we got closer to the town. Finally, we passed the town sign of Nagu. Both of us breathed a sigh of relief. AHH, TIME FOR A BREAK! We found a small spot outside the tourist office where we sat and restored our energy. My legs were still shaking slightly at this point. Originally, our plan was to camp at <a href="http://www.grannashomestead.fi/?page=1&lang=eng">Grännäs Homestead</a> which was the closest camping site, however, we just couldn't get ourselves to bike the last 5 km. Pathetic much (heh). No words needed, we simply looked at each other and agreed. Seeing as we were in no rush and the weather was top notch, we decided to stay and just chill in this popular tourist town. After all, a bike trip is not a race
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<div class="imagecap">Crossing the town sign of Nagu had us jumping off our seats of joy</div>
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Nagu is a nice little town and offers a wide range of restaurants, cafés, hotels & other accommodations as well as a guest harbor and a lovely small beach. We asked in the tourist office if there were any camping grounds in Nagu, but unfortunately there were no official place to pitch our tent. Best thing we could do, was to ask the different accommodations if they had space outside for us and our little tent or simply just get a room. So we did. Rather quickly Nagu's popularity became apparent to us as finding a place to stay (within our price range) was pretty darn hard - not surprising, considering it was peak season after all.
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Eventually, we managed to squeeze us in for two nights at <a href="http://www.majatalomartta.com/start-page/" target="_blank">Martha's Inn</a>: One night tenting in their backyard and another in their comfy bed as a heavy rain storm rolled in that second night. Martha's Inn was such a lovely place and the old traditional Finnish buildings gave us that warm spirit as in a grandma's house. The interior was old fashion; we felt that antique and romantic atmosphere as soon as we pooked our heads into the main house. From the second we stepped inside we were greeted with warm smiles and great hospitality. We were sold! :) During our stay at Martha's Inn, we had a few chats with the owners. They really took their time to talk with us which only added to the overall positive experience. We treated ourselves the luxury of eating a good morning meal at their amazing breakfast buffet and had it not been for our laziness we would have pampered ourselves with some Finnish Löyly spirit of their sauna.
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Since we were staying in Nagu for two days, we decided to make a small day trip to one of the smaller islands nearby. We decided on <b>Högsar</b> about 11 km away. There isn't anything special or spectacular on the island - well besides for the sceneric countryside, the beautiful lakes and natural forests ♥ We spent the day chilling on the rocks by the lake, walking in the forest, got all exhilirated by a fox running right in front of us, laughing & talking and just forgetting the time. I seriously don't remember the last time I had so much fun doing absolutely nothing. This was life. Simple, carefree and full of happiness. After spending a few hours on the island, we were forced to leave our bubble of solitude. The first rain drops started falling on the tip of our noses. It was time to go. Another day trip in play was a visit to the island <b>Själo</b> - only a ferry ride away from Nagu. The island is known for its church and nature, the Archipelago Research Institute and the former hospital facility with many of the present-day buildings on the island being built for a former mental hospital.
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<div class="imagecap">Taking the ferry from Nagu to the tiny island Högsar</div>
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The darkness of the night did not hurry on us and we enjoyed the slow evenings with walks by the silent water and with reflections on future life as the sun danced its way towards the horizon. In Nagu we chilled at the beach to the wee hours of the night and watched the locals take advantage of the extra hours of light with a refreshing late-night plunge into the sea. Viking blood isn't exactly running through our veins so we stayed safely on shore getting all warm and comfy with cups of earl grey and Finnish liquorice. We simply love those long summer nights that are blessed upon us living in the Nordics. Winters might be cold and dark but these days of endless revitalizing rays of light surely make up for it.
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<center>
<a href="/2015/10/finnish-summer-bike-trip-turku-archipelago.html">Chapter 1</a> |
<a href="/2015/11/biking-trip-sattmark-campground.html">Chapter 2</a> |
Chapter 3 |
<a href="/2015/12/traditional-finnish-boat-houses-hyppeis.html">Chapter 4</a>
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Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1611405341613103144.post-65116258028438617412015-11-21T10:14:00.001+01:002020-04-10T08:14:33.566+02:00Denmark's oldest town, Ribe oozes with charm and history<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Denmark/Ribe/i-nvj339m/0/e9b6f46c/XL/Shinimichi-Ribe1-XL.jpg">
<div class="imagecap">The town of Ribe welcomed us with all its charm - this rad bicycle is the proof that we aren't even joking ♥</div>
<div class="sponsorpost">↠ sponsored post ↞</div>
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A few weeks ago we made a weekend trip to <b>Ribe, Denmark's oldest town</b> and we had such a delightful stay combined with a visit to the <b>Wadden Sea National Park</b>, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as experiencing the nature phenomenon <b>Black Sun</b> for the first time. For years this trip has been on our minds and finally we made it happen! I don't know about you but traveling in our own home country has never been a priority. It's a darn right shame because Denmark got a lot to offer, certainly more than we give it credit for and this trip was a solid proof of it. If there's one thing our <a href="/p/tnj.html">Nordic Journey</a> project has taught us, it's definitely to <b>pack and go</b>! So we packed and we went off one friday afternoon in mid-October. Driving less than two hours from Aarhus, we arrived in Ribe and got ourselves settled in at <a href="http://www.danhostel-ribe.dk/en" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Danhostel Ribe</a>. The hostel has a great location right next to the <b>Head Meadow</b> (part of the Wadden Sea National Park) and with only a few steps out of the hostel door, we found ourselves right in the heart of Ribe.
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<div class="imagecap">Great view of the old town of Ribe and The Commoners’ Tower of Ribe Cathedral from inside our room at Danhostel Ribe</div>
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<div class="imagecap">At the centre of the heart - Looking down at the medieval town square from the top of the The Commoners’ Tower at Ribe Cathedral</div>
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Ribe is more than an ordinary Danish town: <b>It's Denmark's oldest and best preserved medieval town, dating back to the 8th century.</b> It all began when the great Vikings founded a marketplace by the river now known as <b>Ribe Å</b>. Due to the markedplace's great location on the west coast of Jutland with easy access to the sea, Ribe soon started blossoming and established itself as an important trading centre connecting Western Europe and Scandinavia. Moving 1300-something years fast forward til today, Ribe no longer hold a power position as a centre for trade. However, the town is still alive and breathing despite going through rough times with great fires and storm floods forcing it to rebuilt itself more than once. Many of the houses standing today are from the 16th-century and the entire core of Ribe town is under preservation order with more than 100 houses subjected to national preservation. We kid you not when saying that taking a walk through the old town Ribe is literally like taking a step back in time.
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<center>// Learn more about Ribe and its history at the official <a href="http://www.visitribe.com" target="_blank" rel="nolink">VisitRibe</a> website //<br>// Want to know more about the Vikings? Visit <a href="http://www.ribevikingecenter.dk/en/home.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Ribe VikingeCenter</a> and <a href="http://www.ribesvikinger.dk/en/" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Museet Ribes Vikinger</a> //<br /></center>
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<div class="imagecap">The river, Ribe Å, runs through the town. Along side the quay you will find <b>Johanne Dan</b> (last picture) - a copy of an old sailing ship, which now serves as a museum to tell about the maritime importance of Ribe. Furtherdown you will find the Storm Surge pole (first picture) documenting the many storm surges that have flooded Ribe over time. The green meadow is called <b>Head Meadow</b> because heads of beheaded pirates were put on display as a warning to other pirates to not mess with this town</div>
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We got our first impression of Ribe during the dark and drizzling hours of Friday night, when the <a href="http://www.danhostel-ribe.dk/en/ribes-night-watchman" target="_blank" rel="nolink">Night Watchman</a> told stories and tales of Ribe while guiding us by latern light through the historic streets of the old town. Homely warmth gleamed out through the tiny decorative windows and a wiff of homemade cooking tickled our appetite as we wandered between the vintage houses. Back in the days, the Night Watchmen patrolled the streets and ensured nightly peace and order while singing songs to alert the hour to the citizens. Today there is no need for these nightly wanderers, however, during the summer months the Night Watchman of Ribe comes back to offer visitors a free walk following the traditional footsteps of his predecessors. This was a splendid way for us to get acquainted with this small town bursting with Danish history and Danish life.
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<div class="imagecap">Following in the footsteps of the Night Watchman as he took us through the old streets of Ribe</div>
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<div class="imagecap">Squeezed in between its neighbouring houses this cute little thing is the smallest house in Ribe. Rocking an area of merely 26.5 m² it has been recorded to accommodate a family of nine members. If you are going to Ribe, we challenge you to locate this tiny home :) </div>
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Later during the weekend we experienced Ribe in all its vibrance as we had ourselves a quiet morning stroll on the old cobblestone streets. Our friend Ida, who grew up in Ribe, showed us around and told us fun facts about local life. It was difficult not to have our hearts stolen as we walked through the slender streets lined with crooked half-timbered architecture. The golden-redish hues of fall really supplemented this colorful town and eventhough it was a rather gloomy day the town still sparkled in all the colors of the rainbow. For visitors who don't have the luxury of a personal guide to show them around, you can find <a href="http://www.danhostel-ribe.dk/en/old-town-walk" target="_blank" rel="nolink">a self-guided walking tour of old town Ribe</a> made by Danhostel Ribe. It is a great guide and provides a lot of interesting information about the town, the history and the buildings you come across.
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<div class="imagecap">Ribe Cathedral located on the mediaval town square (top) and a group picture with Ida at the top of The Commoners’ Tower (bottom)</div>
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In the very heart of Ribe, we found <b>Ribe Cathedral</b> - the oldest cathedral in Denmark established in mid-13th century. This impressive church protudes well beyond the rest of the town and stands as a remarkable landmark that can be seen from far away distances in the flat landscape. No matter where you are in the maze of alleyways in Ribe, you can always find your way back to the medieval town square where Ribe Cathedral is located. Due to time we only had a quick look inside of the this beautiful cathedral before taking the stairs up to the top of the <b>The Commoners’ Tower</b>. The 52-metre-high tower served as a watchtower and provides an amazing panoramic view over the entire town and the surrounding marshland. Even if it aint no New York City skyline view from the Top of the Rocks, there is still something very unique about seeing a small cozy town like Ribe from a bird's perspective.
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<div class="imagecap">Inside the beautiful Ribe Cathedral | A mark on the pillar shows how high the water was standing during the devasting storm surge in 1634 </div>
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During our visit we noticed a few cute and quirky things about Ribe. For starters this town really knows how to make an entrance - you will for sure get the full meaning of this, when you go there yourself. The doorways are creative inspirations and stand as enchanting attractions on their own. Also, straight lines are not a common sight especially in the oldest part of the town. Houses bend along the crooked streets, windows and doors are not aligned with the ground nor the roof and some houses tilt forward some backwards. If this hasn't caught your eyes yet then take an extra look at the pictures and it will stand out straight away. Considering how modern day architecture has every single line and all the geometrical and (a)symmetrical details carefully planned and executed, Ribe's perfect imperfection was a breath of fresh air. Seriously, we dare you not to pay close attention to the fine architectural details of the houses such as the finely carved wood-work and the artistic adornments of mosaic and ceramics. It is no joke, when we say that everything in Ribe oozes with charm and history. This town is so cute we could just pinch its cheeks!
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<div class="imagecap">Another oldie is <b>Puggaard</b> which is one of many buildings which houses Denmark's oldest functioning school, <b>Ribe Katedralskolen</b> (high school). Take a look at the new school yard art in front of the main building where 112 granite stones are engraved with words by former students and people from far away</div>
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<div class="imagecap">The colorful houses bending along the cobblestone streets and a creative entrance of Ribe</div>
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Ribe is one of those small towns you can easily cover in a day, yet have a hard time leaving if you are a sucker for old town vibes. If you really want to get under the skin of this charmer, staying a few days will be more ideal. Besides exploring the medieval town and its main attractions (see list at <a href="http://www.visitribe.com/ln-int/south-jutland/castles-manor-houses/ribes-attractions" target="_blank" rel="nolink">VisitRibe</a>), there are also a wealth of culinary experiences waiting for you to dig right in to at some of Ribe's restaurants and cafés. Ribe also makes an excellent basecamp for you to explore more of Southwest Jutland - something we took advantage of during our weekend stay. Day-trips to the Wadden Sea National Park, seeing the Black Sun, going on a seal- or oyster safari or spending a day at the nearby islands of Rømø, Fanø or Mandø are just some of the things you can do, when you visit Ribe.
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<div class="sponsorpostinfotitle">Collaboration information</div>
Our stay in Ribe was made in collaboration with <a href="http://www.danhostel-ribe.dk/en/" target="blank">Danhostel Ribe</a></div>Michelle Rasmussenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540355469218691756noreply@blogger.com