Christmas 4

Today we got the tree. And it was the right day. It snowed when we left home. Since our regular tree seller didn't have the most exciting trees last year we tried a new place. But it was wrong. No nice trees or as Axel said: What did I say, no need to change tradition! So we went to our regular and got the most beautiful tree.

Oh and the ground was wet and muddy not suitable for young men - or so they claimed :-)

Christmas 3

Rita was a beautiful Santa Lucia the other day.

Christmas 2

Homemade pate is gross in the making but delicious in the eating :-)

Getting ready for Christmas

A snow landscape with angels and pixies are on it's way.

Fun

Last day in Sweden for now.

Kullaberg

The rugged cliffs of the Kullaberg peninsula has claimed the lives of many a sailor. The landscape is so unlike the flat of Zealand. Every cliff and hill just calls out to be climped. We did and we managed. If was fun. It was strenous. It was so that Ellen completely forgot to warn us to be careful.

Vacation bakery

Sweden means turning down the speed dial several notches. And then we have plenty of time to bake or make a special meal.

Orcs, beware!

It's a stone sure tradition. We've hardly entered the forest I'm Sweden when we are attacked by orcs and have to defend ourselves against this terrible fiend with mortar pine cones and hochsitz.

Getting ready for the first frost

Last week we had 26 degrees. Tonight it might be frost. Rita and I figured we'd better bring in the pumpkins. Our first harvest at Kløvervej gave us 13 pumps. So we have plenty for carving and cooking. Can't wait.

Stargazing

Entering the trail of Giacobini-Zinner brings us 1000's of meteors. The best way to watch them is lying down. We did and saw tons of meteors. 

Skærgård

In Denmark it was the warmest October 1st ever. I don't know about Stockholm but the weather was fantastic when we sailed among the hundreds of small island in the skærgård. We got quite the tan. It was hard to get a decent picture of the small islands but this unusual crane turned out quite good, 

Vasa

I grew up with the tale of the warship that sank on it's maiden voyage in the 1680's. It was found some 330 years later and brought to land. It  is now placed in a marvelous museum in the Stockholm harbor. The ship is huge and very well preserved. 

Splurge

The rest of the delegation returned to Denmark at the end of the week and then Ellen came so we could share a couple of days in Stockholm. We started out with a fabulous meal at Lisa på Torget. The mouthwatering piles of seafood in the Saluhal had given us an appetite for shellfish. The lobster was a treat. There's a first for everything and this was great.

Den gyldene freden

It was rumored the Academy had dinner at Den Dyldene Freden, the evening we dined there. Perhaps they did and if they didn't it was a fascinating place anyway. The restaurant was in three level. We ate in the lowest cellar behind a pair of huge hand carved doors.

Changing the guard

Time between meetings offered a real tourist moment. You know you are in Sweden when the Royal Guard play Abba.

Gamla stan

The old centre of Stockholm is spectacular: Narrow streets, small shops with handicrafts, galleries and small cafes. Saco the Swedish confederation of professions is situated in the outskirts in a wonderful house build up of beautifully carved sandstone.

Östermalm saluhall

Next stop Stockholm. After the days meetings I took a turn in the neighborhood. There is a peculiar dominance of dry cleaners and manicure stores in the area. And then the town market with an abundance of meat, cheese, vegetables and fish. If it wasn't for the suitcase I could be tempted to go on a shopping spree.

The end

And with a final view of the inland ice the time has come to bid adieu to Greenland. Today's flight has been another fantastic demonstration of nature's beauty. Blue sky, high sun and a perfect view of the many many glaciers which run their way inland to the fjords. Some snake their way until they reach water others seem to tumble over the cliffs like lemmings. It has been a great trip. Succesful workwise and the experience just perfect.

Chocolate factory

They love euphemisms in Nuuk. This ought to be easy to guess. No need to be so concerned about sewage polution when you have vast waters surrounding a sparsely inhabited country.

Morning has broken

Building season is short in Greenland so constriction work goes on whenever there is light. So who cares if you have to use an airdrill in front of Nuuks largest hotel at 6.30 in the morning! We got up early and fortunately it was late when we walked back to the hotel otherwise we'd have missed the huge band on northern light spanning over the city last night. It was as thrilling as I've been told. It looked like huge green curtains moving in an unseen and unfelt wind in the airspace over Nuuk.

The plank

In the small settlements the plank is what it says- a plank where the hunters present their catch to potential customers. In Nuuk the principle is the same albeit on a larger scale. Large tables are decorated with reindeer, whale, dried fish and huge iced buckets filled with various and excotic cuts of fish etc.

Black plate

Modern greenlandic kitchen is probably very far from the hunters basic diet. This titilating plate contained seal on a pear gel and whale sashimi on what could be marshmallows but is lemon foam. It was tasty but I think I've had enough sea mammals for now. Now hopefully I'll get some of the offerings from land.

The good, the bad and the ugly

So much had been said in Ilullisat about Nuuk. And yes it doesn't have the same colorful beauty. But on a sunny day with snowy white peaks the city definite has a charm. The old social housing does look like a plan economic nightmare, but that is just part of the city and although ugly it has a certain charm discovering the clash between modern city life and traditional hunter culture like reindeer antlers placed proudly and prominently on the rail of the housing balcony. I've found the greenlanders enjoy ornamate decorations in their houses and in the city room also. Many a place has a sculpture or a small memorial. It's both charming and decorative.

Humpbacks

The trip to Eqi was crowned with a view of 3 humpback whales. In all humbleness it was me who noticed them among a flock of sea gulls. Unfortunately, we didn't see their tailfinns when they dived after about 5 min. Awesome creatures.

Donner ohne Blitzen

Kapow - the sound blasts like the shot of a canon or sometime thunder while fragments of ice tear off the glacier. The sound is oddly disproportionate to sight of the rushing ice. What a spectacle!

Mamartut

Ilulissat is quite small. You can walk all over the town in 10 minutes. The 4500 inhabitants enjoy the many tourists coming to see the glacier and icebergs. Mamartut is probably the finest cuisine in the place. It serves modern greenlandic food. I forgot.to take pictures of the tapas plate made with local meats and fish. This whale (mink) carpachio was however wonderful: Sweet, salt and tasty.

Blueberry toffee swirl

I learned that icebergs are not just icebergs. The ice comes in many many colors - white, blue, black, clear, filled with mud and so on. The lump slightly on the right was the most unusual and reminded me of the toffee we got at the candy baron this summer.

Mind the

City planning requires ingenuity when the ground is hardened with perma frost. Ilulissat is laying sewage pipes with dynamite. The pipes are ny the way heated with warm water and run in to the bay. Electric cables lie in metal casing on the rock. All houses have a water tank. Small lamps on the houses tell if the tanks are full or empty. Red is full. Green means empty. So no maritime significance here. The city itself is picturesque. Multi colored houses strewn over the rocks. And 2000+ sleigh dogs laying chained except for the cubs among the houses creating am atmosphere with their howling and sneering.

A room with a view

A stunning view of the Disco bay from hotel Icefjord. What a spectacular surprise to enter the room and see this. I had to sleep with the curtains open and the sunrise was just stunning. I was awestruck how the dark blue and gray gradually changed to pink, then yellow and then white. Who then minded waking up at 5 due to the time difference.

Kangerlussuaq

First stop in Greenland - beautiful but barren. The central airport in the country is slightly larger than a provincial train station and equally exciting. However, 2 hours sitting in the full but low sun was nice.

Something new

;)

First day of school

Rita and Axel have just left for school. Of Axel had his way it would have been without pen, paper and school bag. Erik started yesterday. Anxious, curious and perhaps with a little bit of heartbeat. I was allowed to show him the way to the bus stop. But I should not accompany him any further.

Me in the news

http://www.dr.dk/NETTV/Update/Forside.htm?video={14192738-FE54-4062-85B2-AE17C0701FA4}

3rd cut

A month away and the lawn goes crazy. Farmor cut it right before we got back. Today I did the 3rd cut, still leaving a lot of grass to be carried away.

Welcome back home

1 year abroad- it's pretty impressive. Erik arrived 2 hours after us. Farmor came to pick us up and waited with us. Merete and the Zuletas showed up and we had the grand greeting. Erik was overwhelmed :-)

2237

Final day. We have in large numbers - not counting small trips - driven 2540 miles or 4088 km. in the US. Add to that 300-400 km. on Iceland. Quite a bit. A now I just have to sort through 2237 pictures.

Travel lessons

No. 1 it is not enough just to check date and destination on your ticket. If you have been assigned seats and you notice that your family had been assigned the seats 18D, 19D, 20D and 21D. Do NOT wait until the airline upon for electronic check in to change it yourself. Call the airline IMMEDIATELY. Not all passengers will graciously change seat with a 10 year. Lesson no. 2 do not accept a 1 hour lay-over in Seattle airport. You may end up being driven from San Francisco to San Jose in order to get a flight that can assure the connection. No 3 arrive early but do not expect Lufthansa to have opened for check in so that Erik's trip would be on order before you leave for San Jose.

Island of pelicans

Final day of sightseeing brought us to Alcatraz and Pier 39.22 years ago I missed the crab cakes. I made up.for it this time. And they were good.

Turtle and frog to be killed on the premises

Incredible still in the US but we might as we have been in Beijing. It definitely was good some of the things we saw but what it was and what it should be hard for eluded us as none of the signs were in English.

GG

Mental note to myself: It may be sunny on the eastside of AC while cool, windy and damb on the westside. A great day out of the car. We witnessed two giant container ships racing under the bridge. It gave a tremendous perspective on the size of the bridge and the vessels. Haight street was fun with all the hippie stuff and gave the opportunity of supper totally without deepfry.

Highway 1

I'm running short on superlatives. The highway 1 lived up to all narratives and more so because none of the books had described the colony of elephant seals .we came upon. Huge, ugly, ungraceful and smelly animals but ever so fascinating. We witnessed how the males grunted. How they battled for dominance. It beat any show on Animal planet. It was a day with lots of nature. We saw deer, wild turkey, humming birds and lots and lots of special, beautiful and colorful plants. And the redwood trail in Big Basin national forest came at the right time. The right time for getting out of the car and the right time for exploration. Meals were late both times we got to the place right before kitchen closed but what we got was good, healthy and mostly untried before. We were sceptic of the egg and bacon pizza in Big Sur but it turned out both good and substantial.

Traffic!

Now we've experienced California traffic for real! 101 through LA was a killer. Cars, cars and more cars crowded the highway. It put a serious challenge to the time plan. But we did make it to Solvang and the kids just loved to get medisterpølse and hakkebøf. Erik was all mellow when he noticed rum balls and marcipan logs at the doctor. So Lunch at 3 pm and then a fast drive down the mountain to Pisco beach. A wonderful dip in the Pacific and supper at 9. Another full day.

Upon golden pond

There's gold a plenty in California. Lake Arrowhead literally sparkles with tiny golden flakes. Gold or not, Rita is born a mermaid and staid in the water long after the rest of us had left it freezing.

Shaffer visit

A short trip from LA to wonderful San Diego. Afternoon at the beach diving in the awesome Pacific waves. And to top it off the beginning of a fun fun visit with Mathew, Anthony, Caroline, Cathrine, Sara and Dave. The kids were just hitting it off immediately.

Midway

Another vacation highlight - Midway the aircraft carrier. Naval aviation was invented in San Diego. Pretty cool to see a retired and 2 active aircraft carriers. Afternoon return through La Jolla experiencing a cave by the sea and seals in nature. The best fresh seafood - sole with shrimp and lemon sauce.

Hollywood

Another action filled and long day was spent at Universal Studios theme park. It was a lot of fun. Amazing what can be done with 3D now a days. We almost made to the opening hour but I must admit it will take quite some time before US high way signs and I become really good friends. After Universal a short trip to Hollywood Boulevard and Graumans Chinese theatre. We were disappointed the Hollywood sign weren't illuminated at night. All were tired when we got back home. I think Farmor will need a vacation after this.

A quiet day in

Oh bliss! A lazy day in lake Arrowhead, beach and 1 kg porterhouse steaks on the grill.