Summer vacation vol. 2

Marianne:
Ingrid og Dominique arrived on Sunday July 31st, which was a beautiful summer day. Unfortunately this was the last of the kind during their stay in Denmark. But we had some wonderful days anyway, where we went sighseeing in Northern Jutland, played games and just had a nice time together. It was absolutely wonderful to have them visit!

Monday we went to Loenstrup - a nice town on the coast pretyyy close by. It was quite windy and we had some showers, but we were still able to stroll around the town - and we sat outside the Blue Café for a coffee. Afterwards we visited some of the many nice galleries in the town. 

After that it was time for another type of culture. We drove to the close by Rubjerg Knude fyr. As previously mentioned on this blog, it has been renovated and is worth a visit. This day it was stormy, so when we left, we had sand all over: Ears, eyes etc.  So a shower was needed.

On Tuesday we wen to Eagle World. It was an amazing experience to watch the beautiful birds of prey close up. Kind of crazy that the skilled falconers are able to train these wild birds and achieve mutual trust. Another place worth visiting!

We cooked dinner on the bon fire. It was chili con carne. IT was SO good! This is such a wonderful way to cook. And the boys were very responsible in watching the fire!

We introduced Ingrid and Dominique to the game of bob. They never played it before, but were very fast learners. The evening was VERY competitive!











Wednesday Michael and I played golf at Sindal Golf Club with Birgitte and Jesper, who we know from the golf club in Farum, where we usually play. We had planned for weeks to meet and play, since they were also vacationing in Northern Jutland. We played 17 1/2 dry holes - and THEY the rain started. It´s a very nice course and we had fun playing a different place with some nice people. Ingrid and Dominique spent the day geocaching so they also had a nice day.

In the evening we went down to the local bar, Fisherman´s Rest, where they were having an Irish Festival. It was a couple, who played, Denis and Pia - and they were good! There was a full house and great spirits. Mom and dad stopped by. It was a wonderful evening with nice music, singalong and great company.

On Thursday, we went to the town Loekken. First thing we did, was to park Michael and Dominique at the local brewery, Løkken Bryghus. They were able to sit and relax, while the girls went shopping. They tested quite a few of the nice beer that they make there. I´m sure they enjoyed themselves.

Before dinner, Ingrid and I were on a mission: We had to go bathing. So far we hadn´t made it, while they were visiting, so now was the time! As always it was absolutely wonderful, when we got out there. But it took some convincing to get that far. 


Dinner was crab claws. We were a bit nervous about whether they liked it. Fortunately the loved it! To Michael and I, this dish is associated with summer in Denmark.



Friday we had to part with our Belgian friends. (Not good bye, but se you soon!) On their way back to Belgium, they were going to make a sopt in the Netherlands, visiting our mutual friends, Lia and Wouter, who were vacationing in Holland. Normally they live in Washington DC.

Micael and I got up early in Saturday and drove to Frederikshavn, where we parked the car. We then took the ferry to Laesoe, where we were going to visit my cousin Brita and her husband Jens. Their daughter Anita and grandson Philip were there as well.



We had breakfast together and then Anita, Michael and I biked to the harbor close by where a langoustine festival took plade. There were plenty of stalls, which featured various servings of lobster. There was a big cooking competition where the four contestants had to do dishes containing only ingredients from Læsø. We didn´t stay for very long.

Michael and I continued to the next small town, Byrum, where we stopped at the og jeg fortsatte mod Byrum, where we first made a stop at the saltworks. It is quite interesting to see (and hear) how they have resumed a really old Læsø tradition of making salt.










In Byrum we visited the Red Tower, and I had obviously had to get up to enjoy the view. We bought a so-called scrub-out sausage (a local delicacy). A must have when visiting Læsø.




It´s very nice on Laesoe right now. Lots of mirabels, which I simply love. And then they have a lot of rowans. Right now they look so beautiful. 

 On the same road as my cousin´s house (Kukkelure) is, you can also find a very beautiful old house, where the roof is made of seaweed. This is something very special for Laesoe. The house was newly renovated and looks amazing.

We went back to Kukkelure. Anita and Philip were about to leave and after they left, the rest of us eat tons of langoustines for dinner. It was SO good!











Sunday morning Jens, Michael and I wen to Laesoe Seaside Golf Club, where we played a round. We started out with beautiful weather, but later it became cloudy and we also got some light showers. But not so much that it ruined the experience. It's a really beautiful course - particularly now that the heather blooms, it looks absolutely gorgeous. We went back to the mainland on Sunday night.

Well, all of a sudden it felt like autumn ... We made a fire in the stove and the wind picked up. Cozy, but just not quite what you imagine in the summer holidays. On the beach, the water almost reached the dunes - not something which bodes well for the houses, which are dangerously close to the edge.

Tuesday morning (9 August), we awoke by the furniture was thrown around on the patio. When we came out, our parasol had disappeared. We had packed it into a cover and tied a rope around, so the wind would not be able to catch it. But it was still gone! After an inspection around the lot, where it did not show up, I happened to look up on the roof - and there it was. Well, well, well.




Tuesday night some of the boys from the scuba diving club were visiting. They were going to prepare for Dan's 60th birthday, which was to take place on August 20th.
The rest of the week passed by quickly and we had to return to Zealand after a wonderful holiday. It was hard to say goodbye, but we are aiming to come back before too long.

The last weekend of the holidays, we celebrated Birgitte's 50th birthday on Saturday - here in Farum, where Birgitte and Nicolai also lives. I went there in the morning, and Birgitte and I enjoyed ourselves laying and decorating the tables etc.

Later, I came back - together with Michael. It was a great party which took place in two tents in the garden. It was nice to meet a few of Birgitte's old friends (Tove and Steen), who I knew from the past. The family was represented with both mother Inge, Erik and father Ivan and brother Morten with family. It was nice to see them all again!




We've probably looked fresher than we did on Sunday, when we showed up at the local golf club to play a couple´s match against Lilly and Allan. But it was no problem. We beat them - and could go home to take a nap :-)