July 11

7/11 - Aarhus

Today is our last day in Denmark and it has been very low-key.  We had another Danish breakfast that included the liver stuff (which Karen did not try again this time), bread with cheese  and strawberry jam, cucumbers, sausage or salami-type meat, and the cake that Maryanne really likes.  We certainly  have been spoiled.  We were picked up by Sara's mom and drove to Aarhus where she had a dress fitting.  We are currently sitting at a cafe in the city and will be meeting them for lunch.  We drank a cappuccino and fresh-squeezed orange juice.  Now we are researching Berlin and waiting for Sara to call!

                                         

Random things about Denmark:

• People leave their children outside unattended to nap.  One Danish woman was even arrested in the US for "neglecting" her child while she went into a cafe. (I guess I did have the foresight to write this story down!)
• The dollar stores are fabulous! (Tiger)
   
   
   
• Legos were founded here!
  
• A Danish underdog in Wimbledon was one of the doubles players who won.
• The currency is Kronas; about 6 KR = about $1

When Sara eventually called, we met her and her mother by the train station.  We walked to a bakery where her mother was buying treats for hte people who keep their horse north of Aarhus.  Once we parted ways with Sara's mother, we had lunch with Sara along one of the canals.  We then walked through the rain to the train station and took the train back to Odense.  Once there, we packed up our stuff an had a spicy Thai dinner prepared by Sara's boyfriend Jacob.

Shortly thereafter we placed our postcards in the mail and boarded our very first overnight train to Berlin!  

 

When we entered our cabin, there was a young couple there from Columbia.  The cabin was about 6 ft. by 6 ft. and had 6 beds altogether - 3 on each side.  Our beds were in the middle.  

 

We sat for a little while talking to the people from Columbia and helping them with a game where they had to name the brand based on the logo.  A stop or two into our journey, two Danish guys got on and our cabin was full.  By that time we had put one of our beds down and were laying on it and were just waiting for them to get there to put the other bed down.  When we finally got to lay down to go to sleep, a father started playing soccer in the hallway with his young child.  The child kept screaming.  Eventually, Maryanne kindly asked if they could move down the hallway, to which the father asked if it was the ball playing or the screaming that was too loud.  

This experience on the overnight train made us a little disappointed in ourselves for only knowing one language.  Both the Danish guys and the Columbian couple spoke English, which is how we all communicated.  However, once the conversation died down, everyone got to have secret conversations in their native language.  Everyone, that is, except for us... because we only speak English...

Anyway, some more pictures of us on the train can be found below! (P.S. If you're going to do an overnight train, I suggest splurging for the beds as opposed to the chairs! What you spend in money you'll get back in energy and a decent night's sleep! More to come on that!)