After a great stay in Odense we traveled North on train to the city of Arhus which is the second largest city in Denmark with a population of around 300,000.
Waiting for the train…
We stayed on the ground floor of an older, typical townhome in a small apartment…
Yes, that is the bed on top of the sofa! These townhomes are built around inner courtyards where children play and residents socialize…
Don would have a drink here and chat with the lady next door…
Arhus was another place that combines the old with the new as it revitalizes its’ harbour and has a wonderful Old Town as well.
On a walk around the harbour on a sunny day we could see how busy it was…
Here is a picture of a freighter owned by the MAERSK shipping company which is the largest in the world and is a Danish company. We drove by its’ headquarters in Copenhagen and learned an interesting fact that the blue colour in the windows was a trademark Maersk blue only used by them and no one else…
Arhus is also a fishing port with the most popular species being cod, herring and mackerel, some of the fishers were getting their gear ready…
Arhus has always been a busy shipping port but now it is known more for its’ revitalization and a look at the beautiful architecture which has impressed us everywhere in Denmark…
The white pointed buildings are called The Iceberg” and I think the high one looks like a honeycomb…
They were busy building one room tiny homes on the waterfront…
There were portable saunas you could rent by the hour…
And lots of quirky art installations…
There is a large marina as well…
Their public library overlooking the harbour has won awards for being the best designed in the world…
And inside it has a large bell that rings when a new baby is born in the city…the parents press a button at the hospital and the bell tolls. I just think the Danes are an ingenious bunch!
We also visited Dem Gamble By which is large living museum in the heart of the city. It has recreated towns from across the country by disassembling buildings and reassembling them here. They describe the families that lived here and used the same furnishings, clothing, etc. We spent a few hours here but could have been here for much longer, once again the Danes do it well.
There are different sections to the museum from the 1800s to present day and the two we really enjoyed was the oldest era and the 1970s.
Here are some photos from the old town…
Don buying some licorice from the general store…
The servants keeping the fire going in the kitchen of the merchant’s house and they all play their role so well that it creates a very authentic experience…
Some of the original buildings from the 1800s…
The shopkeeper was just closing her shop and heading up the street…The mill that provided power to the town…such a peaceful place.
The town square…
The 1970s section brought back a lot of memories with the styles and colors of the houses. Their were great descriptions of the people who actually lived in them as well…
Love the colors and designs of the wallpaper…
Showing home movies in the living room…lots of burnt orange and harvest gold colors and crochet cushions…
The furniture looks familiar so the 1970s in Denmark had similar styles…
This room was from an apartment where university students lived in a commune…
I guess they showered together in the1970s as well!
This outdoor living museum was probably one of the most interesting ones we have ever visited that brought us back in time to see how the Danish people lived.
Nearby we visited the botanical gardens…
Spring is here and in this picture you can see a father pushing the baby carriage, something we have observed across the country. It seems men have taken over that role here.
And cafe…
And I forgot to take pictures of the plants!
Arhus has a large university population and they were everywhere enjoying the cafe culture…
Arhus is known as the City of Smiles and we too found people very open and friendly as we did elsewhere in Denmark.
Denmark is often known as one of the happiest countries in the world, according to the World Happiness Report, happiness is closely linked to social equality and community spirit - and Denmark does well on both. Denmark has a high level of equality and a strong sense of common responsibility for social welfare.
People living in Denmark pay some of the world's highest taxes - up to half of their income. On top of this, Danes pay a 25 % value-added tax on most items, and a tax of up to 150 % on new cars.
But most Danes will tell you that they are happy to pay taxes because they can see what they get in return. Most healthcare in Denmark is provided with no fee to the patient. University students pay no tuition and receive a grant to help cover expenses while studying. Childcare is subsidised. And the elderly receive pensions and are provided with care helpers who visit them at home. When a person starts working they are guaranteed 5 weeks paid holidays so there are a lot of reasons to be happy in Denmark.
The Danes are very environmentally aware so recycle a lot so on most corners you can see second hand shops like this Salvation Army shop…
And lots of good bargains!
They are also very politically active especially on environmental issues, here we see this sign a lot so inquired about it. Apparently there is a big division in the country on the use of and production of nuclear energy…
This sign says No to nuclear power.
Of course any city brings a visit to the oldest church in town…
The Arhus Cathedral was built in the 1200s and is the largest in the country, it was originally a Roman Catholic Cathedral but now belongs to the Church of Denmark which is Lutheran and is dedicated to St. Clemens, the patron saint of sailors. There is a large ship hanging inside…
Arhus has many older streets and buildings dating back to the 1800s but this street has been there since Viking times. On Mollestein street we saw some of the oldest houses in the city where people still reside. They were very colorful and well kept.
Another thing that impressed me about the Danes is their sense of style when it comes to furniture, we saw many stores with beautiful designs in the windows that often got a stop to look…
Speaking of stores there is a large store in the middle of town that has created a wonderful urban space on its’ roof that is free to visit, again I was really taken with their use of space and it gave great views of the city as well…
Lots of people were lounging around and relaxing which they seem to know how to do well here in Denmark!
A few more photos from our walks around the city…
A cute coffee truck…
A museum with a rainbow coloured walkway all around the top…
Out and about on a sunny day…
Enjoying the many canals that run through the city….
Sitting in the sun by the Cathedral…
Some of the streetscapes….
If you ever come to Denmark I would recommend a visit to this very cool city…we are now off to Norway!
Great pictures!! From your commentary, I know I would love it!! Enjoy Norway!!
ReplyDeleteThanks. We really enjoyed this cool city.
DeleteYou have definitely moved Denmark further up my hit list.
ReplyDeleteI would never have thought we would have liked it so much, it is a fabulous country in many ways. Just bring lots of money!
ReplyDelete