Rosekilde today!

Today we took the train to Rosekilde. Besides learning how to use the train we had a glimpse of village life, and viking history.

There are two sights the travel books talk about for Rosekilde, the cathedral in which the kings of Denmark are laid to rest and the Viking museum. But, the village itself is a treat. It seems to be a lovely small town. The main street is a walking street, a great place for people watching and for pastry!

As we left the train and walked toward the cathedaral and Viking museum we saw an old cemetary that we HAD to walk through! It was a traditional graveyard with old irregular headstones shaded by huge trees. One of the trees had apparently died or broken or something but it had been turned into a fantastic scuplture sprouting out of the trunk. We walked out of the cemetary and onto the main walking street of the town.

The cathedral is lovely, the outside is red brick and the inside is white washed plaster. The good news is they take great care of the inside, the bad news is that they were doing it while we were there. All of our views were interrupted by scaffolding. Despite this minor distraction we saw the tombs of the Danish kings and queens from the 1200's forward. Some of the tombs were huge marble altars in their own chapels and some were quiet (relatively) sarcophagi. I wonder how they decide who gets the bigs ones and who doesn't. Nor thinks is depends on who pays for the new side chapel--don't know enough to argue with that, but then he doesn't know enough to know that has any validity.

We walked out of the cathedral and down to the fjord to the Viking museum. The museum was started when they dredged up five ships from the fjord. The ships were scuttled to help protect the land from the invading Norsemen around 800 ad I think-- apparently unsuccessfully. However, when the ships were raised the archaeologists began reconstructing the ships and eventually built a recreated sea-going ship that they sailed to Dublin and back in 2007-8. They took 25 years to do the research and building. After assuring that the specifications for the ship were accurate they began to build it using traditional tools and techniques. There are a number of other recreated ships in the harbour and some still under construction. It seems that they also have a school at which they train the sailors and craftsmen.

A truly fascinating place and well worth learning about the trains.

Back to Copenhagen. Did I mention how I ticked off the line at the Magasin du Nor deli area? Well when we got our first meal, we got some trail mix, apparently I was supposed to weigh it -- still don't know how I supposed to know that but I didn't and with a great sigh the checker went a weigh it. The lady two back in the line was shooting daggers with her eyes at that one. I was afraid to check how she felt when I neglected to tell the long-suffering checker that my card was without pin, and he had to reenter something so I could sign. Tonight when we bought our wine and foccacia-- I chose not to buy ANYTHING that might require weighing just to avoid any further international incidents.

Barack and Michelle are arriving in the next two days. Nor and I are taking credit for leading the way. Of course it could be that they need to clean up yet another ugly American incident! There is a huge stage being erected in front of the city hall which given the banners on the building must be a part of the event. It all seems to have to do with the Olympics. If you tune in you will see where we were, since we are leaving for Berlin the morning the President arrives,

It should be noted that I am really not learning a lot of Danish reading the subtitles from old Murder She Wrote and NCIS reruns. NCIS had to travel to Arizona to solve their murder tonight, so I was able to watch Arizona from Denmark! Georgia and Susan would be pleased to hear that I keep looking for Dora the Explorer but haven't found her yet.

Nor is falling asleep across the table from me, so I think it is time to end for the day.