Cobblestones

When Mary and I first moved to Odense, the first thing we noticed were the roads.  Cobblestone everywhere!  The patterns, the colors, the textures, all beautiful.

To be honest, there are plain, asphalt roads here in Odense.  But many of the streets, and most of the bicycle roads are cobblestone.

Or, to be accurate, "sett" roads.  I did some research on this.  A little history of the cobblestone.  The things you learn by reading!

Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets.  The word "cobble" means "rounded lump", originally any small stone rounded by the flow of water; essentially, a large pebble.  It was these smooth stones that were gathered from stream beds that paved the first "cobblestone" streets.

A real Cobblestone Road

Cobblestones are typically set in sand.  Paving with cobblestones allows a road to be heavily used all year long. It prevents the build-up of ruts often found in dirt roads. It has the additional advantage of not getting muddy in wet weather or dusty in dry weather. The fact that carriage wheels, horse hooves and even modern automobiles make a lot of noise when rolling over cobblestone paving might be thought a disadvantage, but it has the advantage of warning pedestrians of their approach.

A "sett" is a rectangular quarried stone used for paving roads, usually made of granite.  A cobble is a naturally occurring round stone.

So, when you think you see a cobblestone road, more than likely, its a sett road!

I have noticed in my walks and bicycle rides that there are many kinds of cobblestone patterns. (I know, sett, but old habits die hard!)

A little more research and I found out there are four basic patterns: Random. Coursed, Fan, and Bogen.

Random is, well a random pattern (duh!)  It is the cheapest to lay and not as aesthetically pleasing as other patterns

Random

Coursed are straight lines, usually with a border.

Laying a "Course" road.

Fan is a very decorative pattern, requiring more craftsmanship.

Fan pattern

And finally, Bogen.  Bogens are incredibly strong layouts as the arcs work to dissipate forces over a much larger area. This pattern was developed when horse-drawn traffic dominated the streets.  These are the most difficult to lay, requiring the most craftsmanship.  It is the most common here in Odense.

Laying a "Bogen" road

Bogen pattern

The final photos are other patterns I have found.  In some bicycle roads, they have the centerline done in stone.

Regardless of the reasons why they are installed, they certainly are beautiful.

No more history lessons folks. I think I will take a ride on the cobblestone bicycle street just outside. (I know, I know, sett street.  I think I'm sticking to cobble).

Shopping at Bilka

Today, Mary and I went shopping at "Bilka"' Denmark's version of a Super Walmart.

Outward appearance, Bika is very similar to Walmart.  Giant store, lower prices then most places, large selection, and lots of people!

But once again, the signs will get to you until you get used to them.

They also offer several things that you local Walmart doesn't.

A Caviar department!

Wild Boar

A Homemade Bread department (one of my favorite places in the store!)

When Mary and I were done, it was lunch time, so we decided to grab a hotdog.

Yes, this is a hot dog, a "French Hot Dog".  (Not sure why French, but we went with it).  The hot dog bun was interesting.  A long bun with a hole the size of the hot dog "drilled" into it, no other opening.  Whatever condiments you want,  they just squirt it into the hole before they stick the dog in!  The dog itself sticks out a good two inches out of the top, a bit odd, but it seemed to work.

It was a "neat" way to eat a hot dog, but nothing like a hot dog from the Trolley Stop at Wrightsville Beach N. C.   Chili, slaw, special Trolley Stop sauce.  Heaven!

One last thing.  For my son Lukas.

Bacon is Bacon in Danish.  And just as good!

Lunch

As I told you in my last posting, Mary and I went for a bicycle ride yesterday.  As we rode by the train station, we realized we were both hungry.  I told Mary "Let's eat before we get going".  We looked for an exotic Danish restaurant to try and guess what we found!

Yes, McDonald's has invaded Odense, Denmark.

We went in and it looked pretty much the same as any other McDonald's.  Counter, people taking orders in uniforms, Golden arches.  But more importantly, the wonderful aroma of French fries! I am not really a big fan of McDonald's, but I do like their fries.

We walked up to the counter and looked up at the menu.

I recognized the words "Happy Meal".  I was about to panic (not really, but it sounds good for the Blog) when Mary pointed out the "Hometown Special Road to America Meal". We both went for it.

It was basically a Big Mac with Hot Wings sauce, Crinkle Cut fries (not the classic fries, oh well) and a Coke.

All in all, your basic McDonald's meal with a slight kick.  An average fast food meal.

Interesting name though,  "Road to America".  Kind of sad if people in other parts of the world are being told by an American company that two mediocre frozen beef patties fried on a skillet on a bun with some out of the bottle hot sauce means America.  Not in my opinion.

The fries of course are another story.

A Special Tree

Mary and I went for a nice long bicycle ride today.  The weather was beautiful, everyone out enjoying the sun.

We had no destination, just a ride.  Those are the best kind!

We rode through an area of the city filled with row houses.  Very neat, maintained and very old.  Mostly brick, with colors from yellow to pink sprinked everywhere!  If you look above the center of the road, you will see the street lights.  Instead of lamp posts, the city suspends them between the buildings!

This area will require further exploration!

As we were riding through the row houses, Mary said to me, "I haven't seen a cemetery since we arrived".  We turned the corner and we were at the front gate of a beautiful old cemetery!

(Now I am not sure how she does this.  It happens constantly. "I wonder if there is a pharmacy around here?"  We will turn the corner and there stands a drugstore!  Part of me thinks she goes out exploring on her own and "pretends" she has never been there before!)

The lanes were lined with Linden Trees (Lindetræet in Danish). It is related to the Basswood tree.  These beautiful trees are everywhere in Odense.

As we rode out of the cemetery, we came into a park with a very odd tree indeed.  From a distance, it appeared that plastic bags had blown into the lower branches.  As we got closer though, we realized that the tree branches were covered in Baby Pacifiers!

We learned that in Denmark you reach a milestone when you become 3 years old. You are not a baby anymore, but just about to leave your day nursery to start in kindergarten. Which means giving up your pacifiers.

"The Pacifier Tree"

According to Danish tradition, to make it easier on the child, many parents make this giving-up-day a special day by taking their toddlers to the Pacifier Tree.  Usually the children attach some small, personal and touching letters to their pacifiers when they hang them on the tree.

  They have a picnic in the park and a party.  Below is a typical letter left on the tree.  I translated one of them.

"Goodbye Pacifier.  You were my best friend. I love you. But now I'm a big girl, and mom and dad say I don't need you anymore."

 Interesting tradition.  On my next bicycle ride, I'm going to start looking for the cigarette pack tree!

First trip to Copenhagen

Saturday morning.  Woke early.  Showered, shaved, dressed, ready to go.  What to do, what to do?

Train trip to Copenhagen!!

Backpacks on our backs, we hopped on our bicycles and rode to the train station.  There are racks for parking your bicycles everywhere.  Most people either park them and get on the train, or, you can bring it with you so you have transportation at the other end of your trip!  As this was our first trip, we decided to park them in Odense.

We went into the station and looked up the next train to Copenhagen.  They run about every 1/2 hour, and always on time.  Mary stepped up to the automated ticket machine, and soon we were at the track waiting for our train.

 We boarded our train (after asking a local if we were getting on the right one!  We didn't want to end up in Istanbul!). The trains are very nice and comfortable.  There were several stops on our 1 3/4 hour ride.  People got on and off. We met a young woman and her son sitting across from us.  They were traveling for the day to meet friends.  They lived in Odense and were very nice.  She gave Mary her FaceBook address and told her if she wanted to practice her Danish to call her!

We arrived in Copenhagen.  What a beautiful train station!  Out of a movie.

The day in Copenhagen was just a Farabee walkabout.  We did not have anywhere we had to go or see.  We just walked around and took in the sights.

Wow, what sites.  I know I have talked about all the bicycles in Denmark, but they were everywhere!  There was a sea of bicycles parked at the staition, waiting for their owners return.

There were bicycle "parking lots" all over the city.

The train station is beautiful outside as well, and located across the street from Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world (closed until next month, I see another trip soon!)

There were plazas and parks everywhere.  People walking, shopping and sightseeing.  We walked thru one of the main shopping areas in the city.

Had a wonderful lunch at a local place (they served Guinness!)

And then we found the Lego Store!  WOW!  Not much from the outside, but step inside, amazing.  Mary has posted some photos on her FaceBook page, so I'm not going to duplicate those.  

What I want to show you is the Lego Wall.

 Besides looking like a work of art, it is such a simple concept.  Pick up a container.  Fill it with all one color, many colors, all one shape, or many shapes.  Anything you want.  Weigh it.  Give Lego your money!

Little kids (and big ones!) were going crazy over this!

 We walked thru the Christiansborg Palace.

I attempted to lock Mary up in one of the Guard Posts, but she got out.

We walked over several of the canals that flow through Copenhagen.  There are canal boats you can take tours on.

After a long day of "walkabout", we headed back to the train station and headed back to Odense.  We got back and our bicycles were there right where we left them.

A nice day trip, one we will do again.