Winter's Solstice

Today is the Winter's Solstice, the shortest day of the year.  In the southern United States (Latitude about 31 degrees), the difference between the shortest day and the longest day (Summer's Solstice, June 21st) is about 4 hours.  Quite a big difference, or so I thought.

Living in Odense, Denmark during this Winter's Solstice, our Latitude is about 55 degrees, about 24 degrees further away from the Equator.

As I type this, it is getting dark at 3:43 PM.

At my home in Alabama, the sun rose at 5:50 this morning and will set at 4:55 this evening, a 10 hour and 9 minute day.

In Odense, Denmark, the sun rose at 8:44 this morning and will set at 3:49 this evening, a 7 hour and 5 minute day.

Hard to get used to, but it is really good to know that tomorrow the days start getting longer.  And come Summer's Solstice, the sun will rise at 4:36 in the morning and set at 10:04 at night, a lovely, bright 17 and 1/2 hour day!  10 1/2 hours difference.

What a difference a few degrees of Latitude makes.

Julemarked in Odense

The last two weeks the city of Odense has put on a "Julemarked", or Christmas Market.  Mary and I have had a wonderful time shopping, eating, drinking, and just taking in the sights.  There were rides for the children, Julemanden (Santa Claus), singing, street performers, and beautiful lights.  I took a ton of photos, so I think I will just show them to you.

"Old Fashioned Christmas Market"

 There were people everywhere!

 Choirs singing and Bands playing

 Beautifully decorated streets

 Old fashioned shopping

Woodworking

 Metal working

 Natural Sea Salt, harvested in Denmark

Viking Mead (this one is for Lukas.  It was delicious!)

 Rides for the children

 Street performers

Julemanden

  And just a wonderful time for two lucky people

  A chance to spend Christmas in Denmark together

The only thing missing now is the SNOW!