Denmark with the Christiansens!

After our Norway trip we decided that we would head south. Next stop...Denmark! I served a mission for my church in Utah, and I was able to make a lot of great friends while doing so. One of those was Laura Christiansen, and it just so happens she lives in Denmark. We touched base before Brooke and I even left the States, and we set up a time we could stop by to stay with them. The only problem was our itinerary changed. Thankfully Laura and her family were very flexible in making it work so we could still stay with them. We got to Denmark on an evening when they would not be able to host us (but they did the next four days) so we ended up camping. We stayed in Copenhagen at a local campsite that was walking distance from the train station.

Throughout Scandinavia we always see what is called a one time grill. They are small grills that have charcoal in them that you use to cook just one meal. This picture below shows our skills in cooking pork chops and potatoes.

The only problem was our charcoal went out quickly. So we ended up finishing our meal utilizing a toaster oven and a microwave. Everything turned out great, and we use a curry sauce that we found at the store for the pork and potatoes. It was a great end to a tiring day.

The next day we were going to meet up with Laura Christiansen. Laura served her mission in Utah the same time I did and she lives in Odense Denmark.  Laura wasn't getting to her house till later in the afternoon. So Brooke and I decided that we should go to the Copenhagen temple.  We did a session at the temple and it was quite enjoyable. The temple was the first LDS church building in Denmark. Then when the church decided to build a temple in Denmark they decided to renovate the church building and make it into a temple. It was a very unique building with pillars on the outside. It was small and beautiful and Brooke and I absolutely loved it.

We then met up with the Christiansens, and it was quite the adventure! Right away they took us to the beach and bought all of us ice cream. We walked along the beach and talked with Laura and her mom about Denmark. As we walked along the beach there were Jelly fish everywhere that had washed upon the  shore, it was quite the sight. After that we headed to the other side of Odense and looked at the bridge that connected it with the Copenhagen area. I have to say it was the longest bridge I have ever seen.

The next morning Laura took Brooke and I to a bakery and then the grocery store to buy supplies for a real Danish Breakfast. Our menu included real Danishes, a large pastry called Bromsviger, rolls, and various cereals. The Danishes were so good and the Christiansens told us how the ones in the United States are awful, we understood what they meant after eating these Danishes. The Bromsviger was a large pastry that was similar to what some call conference rolls or monkey bread. Brooke and I loved it. One other thing that we had that was unusual was fresh rolls that we put slices of chocolate on. They were small thin slices almost like a slice of cheese, just chocolate... Obviously Brooke and I loved this! The picture below is not very good but it is Brooke and myself with Laura and her sister Jørdi. Their mother joined us later and we all filled ourselves to the brim.

This is a close up of the Bromsviger and a real Danish.

This is the original Christus statue that is located in the Church of our Lady. It was beautiful as Brooke and I sat in the church and enjoyed the reverence found therein. Along both sides of the church leading up to this sculpture were sculptures of the original 12 apostles as well. It was a beautiful church, and one of my favorites of the many we have been to.

Here is the sculpture of Peter in the church, notice in his right hand he holds keys.

We ventured out to explore Copenhagen and decided we needed to see the famous sculpture of the Little Mermaid. We have to admit while the sculpture was neat, it was jam packed with tourists all trying to get the same picture. It was almost too much to handle.

For our evening adventure Brooke and I listened to the tips of the locals (the Christiansens) to visit Denmark's original theme park, Tivoli. It was a small amusement park that you paid to enter and there were shows you could watch ad carnival style games there were rides as well that you paid for separately. Brooke and enjoyed a jazz concert and also watched a pantomime show. 

We tried a Danish version of a hot dog

That used a tube like bun that you slipped the hot dog into. It was different but it made the hot dog eating experience much cleaner.

Of course we needed ice cream again, so we obtained some in tivoli. According to the signs outside the parlor, this ice cream parlor was chosen as one of the top ten in the world according to Fox News. We went with some various fruit sorbets and loved every last lick of it.

One of the buildings within Tivoli lit up at night.

Tivoli also had a very impressive light/laser show. This picture does not do it justice.

And to cap the evening of we watched the firework show. We then hopped on a train and returned to Odense, where we made it home around 3am. Laura and her sister Jørdi, were still out at there cousin's wedding.

Te next day we went to church with the Christiansens, and it was a relaxing day in which we all took naps, being tired from the night before.

Laura made us a traditional Danish dinner called Stegt Flæsk. It was a very delicious thick cut bacon with potatoes and a parsley gravy. We loved it!

For dinner we also used this syrup. We had a Danish soda that was similar to sprite. We then added this syrup and it made a great mixed drink. It was actually an elder flower syrup. 

Laura got Monday off of work and offers to be our tour guide for the day. Laura doesn't have her driver's license, so we borrowed her mom's car and heads out I explore Odense. As you can tell I am nervous to drive in Europe, and Brooke is holding the necessary snacks for a day of exploring. (see the next picture for snack details)

Snack details :). Laura and her family spoiled us rotten!

Our first stop was at Laura's former place of employment. It was an aquarium where de trained and tended to porpoises. We were able to go and watch the feeding of the porpoises and seals. Because Laura worked there we were able to get in for free and they let Laura take part in the feedings.

This is us taking a look at the manatees, they were huuuuge!

We then went to the zoo and walked around looking at all the animals while we ate lunch. While we carries our fish ad chips the giraffes expressed a certain interest in our plates and came over to pay a visit.

Nutella is very popular all over Europe, Brooke wished that this Nutella cookbook was in English, alas it was in Danish.

Again ice cream, it's a daily requirement.

We even got to meet H.C. Anderson in his hometown of Odense.

One of the streets in old town Odense, a very cute town.

Here we are outside of the H.C. Anderson house.

This is a stage were children put on plays of H.C. Anderson tales.

One final shot with an H.C. Anderson statue. Odense loves the fact that he is from here. Laura told us that he actually did not like Odense as he was not treated well there, but now, things are different.

On our walk home we found an adult sized swing, so of course we needed to take advantage of that.

On our final evening Jørdi made us a traditional Danish birthday cake. It was cake with layered cream and fruit and a topping of marzipan, it earned a second slice from me! So gooood!

We then took a train from Denmark headed to France. I snapped this picture because this is a train inside our ferry, this was our second time experiencing this, so we thought we better get a shot of it.

Our train stopped in hamburg and we grabbed a hamburg style pastry called a Franz.

This is us sitting on our night train waiting to go to bed in or sleeper car. We loved Denmark, and the Christiansens were the best hosts/ tour guides we could of had.  

Fair well Denmark, onto France!