Our excursion
was called ‘Full Steam Ahead’, but sadly due to a drought, the steam train
wasn't available and instead we boarded a vintage diesel train. The 5km route
took us from Bryrup and Vrads – and back again. However, we made a pitstop at
the station to have a coffee and (real!) Danish pastry, which was absolutely
delightful. We also had some time to stretch our legs and enjoy the beautiful
countryside. The route was so scenic, taking us past three lakes: Kvindsø,
Kulsø and Snabe Igelsø. It may have been a short ride, but it certainly didn’t
lack beauty – the views were stunning.
On the way
back, we also visited the picturesque town of Rye. Home to one of the highest
natural points in Denmark – Himmelbjerget. Here, we had some time to explore
the area with beautiful vistas of Silkeborg (the forest and lake). On top of
the hill, we could have climbed the red brick tower to take in the superb vistas
(10 DKK per person, or little over £1). Instead, we went on a walk and saw a
couple of monuments, one of which was dedicated to famous Dane and author, Hans
Christian Anderson.
In the
afternoon, we had the option to either return to the ship or explore Aarhus further.
We were dropped at the welcome centre, and it was just a five-minute bus ride
to the cruise terminal from here. Despite having just over two hours to
explore, we decided to visit Den Gamle By. Translated to ‘The Old Town’, this
open-air museum was the first of its kind, and is located within the Botanical
Gardens.
An hour simply
wasn't enough to look around with 75 buildings (and counting!) to take a look
at. There were even real (or in-use) buildings which added to the illusion – for
example, the bakery, which had a selection of delectable, sweet treats in the
window. I thought they were pretend and had a quick look inside – it wasn’t until
I went to take a photo and spotted the card machine on the counter and the shopkeeper
came out that I realised my mistake.
There were also
cafes and restaurants aplenty, so lots of dining options. Talking of which, we
bought a (freshly cooked) Danish hot dog and a refreshing rhubarb soft drink
from one of the stalls and ate it on a bench close to the watermill, which was
so picturesque and relaxing.
It was like
walking around a living town with the staff even playing roles such as
blacksmith, garage mechanics and merchants. I actually couldn't figure out the
illusions from reality. Words and photos simply don’t do the site justice and
I'd highly recommend a visit. Den Gamle By provides fun and entertainment for
all the family – with exhibitions to see and activities to partake in. The
two-floor toy shop was incredible, giving off all the nostalgic feels, and
there was also a really cool museum, which made you feel like you were time
travelling as you took the lift to its entrance.
As I mentioned
in my previous post, Aarhus was our final stop, as we were unable to dock in
Denmark's most northern town – Skagen. Two days at sea followed, and then we arrived
back in Southampton.
Love, Lucy xx
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Love, Lucy xx