A walk in Rude Skov among raspberry and beetles.
‘There is a crack in everything.
That’s how the light gets in.’¹
– even through the dark clouds.
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¹. Leonard Cohen, Selected Poems, 1956-1968
A Bleak Summer
Author: Hanna
Fredensborg Slot
Some years ago we visited Fredensborg Palace together with some friends after a memorable picnic in Gribskov just on the other side of Esrum Lake.
Today the weather is cold and grey but I learned that Fredensborg Palace, the beautiful garden and the lake are always worth a visit.
The Crown Prince Couple Frederik and Mary live in Fredensborg, and Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik often use the palace as a summer residence.
Fredensborg Castle has many anniversaries for the royal family.
The queen has often expressed happy feelings about the palace. She has always felt comfortable in the house and the lovely surroundings.
Nordmandsdalen is an amphitheatre where the sculptures in human size envision Norwegian and Faroese hunters, fishermen and farmers.
If you wander around in your own thoughts you might easily get the feeling of being watched.
The sculptures were finished in 1784.
If you want to visit Esrum Lake you can rent a canoe and a tent. For further information look here: Velkommen til Kano- & Kajakcenter Esrum Sø
Wish you all some lovely summerdays.
…and don’t forget your packed lunch.
Rain
The rain is raining all around,
It falls on field and tree;
It rains on the umbrellas here
And on the ships at sea.
Robert Louis Stevenson
A Glorious Walk at Frederiksborg Castle
I’ve spent magical times on my walks at Frederiksborg Castle north of Copenhagen. Winter evenings were beautiful. The Stable Street and portals, gate towers and turrets, the courtyards and of course the view of Frederiksborg Castle, covered with snow all together added the impression of a fairy tale.
These delights are surrounded by wonderful castle gardens.
My plan was to revisit the renaissance castle, the baroque garden and not least the ordinary and spectacular garden with ponds and old trees. Bathhouse, hunting castle and the grazing Dexter cows. Well you might not call it ordinary after all.
Oh! What were the ducks waiting for?
They are waiting for their feathers to grow out properly so they can fly over the castle and enjoy the beautiful sight of all the glory. They will also take the opportunity to forage.
Please remember your lunch!
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What are they waiting for?
What are the ducks waiting for?
To be continued…
Beowulf, The Danish King Roar and the Heorot
There are moments in my life that has established themselves as Oscar-winning films. Oscars for best scenario and best plots.
There is the story of Beowulf who hears about friends who are in need in Denmark. He comes to help and defeats monsters, goblins and dragons.
There are stories of bog holes so creepy that deer choose the death by biting dogs, rather than the flight into the bog.
There is a story about a mighty meat hall in Lejre where King Roar generously shares his possessions between the men who honour him while quoting verses and letting themselves entertain by women.
Some of the best scenarios are from the fjord country; Landscapes with undulating wheat fields, where narrow picturesque roads winding between mounds and small village churches. Flashing fjords and lakes, promontories and inlets, hills and beautiful forests.
Does that sound like a fairy tale? It’s true because when I walk in the fjord country on a beautiful summer day, the adventure feels for real.
I have walk and cycled on countless trails in the fjord country.
Now I have found some new information’s, which many of you probably are familiar with.
The new data adds a new dimension to the landscape I know so well.
It was during a cross-search of Danish Vikings and Iceland, that I came across the Beowulf Poem.
The story of Beowulf is a unique plot written by English monks in the 8th century. A heroic poem. The poem begins with a celebration of Danish kings and King Skjold and his family.
It is the hero Beowulf who tells of King Skjold that he as a little child came to the royal solve Denmark, sailing alone on a ship.
The Danes saw a ship steer towards the shore; it had no oars outside, and there were no men to see at deck. As the ship slid in and lay down on the shore, people found a small boy lying alone on the deck. His head rested on a sheaf, and around him weapons were stacked.
The Danes carried the boy ashore, brought him to town; and proclaimed him as a king on a sacred stone, King Skjold.
Beowulf belonged to the Goths in Sweden, but he also had close ties to the Danish court, where he had stayed for a while when he was a child. When he learned that the ageing King Roar was in deep distress, he gathered a dozen of the best fighters and came to Roar’s rescue.
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A few year back archaeologists uncovered post holes after a mighty meat hall uncovered from 500 years A.D. in Lejre. The hall is from the same period as the legend of the royal family Skoldungerne with Roar, Helge and Rolf Krake and the famous ‘Hjorthal’ or known in England as Heorot. There are plans for a reconstruction of Heorot in Lejre.
You can read much more about these important finds in the notes.
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Secrets of Beowulf revealed Relics discovered Danish feasting hall featured Britains oldest epic poem.
Visit Lejre
Experience Nature
I had one of my known walks when suddenly I heard a cry, it was the lapwing. The bird is a seldom guest so close to built-up areas. I succeeded to photograph the lapwing despite it’s a fast flying acrobat.
The Ferry
There is something magical about this ferry, Hundested-Rørvig Færgefart. Geographically we are close to the outskirts of Denmark.
Outskirts, a word used negatively in the public debate in Denmark.
I consider the outskirts of Denmark as a gilt-edged stock.
Nowadays tranquillity and untouched nature is hard to find but it’s something we all need to find in some point of our lives.
The ferry is like a magic door to an area of adventures; to beautiful coastlines and landscapes.
The Ferry returns to Rørvig
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God tur i sommerlandet, husk regntøj og madpakke!
Love Magic and Midsummer
We have been here before in winter when snow and rain vied for the right to drench the presumptuous creatures who step out on the bare and magnificent rocky beaches.
Where the wind did its best to complete the last part of the work by pushing the haughty people to the ground.
Us who thought to master the elements rampage.
Now it’s the fabled Midsummer, where anything can happen. Days, where herbs are enchanted. It’s about Freya and Frey, Vikings, rituals, and worshipping fertility and a rich harvest.
Love and magic are associated with Midsummer. If you pick seven types of flowers on the way home, and hide them under your pillow, the dream of your loved might come true.
The most scary animal in Denmark
The most scary animal is now seen in a Danish forest near 
by me.
It can fly which make it even more dangerous.
Luckily it only flies for a short distance of 300 meter but the sound of it is terrifying.
When it flies the animal sounds like a lawnmower.
If you imaging a monster flying around saying like a lawnmower with giant jaws.
But the most uplifting thing is that it’s only a beetle.
The beetle was an extinct insect in Denmark after 1970. Now 40 of the largest beetles are imported from Sweden and Poland.
The name is Lucanus Cervus or the Stag Beetle.
HANNA'S WALK 
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