Germany & Denmark

After spending four days in Amsterdam, my family spent eight days travelling through Germany and Denmark. Here is a summary of our itinerary. 

Hamburg

• We took the train from Amsterdam to Hamburg. Due to the language barrier, we had a hard time figuring out our seats! On the first train, we ended up in the same car as a class of Dutch teenagers (probably freshmen in high school). Although it was a loud train ride, it was entertaining to see that teenagers are the same everywhere. On the second train, we found our correct seats in a quiet box, a welcome change from the previous train.
• Schoppenhauer - After a long day on the trains, we managed to find this traditional German restaurant. The food was delicious, and our waitress was the sweetest lady. I had a shrimp soup with potato salad, some quintessential German food.
• Miniatur Wunderland - We stopped by Hamburg's museum of tiny replicas of much of Germany, northern Europe, and Scandinavia. The place was truly fascinating, featuring working airports and hidden surprises throughout. I laughed when I saw the replica of the United States, which displayed Las Vegas on a miniature scale. It was funny to think that Las Vegas represents America in Europe.
• Hamburg Marriott - That night, we spent our first night in a hotel. Thanks to my dad's Marriott points, we had two rooms, and my brother and I loved having our own queen beds. The hotel was beautiful and a welcome luxury amidst Airbnb.

Billund

Day 1

• Our 24-hour stay in Hamburg ended as we caught the train to Billund, Denmark. After the train ride to Vejle, we took a bus to Billund. It wound through the Danish countryside, and I enjoyed seeing the tiny cottages and the school children taking the buses home.
• Billund Pizza og Steak - Denmark is not famous for its food, and nearly every restaurant in Billund advertised pizza and steak. Using Google Maps, we picked the restaurant with the highest reviews and had pizza for dinner. The food was not my favorite, but it was perfect after a long day of travelling.
• Zleep Hotel - Because the Legoland hotels were booked and pricy, we stayed in the airport hotel. I cannot quite emphasize how tiny the hotel room was. I am not even sure if the picture below will do it justice. Needless to say, at Zleep, we did not sleep.

Day 2

• Legoland - A little history on our trip to Legoland: ever since my brother was little, he loved Legos. His affection for constructing tiny models rubbed off on me, and we spent many hours of our childhood building and playing with Legos. We visited Legoland in San Diego, California, for his 5th and 10th birthdays, and we always wistfully talked about visiting the headquarters of Lego, in Denmark, for his 15th birthday. His wish came true, and we walked into Legoland as 15 and 18-year-old lovers of this childhood pastime. 
• This was the perfect day to visit Legoland. The Denmark weather was slightly misty rain, and it was a Thursday. Due to the weather and the day of the week, the park was empty. We did not wait in a single line, and rode every possible ride.
• SuperBrugsen - That night, we went to a grocery store to pick up some food for dinner. We ate in the lobby of the Zleep to avoid going into our tiny room.

Day 3

• We spent a second day in Legoland riding our favorite rides again and enjoying the park in the slightly warmer weather. Because it was a Friday, the park was more crowded, and we were so happy we spent most of our time there on an empty day.
• We took two buses back to Vejle to get our Avis car, only to find that the Avis rental had closed at 4:00pm. 
• Then, we took the two buses back to Billund to get an Avis car at the airport (which we should have done in the first place, but who would have known?).
• We left Billund and the Zleep hotel and drove three hours to northern Denmark.

Skagen

Day 1

• Back in an Airbnb, we stayed in this gorgeous little cabin in the woods, a few miles drive from downtown Skagen. 
• Skagen Museum - Originally a colony of misfit Impressionists, Skagen has a large museum of local works. Usually, I love art museums, but these artists seemed to have a bit of a preoccupation with naked children.
• Water Tower - We climbed the local water tower to take pictures of the gorgeous yellow houses and iconic red-orange roofs. 
• Brøndums Hotel - For lunch, we ate at a local hotel. The seafood was delicious due to Skagen's proximity to the ocean and its prominence as a fishing village.
• We walked through the art galleries of the local area and stopped for frozen yogurt and coffee throughout the afternoon.
• Grenen - Famous as the meeting place of the Skagerrak portion of the North Sea and the Kattegat section of the Baltic sea, we hiked a few kilometers to the tip of Denmark. Along the way, bunkers from WWII dot the beaches, providing moments of shelter from the wind. I took off my shoes and stood in the two seas to celebrate the windy trek.

Day 2

• Rabjerg Mile - On our way out of Skagen, we stopped at the largest moving sand dune in northern Europe. Denmark's flora and fauna are largely similar to Canada, so one can only imagine the surprise of seeing the giant sand dune in the midst of the forestry. Shaped by the wind, the dune made for some beautiful pictures.

Aarhus

Day 1

• After arriving at our third Airbnb, a rooftop condominium, we promptly decided to explore Aarhus.
• Møllestien Street - Known as the most beautiful street in Denmark, the tiny colored houses and climbing roses allow for a picturesque escape amidst the more cosmopolitan Aarhus. The cobblestone streets contrast the up and coming attitude of this university town.
• ARoS - This contemporary art museum was filled with photography and film exhibits, but I did not enjoy it as much as previous museums due to the risque nature of the art. Some of the art was beautiful and stunning, and I would recommend it for art enthusiasts age 18+.
• Memphis Roadhouse -  Recommended by our Airbnb host, we took a chance at this American style restaurant. Even though we are not big meat eaters, this restaurant ended up being delicious. I definitely recommend it for those who consider themselves to be carnivores!
• That night, we enjoyed the gorgeous sunset as we listened to a local music festival from the seclusion of our rooftop escape.

Day 2

• Church of Our Lady - We stopped by the oldest Catholic Church, hoping to stop inside to say a prayer, but it was locked. I only got a picture of the beautiful door.
• Viking Museum - Once the site of a Viking colony, Aarhus is rich in Scandinavian warrior history. This small underground museum offers a glimpse into the life of the Vikings, complete with artifacts and the skeleton of a Viking found in Aarhus. 
• Aarhus Cathedral - Started in the 12th century, this ancient church boasts clean white walls due to a controversy during the Protestant Reformation. To discourage idolatry, the elaborate decorations on the walls were covered with white paint. Glimpses of the previous art remains in some areas of the church, but most of the art remains hidden. We climbed to the top of the bell tower (150 steps) and experienced the ringing of the bells, which was extremely loud.
• Lunch at a local cafe was disappointing due to the waitress forgetting our order and our extreme hunger. Alas, we survived, but it was not our most enjoyable meal.
• Great Coffee - Although I do not drink coffee, my dad does, and throughout this trip, he became a fan of the espresso (a regular order in European coffee shops). At this world-renowned coffee shop, he was able to buy souvenir espresso cups the owner used when he won 5th place in the World Brewing Championships. In addition, my dad ordered an espresso on the spot to enjoy.
• Den Gamle By - We visited this living history museum right before closing, so it was pretty dead. The replicas of buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries are astounding, and I am sure it is a fascinating place to visit in the summer when it is not raining!

Copenhagen

We left Aarhus on a train to Copenhagen early the next morning. A notable adventure from this day was our one-minute crossover from one train to the next. The train rode over the ocean as we approached Copenhagen, which was an eerie experience. Somehow, we made it to the airport (which appeared to be like a giant mall), and we spent nearly five hours waiting for our delayed Icelandair flight. A full 24 hours later, we arrived at our home in Colorado, safe and sound, but exhausted.

In retrospect, I would not change a single thing about our trip. It was truly the journey of a lifetime, and I am so grateful to my parents for this opportunity to experience the world.