Bluetooth, and big blue.
From Randbøldal we weren’t far from Jelling. We packed up our things and headed for the village classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And we ended the day on the Jutland coast.
Historical Interlude:
Jelling is considered the cradle of the Viking civilization. It was there that a site with symbolic shape of the Vikings was found, composed of two “tumuli,” and two runic stones. The design is recognized as the first written traces of the precepts that enacted Viking law.
They first stone was erected by King Gorm III (in honor of his wife) and the second by Harald the Blue Tooth, his son (in honor of his father).The site represents several significant Danish and Scandinavian historical periods – and even contemporary world history!
Indeed, Harald the Blue Tooth is the man who, after years of struggles and conquests, unified and Christianized the tribes of Denmark, and allied with Norway, thus creating cultural bridges in all Scandinavia. It is this alliance between the peoples that inspired the name “Bluetooth” – the wireless connection technology we all know and love today…
Jelling:
So we arrived in Jelling, at the same time a small typical Danish village and very modern The historical area occupies a large part of the territory. It was marked by large white planks planted in the soil, which look like an ordered poplar forest. A small mower robot roamed the entire area around 2 giant mounds. In the middle, a pretty little church very simple, and a cemetery perfectly maintained and manicured.
The girls did not fully understand the historical implications of the place, but loved this space for total freedom! Indeed, everything was free to access, and everyone was walking on the smooth lawns and the flowered fluffy mounds.
We had our lunch break in the Jelling cultural center which includes among other things, a library, a theater, and a brewery. The setting was lovely and the children welcomed it with a big smile.
Fun Facts:
Something interesting that we have noticed since our arrival in Denmark: People are very friendly with children.
I don’t know many places where people speak directly to the children – sometimes even without visual contact with the parents beforehand. In a store, a man in a cyclist’s outfit came in and went straight to ask Josephine to kindly tell him where the candy corner is. She was so surprised that she hid behind me.
One thing made Nick and I laugh a lot. We had not thought in any case that such a thing would have made us laugh, but the Danish people seem to be obsessed by the well-mown lawns!
Yes, I know it’s not funny, but when you see more than 20 people in a day mowing thier lawns, you start to imagine many things like: plots around the lawnmower’s lobby; Or a secret society worshiping the blade of grass 1 ¾ inches; Or antique Viking laws imposing an impeccably maintained turf in case of the infamous golfers invasion… In short, when the road is long, so begin the intellectual ramblings and you never know what will come around the next corner to make you laugh.
Landscape:
Denmark is rife with beautiful scenery! We spent greater part of our time on the road in awe before the simple but spectacular beauty of the landscapes. Several times I told Nick: “It feels like we’re driving through a computer wallpaper!!” … Yes, I know the comparison is not flattering, but it was really the sensation I had.
We took advantage of these exceptional panoramas to make a Snack & Drone Pause; Snack for the girls and drone for Nick.
We stopped at the edge of a wheat field, on the side of someone’s private road.. We considered that we probably didn’t interfere with the passage, and that if someone came to tell us go away, we could do it quickly. After some In-flight difficulties due to the wind, the drone ended up falling into the field. Of course, just at this time, the owner drove by, returning to her property… She was a little surprised to find us there, but smiled nonetheless. We explained to her that we were looking for our drone. She laughed, and told us we could stay as long as we needed. Really lovely, those Danish people!
Knebel:
We continued on our way to Knebel Point. Soon the first sea landscapes appeared.
Along the coast to the point of knebel we discovered successive creeks offering astonishing perspectives. Finally, we reached the summit where, in the same panorama, you could see cows grazing near the water, a big group of kite-surfers, a windmill on a hill, the sea, the peninsula, and faraway a factory… Almost too much in the same view!
We finally reached our destination, the Sletterhage lighthouse; We had read that it was a place appreciate by camper van users, and we were not disappointed. The setting was perfect, a great sun, a nice little white and red lighthouse, a pebble beach, some umbrella pines and an Ice Cream truck!! Really, these Danes understand everything.
I talked for a while with the ice cream guy – adorable, like every person we’ve met in Denmark – he told me an amazing thing (for me, who is an ocean girl). He explained that the Danes don’t eat much fish. Not that they do not like it, but the Danish fisheries are 90% exported. There is even an adage that says: “If you want to eat good Danish fish, go to Paris.”
The girls built a pebble fort on the beach, and we ended the day with a beautiful sunset. It was the first true sunset for Josephine and Abby. Their impression was short: “It’s too beautiful! … Can we go back to the truck now? It’s cold outside!”
