Germany “To be independent of public opinion is the first formal condition of achieving anything great.” Georg Hegel A day of driving in the rain. Breakfast at a service station and an early dinner. Chicken with roasted vegetables. We drink an inexpensive bottle of Sangiovese from Umbria before retiring early to read. I finish Cat’s…
Food Redemption in Copenhagen
Denmark “You are forgiven for your happiness and your successes only if you generously consent to share them.” Albert Camus It is an early start. Rachelle has a hair appointment at 9.30 am, and it is a hike to get there. Rain is forecast, so we grab umberellas from the front desk. Breakfast on the…
København
København is written on the sign. Copenhagen. Danmǫrk Now I am just being foolish. “Do it or do not do it—you will regret both.” Søren Kierkegaard An early start, no time for a walk. A rather boring drive on highways. Shell finds an excellent picnic spot only 6 km from the busy roads. We cross…
Rælingen
Norway Once more, I forgot to mention dinner—potatoes and beer, who would have guessed. I stayed up late and watched Australia lose in soccer. If there is a more boring sport, I have yet to see it. “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir We wake up late with…
Stöllet
Sweden “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, “This is what it is to be happy.” Sylvia Plath Addendum – Rachelle took pictures of last night’s dinner and was unimpressed that they were not featured in yesterday’s post. This has been rectified below. I had high hopes…
Hammarstrand
Sweden “if you don’t try at anything, you can’t fail… it takes back bone to lead the life you want” Richard Yates I wake up to sunshine at 3.00 am and need to go to the toilet. Rachelle is awake. We dash into the hive of insects and relieve ourselves next to the cabin. The…
Rentjärn
Sweden “Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?” John Keats We sleep in. There is no walk or morning calisthenics. This is as close to a hangover as I have had since arriving in Europe. I cook some porridge and…
Aavasaksanvaara
Finland We take an early morning walk and stop for coffee at Café Khavipuu. The morning is chilly, and the coffee is OK. We head to the top of Finland today for two nights. A five hour drive to Lapland. The drive is uneventful and we arrive at Aavasaksanvaara around 3.00 pm. Our cabin is…
Kokkola
Finland We sleep in, but not too late. I am starting to think the sleep experts may be on to something when they suggest alcohol impacts sleep. The jury is still out. We take our morning walk. Past our hosts’ wonderful horses. On the right, dressage and jumpers. On the left, thoroughbreds for riding, not…