Hanging it up in Hamburg

 Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Well, the pill minders are empty, the hair is turning gray and camper turn in day is today!  We have reached the end of our journey to Scandinavia.  We have about a 3 hour drive to get to Hamburg, but must have everything cleaned and emptied before arriving at the camper rental facility.

Leftovers were put in the kitchen for the benefit of other campers.   Boy was there a lot of stuff!

Jim did the final walk to empty the cartridge.

And then we were off!  The turn-in was an interesting process as each rv was inspected for cleaning, damage, etc.  We got off with a "free pass''...whew!

The challenge was the luggage...which would hardly fit in the bus storage compartments!  Big bags went first, and then some bags had to sit on the seats!

The bus driver was a bit grumpy, but our German speaking travelers helped get us through.

Then, the wait to get everyone into the hotel...

But, we made it, and had a wonderful farewell dinner, with lots of sharing of memories, wine, exchanging contact info and good wishes.

The three Jim's

The trip covered 4,633 kilometers (2,878 miles) 4 countries (Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) 4 different currencies, and lots of beautiful scenery and great experiences.

Some observations that we noted as we end the trip:  The roads were excellent; two-lane roads had little or no berm; Trucks must stay in the right lane on 2-lane roads, (and they obeyed!);  There were slow speed limits--highest was 130 km (80mph) but most were 100 (62mph) or 80 (50mph); the rv got about 21 miles per gallon; roundabouts were everywhere--one had seven spokes; there were lots of smokers and cigarette machines; cobblestone streets are normal; there were no pickup trucks-many cars towed a trailer; massive recycling with detailed instructions; mostly cashless; lots of candy and breads; lots of bikes and prams; each country has their own language but generally speak English; the cities were very clean and clear of litter; water was great, but you had to distinguish still from sparkling; open-faced sandwiches are a big thing, but not sure about what's on them!; road signs often need an explanation; speed cameras are plentiful, but few police cars on the roads; Restrooms are called water closets (WC) or toilettes; Electric vehicles are everywhere, even buses and trains; mass transit is available even in small towns; Scandinavians are very friendly and also curious about the US.

It was a great trip and a great experience with new friends and a new appreciation for this part of the world.  We will be glad to return home to our own pillows, and grateful for the opportunity to experience the Best of Scandinavia trip!   Until next time....

Fairy Tales and Happy Endings

 Tuesday, September 15, 2026

"To travel is to live" is a quote from Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish poet and writer who is best known for his fairy tales...the Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling, etc.  (How appropriate for this group of travelers!)  We toured Odense this morning, his birthplace.

He rose from poverty in Odense and became a well-known author.  The city loves him and has several monuments dedicated to him. 

Sculptures around town relate to his fairy tales:

Thumbelina

The Tin Soldier Story

Three families lived in this home he was born in.

Hans moved to a later home around the block and remained there until he died at age 70 in 1875.  He loved children as evidenced by his fairy tale stories, but he never married.

Odense is the third largest city in Denmark, and filled with interesting old buildings.  This one used to be a brewery and still has vats in the cellar!

Some of the buildings are a little wavy, from settlement over the years.

This is the neighborhood of Hans Christian Andersen with cobblestone streets.

Another famous Danish hero is Knud or Canute, who is Denmark's first canonized Saint. 

The Cathedral is named after him and his remains are in the church crypt.

The church was originally Catholic, but is now a Lutheran church with a beautiful altar and organ.

The Town Hall was also attractive on the square.

The city has a bike share system, identified by the blue front wheel.

It is our last night in the campers, but a happy ending, as we have made great friends, have seen amazing things and have had wonderful experiences.  

Our wagonmasters, Nick and Kay autographed my trip log!

We are packing up and getting ready to turn in the campers tomorrow afternoon.  Making a checklist of things to be done...and hoping that everything fits back in the suitcase....that will truly be the happy ending!

Loving it at Lego

 Monday, September 14, 2026

LEGO, from leg godt ("play well") was founded in 1932 in Billund, Denmark where the company headquarters are today.  We spent the day at Lego House!  

What an incredible place filled with 25 million Lego pieces, unbelievable Lego masterpieces, and fun interactive experiences.  It’s sensory overload!

The creations are amazing.

...and very lifelike too!

In the center of the building is the towering "Tree of Creativity", surrounded by a stairway to the various levels.  The tree is 51 feet tall, made of more than 6 million bricks. 

As you walk around it, you can see different scenes in the branches, and even initials "carved" in the tree.  It is a remarkable piece of work!

The masterpiece gallery had huge dinosaurs and other creations.

Everywhere you look, there's something made of Legos. 

The experience (play) areas were filled with tubs of bricks to make creations, 

In one area you could make a movie, another you could build and race a car. 

There was a whole floor dedicated to the history of Lego.  They used to bury the obsolete molds under buildings to make sure they didn't get into the wrong hands!

Lego sets from years and years were on display.

As you enter, you are provided a wristband to allow you to take pictures of your creations and view them later.   And, then as you leave, they give you a card and a bag of 6 bricks to create a unique design.

There are 915 million different possibilities with just 6 bricks!

 Legoland amusement park and The Lego Hotel were close by, but we didn't visit.

We smiled every time we saw the name of the city, because it is also Jim's brother's name...Bill Lund!

What a fun day and a fun place to play!