The Jutland Chronicles

Time flies. It seems that we just returned from Jutland, but it's already been two weeks. We went over there to visit my sister Lone and her husband Kim. They live north of Aalborg, five kilometers from the rural town of Hjallerup. We slept over for three nights, while slowly getting used to the silence and unfamiliar smells of the countryside. Here are the pictures that tell the story of the trip:

Here's my mother Bente looking out over the harbour at Odden. We had to wait a while for the ferry to arrive.


We rode on a faaast ferry. Steinunn bravely stood by the railing for a few action shots. It was hard to stand steady in the strong wind.


The car deck.


The ferry brought us straight to the sea side town of Ebeltoft, where the houses are still maintained in the original style - quaint.


My sister Lone setting the table for the dinner on our first night in northern Jutland.


Day two we went into Aalborg city centre. Steinunn tried to adjust the wildly crooked walls of this red and yellow house.


The beautiful Jens Bangs Hus in the centre of Aalborg. The house was built by the succesful merchant Jens Bang in 1624. Back then it was the tallest house in the city, and therefore a symbol of his wealth.

Glum looking clouds over Nørresundby.


Lone and Kim have three horses. These two are called Sweetie (on the left) and Paddy Blue, who incidentally celebrated his one year birthday when we were there.


Here outside the city, many more stars are visible. In this picture, it's still dusk so the only thing visible in the sky is some planet (in the middle of the picture).


Here, Kim is riding the old tractor that Lone and he bought recently.


The tractor up close. It's a Ferguson.


A horsie eating.


This is Kasper the friendly cat, who seized every opportunity to venture inside my mother's car.


Every family visit includes a trip to the nearest flea market. This one was big, but somewhat uninspiring. I almost bought a clock.


Another Jutland tradition: visiting Vesterhavet. No matter how cold it is, we always have to go there. Personally, I quite like going there. And Steinunn seemed cheerful as well, even though the temperature was close to freezing. She's was literally jumping from pure joy...


Everyone was well-clothed for the cold outing. In the background, Lone is looking for god knows what in the clumps of sea weed that had washed ashore.


The cold and windy weather gave Steinunn a welcome opportunity to tell the fascinating story of how she and her Icelandic pals walked backwards to school when the weather was especially horrid.


Instead of taking the ferry home, we took the scenic drive across Storebæltsbroen.