Jun 27, 2014

The Midnight Sun and Northern Sweden


                        The Midnight Sun in Northern Sweden


Northern Sweden is famous for the "Midnight Sun" which is an unbroken 24 period of sunlight that occurs during the summer months. Swedish Lapland is where you'll find the Midnight Sun and Northern Lights. The Sami people who live in this region of Sweden are the original Swedes whose roots trace back to the Ice Age.

Northern Sweden is a land of vast wilderness and extraordinary beauty. Abisko National Park spreads over 77 kilometers of land and offers great summer hiking. Lulea the capital of Swedish Lapland is a city with an international feel. Near the city of Lulea is Gammelstad Church Town (A Unesco World Heritage Site). A 15 century stone church is surrounded by red painted houses with white doors and windows. These houses were once used to accommodate Sunday worshippers who travelled from far distance in the countryside and couldn't return home the same day. 

June, July, and August are especially good months to visit Northern Sweden for the longer days and warmer weather.
                    
                       Gammelstad Church Town

Jun 16, 2014

June on AEROE ISLAND; A Happy Place to Be!




                                       Picturesque AEROE ISLAND, DENMARK

Summer has arrived in Europe and June is a spectacular month to enjoy long sunny days. In the Scandinavian country of Denmark on the Baltic Sea sits an idyllic island named "Aeroe Island." The moment you arrive to this majestic island you'll feel like you've entered the pages of a perfectly illustrated fairytale. If there's one place to be in June it's "Aeroe Island."

Beaches, biking trails, churches, cobbled streets, farms, flowers, harbors, pastures, storybook homes and windmills are what you see when you're on lovely Aeroe Island. The three villages of Eroskobing, Marstal, and Soby have their share of culture, lodging, and restaurants. Some people visit Aero Island for a day, a week, a month, the whole summer, or they fall so much in love with it that they stay forever.

During the month of June it doesn't get dark until 11:00 pm so you can enjoy daylight for a very long time on Aeroe Island.

Places to Stay on Aeroe Island:

Andelen Guesthouse
Bed & Breakfast Harmoni
Damgaarden Apartments
Dextegaard Bed & Breakfast
Holmegaarden Bed & Breakfast
Naturparkens Bed & Breakfast

Aeroe Island (Website)

http://www.aeroeisland.com/

Krabbesalat (Crab Salad)

Enjoy this refreshing summer salad on "Aeroe Island"

1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 pound crab meat
1 celery stick, diced
1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
4 large tomatoes, sliced
1 spoonful of tomato puree
handful of alfalfa sprouts
dash of paprika
dash of vinegar

Mix together 1/2 pound crab meat with 1 cup of mayonnaise, tomato puree, celery stick, dash of paprika, and a dash of vinegar for taste. Place the sliced cucumbers and tomatoes along with a handful of alfalfa sprouts on top of the salad.

Krabbesalat (Crab Salad) may be eaten with some freshly baked bread!


                                                  Krabbesalat (Danish Salad)

Jun 1, 2014

Feeling Happy in Copenhagen

                          "The Little Mermaid" statue in Copenhagen
It's hard not to feel happy in Copenhagen. This cosmopolitan Scandinavian city is clean, safe, exciting, and full of open-minded people. Some might even say it feels like a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. Danish author Hans Christian Andersen wrote many fairytales; The Princess and the Pea, The Snow Queen, The Ugly Duckling, and The Little Mermaid to name a few.

Copenhagen's top attraction is "The Little Mermaid" bronze statue displayed on a rock by the waterside at Langelinje Pier. Made by sculptor Edvard Erichsen "The Little Mermaid" statue is visited by 75% of tourists that come to Copenhagen throughout the year. Other places to visit when in Copenhagen are 
Blue Planet Aquarium, Tivoli Gardens, Stroget Street (for shopping), The Rundetaarn (a 17th century tower) and the famous Danish castle known as Kronborg Castle.
                                 
                                  Tivoli Gardens is a favorite attraction

The Danish like to eat and so do the tourists. "Noma" is currently considered the world's best restaurant and it's right in Copenhagen. Other popular restaurants to consider eating at if a reservation at "Noma" is impossible are AOC, Cap Horn, Fiskebaren, Geranium and Ida Davidsen.


What do the Danish like to eat?


Hot Dogs; bread with sausage, ketchup, and mustard. (Hot Dog Stands are scattered around Copenhagen).


Liver Paste (95% percent of Danish people eat liver paste).


Potatoes


Porridge


Roast Pork with Parsley Sauce


Smorrebroad (an open sandwich) The choice of fillings is endless!


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When in Copenhagen enjoy the architecture, the attractions, the entertainment, the choice of lodging options, the wonderful restaurants and the great Danish beer. BE HAPPY!



                                  A Danish Specialty "Smorrebrod"


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