This morning we drove to Aarhus. We had planned to park out of town and cycle in but the weather forecast for the afternoon was for heavy rain so instead we got there early and parked in the small car park at ARoS. Parking the van in town centres in Europe can be tricky as multi-story car parks tend to dominate and we’re too high to fit in!

We had been recommended a visit to the library at the docks and so we thought we’d wander down there while the weather was still ok. It was simply amazing. It was a huge public space, full of interesting design, fun things for kids, cosy spaces to read, and even some books!  

We had spotted Aarhus Street Food on our way to the library so stopped there for an early lunch on the way back to ARoS. Good variety of food and drink on offer, and we even managed to secure some cheesecake to go with our coffee later on (no pastries today!)

Then into ARoS, an Art Museum (which claims to be one of Europe’s largest, and who am I to argue?) with a series of galleries topped off by the rather fabulous “panorama rainbow” – a walkway ring glazed with different coloured glass. The museum occupied us for longer than we expected (we’re lightweights when it comes to museums and galleries) with some interesting, inspiring, thought provoking and fun pieces. 

It definitely looked like we could have occupied more time here but it was pouring with rain so we headed off to our overnight stop, a car-park by a lighthouse, Sletterhage Fyr. The drive there started on the motorway then onto country lanes which got fairly narrow by the end – slightly entertaining in a right-hand drive van!  The Fyr is another fabulous stop, we’re parked overlooking the beach with the lighthouse, a trailer-cafe and a toilet.  The rain eventually stopped (though it’s still pretty breezy) so we managed a walk along the beach.

This was a completely unexpected art exhibition in the Harbour and it was a gem of a find.  These boats were full of joy and sorrow, life and death.  This installation really struck me as being the type of multi-skilled, creative, interactive, life-affirming sculptures that were reminiscent of Martin’s days at Island 2000.  The exhibit is travelling around Denmark.

These were three boats built from concrete,merging art and culture and focusing on universal womanhood and letting the figurehead take over the entire boat, allowing her to become the boat. “Each boat has it’s own identity and narrative.  The three individual titles are My ship is filled with Longing, Life, and Memories” focusing on the three stages of life.

My ship is loaded with longing  – the young one entering the world:

This boat had a treasure chest inside where we were invited to post letters about our hopes, dreams and longings, which would be added to at each stop, but the chest is sealed and will never be opened so the most secret of desires and intimate of longings can be placed inside.

 

My ship is loaded with life – in the middle of life and fertilised:

My Ship Is Loaded With Memories – the ageing or the dead:

This was the most moving ship with representations of many women and their memories standing erect from the boat.

One of the women had a number on her side, the figure is titled Arlette Anderson, Auschwitz Prisoner Number 74853 – more moving to me personally because I once shared her surname.  Another I loved who was titled June Boyce-Tilman, Outsider, Feminist and Religious Preacher of Diversity – because this reminded me of both my lovely girls!

You could add your own memories to those memories of amazing women already here.

After all the travelling of the last 3 days we decided to stay out at Aabenraa for two nights and headed out for a cycle. We planned to combine a nature route with cultural route and more importantly a diversion to go an buy the archetypal Danish pastry.  Heading off up a very steep road into the local woods we found only occasional, rather random, sign-posting of the route, certainly not enough for us to follow without the help of the map we had printed.  The track from the woods finished at a main road with a tiny over-grown loose pebble cycle path beside it, we were not impressed.

However the route continued beside the fjord, with nice wide paths great views and separated from the traffic.  We spotted some unusual looking sculptures and found a fascinating exhibition – I’ll make a dedicated post about that soon.

The next challenge  was to find a bakery, a task we eventually succeeded in.  Moving onto the cultural trail was not successful; we managed to get lost and missed out on our cultural education for the day!

A bit of shopping at the local Lidl left us impressed with the fact that the cycle parking even came with an air pump – Lidl in Newport can’t even manage cycle parking. 

Back at the van we indulged in our pastries; a sort of marzipan and creme patisserie concoction and a rhubarb cake with a crumble topping – we may have eaten the leftovers for a naughty breakfast the next day.  There was even time for a bit of crochet.

  

Rebekah, at this stage, was getting worried about the vegetable content of our diet, only seeing pictures of delicious pastries and ice-creams, so we assured here that we were getting our 5-a-day too!