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| DENMARK
2005: Trip
Report |
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The first cycling
trip was a day trip to Kronberg about 80km north of
Copenhagen. We took our bikes on the train, it had
special carriages for bikes. When the doors opened
the running boards extended to bridge the gap to the
platform. Inside the carriage inertia reel straps were
provided to secure the bikes.
Buying tickets was straight forward. Danes accept that
it is a small country with a fiendishly difficult language
and don't expect you to learn Danish. All young people
speak English, they learn it at school and most TV programs
are in English. All public servants speak English.
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| Despite
this, be aware that international credit cards are only
recognized at places frequented by international tourists.
They are accepted reluctantly at supermarkets in Copenhagen,
but not at most other non-tourist outlets. In country
areas only local Danish cards are accepted, for non residents
it is strictly cash. There are plenty of ATM's so you
can replenish your cash. |
Kronberg castle is
famous as the setting for Hamlet, but
the story has no historical basis. In reality the castle
was built to collect taxes from ships passing through
the narrow straits between Denmark and Sweden.
The castle is an imposing, no-nonsense structure. The
designers were clearly serious people with no illusions
about the popularity of tax collectors.
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| The tour of the castle
is nothing special, the rooms are sparsely furnished
and there is little ornamentation, but the associated
maritime museum has an incredible collection of model
ships to make up for it.
We couldn't linger but cycled back to the town for
lunch at the Lonely Planet recommended Radmand Davids
Hus. The 'shopping lunch' was excellent and the service
efficient, it was the first of the many Danish lunches
we were to enjoy during the trip. |
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| Denmark has
a network of bicycle routes throughout
the country. The paths are generally well marked, but
are occasionally hard to find, particularly in built up
areas. We followed route 9 back to Copenhagen. The path
runs mainly along the railway track but for part of the
way we found ourselves cycling along the busy coast road,
I think we had missed the turnoff to the bicycle path,
but drivers give cyclists a wide berth and patiently hang
back until there is ample room to pass.
There was not one incidence of aggressive or thoughtless
driving throughout our three week trip. |
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