Cycling trip

So I’ve just got back from an incredible 4 days cycling around Zealand. I went with my Italian friend, Sivlia, and we cycled around 200km in 4 days. Not a bad effort. First stop was catching a train to Roskilde (Yes we cheated a little bit). Roskilde is a really charming city and when we arrived there was a some medieval festival on. Also I found out that the main church in Roskilde is where all the kings and queens of Denmark are buried.

One of the tombs inside Roskilde Cathedral

Then it was off to ride around the coast to Holbæk. I was in charge of the map and as you probably all know I’m shocking with directions and maps. I get lost in Sydney quite regularly. But in my defence the bike route wasn’t that clearly marked and it was pretty tricky to figure out from the map where the route actually was. As many of the routes take small country roads so that you avoid the highways. So naturally we got a little lost and stumbled onto a mental asylum which we promptly rode through. But we got back on course and managed to find our way to Holbæk.

Just grabbing a spot of lunch

We were couch surfing for the entire trip which great to meet some Danes from the different cities we were visiting. On arriving at our first host’s place, in true Danish fashion, we pretty much started drinking and finish in the early hours of the morning. The Danes really know how to drink. The next morning (More like midday though) we headed out Ringsted. The weather thankfully held up and was just overcast. But it was bloody cold about 8 degrees for most of the trip.

A beautiful morning in Ringsted

The next day we went from Ringsted to Sorø and stopped for a bite to eat. Then it was onto Slagelse where we stayed the night. The final leg was to Næstved riding alongside the Tystrup Sø lake which was really beautiful. Once we arrived in Næstved we caught the train it back to Copenhagen.

Riding in Sorø

Tystrup Sø lake

All in all a great mini break from the hectic life of Copenhagen. I think the most enjoyable thing about the trip was cycling on all this small country roads with the rolling hills and farms on either side. Then heading through the forests with all the autumn colours and sun streaming through. Very majestic.

I’m definitely going to do some more cycling trips now, any suggestion? I was thinking Berlin to Copenhagen or top of Italy to the bottom. Nothing too big.

The bikes

Also thanks so much to Christopher, Martin and Igor for hosting us. It was really great to get to know you guys.

Take care
Jono

2nd Semester = cycling

So I’ve started back at uni now and entering the final stages of my exchange here in Denmark. At uni, if anyone is interested, I’m doing armed conflict law, protection of refugees and international environmental law. I’m really enjoying the subjects this semester and its made better by the fact I’m volunteering in some of the areas I’m studying. As I got some work helping the Danish Red Cross in International Humanitarian law group (Also called armed conflict law) and also helping the Danish Refugee Council. The work for the Danish Refugee Council has been limited but it has been extremely interesting to be involved in. You can read more about the situation here – http://www.drc.dk/news/news/artikel/denmark-sends-hundreds-of-asylum-seekers-to-uncertain-fate-in-greece/

I’ve had a few visitors this semester which has been awesome. It has been so great to have some friends visit and experience Copenhagen with. I think the best thing is that it has got me out and doing touristy things and taking photos. As it is really hard to be motivated to go out and do touristy things when you live in the city. So thanks heaps guys for coming, not only to catch up but get me out and about in Copenhagen. So firstly I had Sev visit in the first week of uni. Then Sean 2 weeks ago and then Kay just last week. Below is a few of my favourite shots while being a tourist in Copenhagen.

My old bike (My first love) outside Rådhuspladsen

My new bike (Thanks Steve) outside Kongens Nytorv

Nyhavn (Classic Copenhagen tourist shot)


The little mermaid (The real little mermaid is in China at the moment and so they have a live feed from China. Really bizarre)

So I think I have a problem I’ve become completely obsessed with cycling. A few weeks ago I made a trip up to Helsingør and Louisiana which was a pretty tame 60km ride. It was so beautiful cycling up the coast of Denmark and then going through the kings forest. I took national route 9, one of the many cycling routes throughout Denmark and it's a fantastic way to see Denmark. Once I reached Helsingør I made my way back to Humlebæk which is where Louisiana is located. Louisiana is an amazing modern art museum with beautiful gardens overlooking the Danish coast. One of the pieces I found particular interesting was a break up letter that this artist had received and had given to 107 women (e.g. a doctor, lawyer, child, etc) to analysis and give their various perspectives. The collection was presented in this huge auditorium like room which all the different interpretations littering the walls. It was a really unique concept. I would hate to think what the guy would have thought if he saw the exhibition.

Louisiana


My bike in the autumn leaves

Another really cool thing I did last week was go for a cycling dinner. It was organised by KFS, the university Christian student organisation, in which we cycled to different people places around the city for different parts of the meal. So I cycled to one persons place for the entree then cycled to someone else place for dinner and then somewhere else for desert. I thought this was an awesome idea. We have to do this in Sydney. (Maybe not the cycling bit though as we all might die trying to cycle to our different places)

There was also a cultural night in Copenhagen last week. The concept is that they open the doors of all the museums and have various events on for just one night. So you can go around the city seeing various art, music, history and cultural exhibitions. I loved this concept and found out they also do this in Amsterdam. Sydney take note.

So that’s the first few weeks of first semester.

Take care
Jono