On the morning of June 16th, we woke up early for breakfast (fruit, wheat bread, cheese, yogurt, muesli, apple juice) and biked to the Copenhagen train station where we boarded a train to Frederiksborg. We arrived at Frederiksborg Castle just as it was about to rain. The Castle’s patina and gold spires, lake, brick walls, bridge, fountain, courtyard, and towers were all so beautiful. We walked through a maze of palace rooms with gorgeous hardwood floors and beautiful furniture, through the chapel with its intricately designed ceiling and impressive display of Carl Bloch paintings, and onto the Grand Hall which was simply amazing. After our tour of the Castle, we made our way back to Copenhagen to meet Cole’s relatives for a beautiful and delicious traditional Danish lunch at their home. We ate traditional Danish open face sandwiches – and they had prepared a feast! First, we started with heavy rye bread and added toppings of our choice. We chose from breaded and fried white fish with rémoulade sauce and lemon, roast beef and rémoulade sauce and fried onions, herring in rémoulade sauce, smoked salmon and hard boiled eggs, and meatballs and rémoulade sauce, just to name a few. Everything was so incredibly tasty and fresh! They also prepared a fresh caprese salad of sweet cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and small mozzarella balls in olive oil dressing. After filling up on rye bread, we moved onto the white bread next which is meant to be eaten with assorted cheeses and vegetables. After lunch we played with the kids – building a massive marble run out of wood blocks, card games, Legos, then a sword fight. It was so much fun! Before we knew it, it was time for dinner and we had homemade chile con carne with rice and sour cream. The chile was so delicious! We also ate Danish koldskål for dessert which is buttermilk in a bowl sprinkled with mini cookies. It was very good! We also drank Matilde chocolate milk, yum! After dinner and chatting, the kids each picked out a bedtime story for us to read – and they choose a few stories from their Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale book. It was such a fun, fun night and we were so glad we could spend it with family!!
So many bikes parked at the Copenhagen train station…how will we ever find ours?
One of the fundamental aspects of Danish culture is “hygge” (pronounced “hYOOguh”). It is often translated to mean “cozy” – the feeling of being bundled up under blankets next to a fireplace and candles with your family and friends sipping hot chocolate and eating tasty snacks on a cold snowy day. I hear even macho Danish men get together with their guy friends and light candles to spend some hygge time together. Check out this outrageously large selection of scented candles at a local supermarket…
Frederiksborg Castle on the lake:
The Chapel and beautiful ceiling:
Carl Bloch paintings in the Chapel:
The Great Hall:
