Day 14 - Skagen, Denmark. In planning, we didn't really know what to expect of Skagen. I knew it was the most northern tip of Denmark and the North Sea and Baltic Seas collide there, but not much else. We did not have a tour booked. So when we arrived at 8:30 am, Austin and I set out on foot. When you get off the ship, there is an information center. Inside you can purchase a shuttle ticket for $7 that will take you to the city center and back. It isn't very far, but I was glad we saved the steps. I had read about a candy shop I wanted to visit and it was just two short blocks from the dropoff. We wandered the city a bit until it opened. It was called Bolcheriet and they make their candy in the store where you can watch. We happened to be there on a day where they would let kids make their own lollypops. It was crazy crowded, but they were great. I bought some candy to take home with us. We then began to walk a bit more and found a liquor shop full of rose wine and gin. Austin found some types of tonic water we can't get in the U.S., so that was our purchase. They recommended a place 500 meters down that had good coffee and pastries. So we set off again. They were right! The pastries were delicious.
Next to that was an old water tower that you could climb to see the city. When Austin sees something he can climb, he climbs. So we climbed! It was really a great look out that let us know where we were going. The panoramas were beautiful.
We then started to walk again. We wandered off the main road to some side streets and through beautiful homes and gardens. The flowers were amazing. It was a place where roses and hollyhocks would grow wild. Imagine beaches lined with blooming rosebushes. It was very unique. Our road stopped and paths in the dunes started. We kept going until we found a lookout with a huge catapult. From there we could see more paths that we thought we could follow to a light house. We kept walking and walking and ended up in the middle of a RV park with a set of steps to a lookout. We of course climbed it to see what was up there. It ended up being a swimming area and some old bunkers that were part of Germany's Atlantic wall in WWII.
We then had to find an exit from the RV park and got back to the main road. We then walked and walked and dodged bicyclists until we made it to the Grey Lighthouse, which of course you could climb. This time, Austin climbed it alone while I stayed on the ground and enjoyed a Danish beer at the beachside cafe. I met a couple of people from elsewhere in Denmark who were up for a summer holiday. They let me know that a festival was going on in Skagen for the rose wines and all the rich people were in town. That explained why we had been seeing so many high end cars. It was also good information for later in the day.
We then started walking again, but this time it wasn't much further to the end of the road and the Grenen, or the place where the seas meet. There is a large parking area and restaurant at the end of the road, but still a pretty good walk on sand to the water. Thankfully there is an option called the "Sandormen", or Sand Worm, which will take to the point and drop you off. I hate walking in sand, so this was for us. The actual point is quite crowded, but you can work your way out to a good photo opp. Where the waters meet, the current of the water is very strong and you need to be careful, but swimming is good (cold) a bit down the coastline. There were signs to watch out for seals, but unfortunately we didn't see any.
After our return Sand Worm ride, we decided to catch the city bus to ride back into town. We got off back at the water tower and decided to visit a recommended Danish ice cream shop and restaurant with a beautiful garden. We were given a table, but then sat with no attention for about 30 minutes. Still, it was a nice day and a beautiful garden. We noticed some signs going up and two pop up bars setting up. Then a DJ and band arrived in the garden. Clearly they were setting up for one of the festival parties for the rich folk. Finally the owner came by to see us and was horrified no one had taken our order. She then made it her mission to take care of us. We had a delicious meal of open faced sandwiches (Smoresbord) and she insisted on giving Austin an ice cream since we waited so long. She was a delight and we enjoyed our visit with her.
We then started our walk back to the ship, but it was different than this morning. The streets were lined with vendors giving out samples of drinks and bands were playing on each corner. The city had come alive. We caught our shuttle back to the ship and boarded at 5:30, the final all-aboard from Skagen. We really loved our day and could have stayed much longer.
Next to that was an old water tower that you could climb to see the city. When Austin sees something he can climb, he climbs. So we climbed! It was really a great look out that let us know where we were going. The panoramas were beautiful.
We then started to walk again. We wandered off the main road to some side streets and through beautiful homes and gardens. The flowers were amazing. It was a place where roses and hollyhocks would grow wild. Imagine beaches lined with blooming rosebushes. It was very unique. Our road stopped and paths in the dunes started. We kept going until we found a lookout with a huge catapult. From there we could see more paths that we thought we could follow to a light house. We kept walking and walking and ended up in the middle of a RV park with a set of steps to a lookout. We of course climbed it to see what was up there. It ended up being a swimming area and some old bunkers that were part of Germany's Atlantic wall in WWII.
We then had to find an exit from the RV park and got back to the main road. We then walked and walked and dodged bicyclists until we made it to the Grey Lighthouse, which of course you could climb. This time, Austin climbed it alone while I stayed on the ground and enjoyed a Danish beer at the beachside cafe. I met a couple of people from elsewhere in Denmark who were up for a summer holiday. They let me know that a festival was going on in Skagen for the rose wines and all the rich people were in town. That explained why we had been seeing so many high end cars. It was also good information for later in the day.
We then started walking again, but this time it wasn't much further to the end of the road and the Grenen, or the place where the seas meet. There is a large parking area and restaurant at the end of the road, but still a pretty good walk on sand to the water. Thankfully there is an option called the "Sandormen", or Sand Worm, which will take to the point and drop you off. I hate walking in sand, so this was for us. The actual point is quite crowded, but you can work your way out to a good photo opp. Where the waters meet, the current of the water is very strong and you need to be careful, but swimming is good (cold) a bit down the coastline. There were signs to watch out for seals, but unfortunately we didn't see any.
After our return Sand Worm ride, we decided to catch the city bus to ride back into town. We got off back at the water tower and decided to visit a recommended Danish ice cream shop and restaurant with a beautiful garden. We were given a table, but then sat with no attention for about 30 minutes. Still, it was a nice day and a beautiful garden. We noticed some signs going up and two pop up bars setting up. Then a DJ and band arrived in the garden. Clearly they were setting up for one of the festival parties for the rich folk. Finally the owner came by to see us and was horrified no one had taken our order. She then made it her mission to take care of us. We had a delicious meal of open faced sandwiches (Smoresbord) and she insisted on giving Austin an ice cream since we waited so long. She was a delight and we enjoyed our visit with her.
We then started our walk back to the ship, but it was different than this morning. The streets were lined with vendors giving out samples of drinks and bands were playing on each corner. The city had come alive. We caught our shuttle back to the ship and boarded at 5:30, the final all-aboard from Skagen. We really loved our day and could have stayed much longer.
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