In Denmark there is a efterårsferie (“fall vacation”) — a week in the fall when people often travel or stay at a summer house. This year Lisbeth’s parents rented a house on the beach near Ebeltoft (about an hour from Århus and about four hours from Copenhagen.)
I’ve heard a lot about the whole summer house experience, but this was really the first time I’d tried it for myself. Unfortunately I had a deadline at work that, coupled with a vicious migraine, prevented me from enjoying myself as much as I’d like, but I can see the appeal. Good food, family, leisurely walks — not much to complain about.
One thing that struck me was how much my perception of size has changed. A big part of the reason Frits chose this house was because it could comfortably sleep fourteen people. And indeed it could. It seemed to me like a big house. But by American standards, it is not. It had four small bedrooms and was about 1600 square feet. Not a huge house. (What made it special was that it had two lofts above the bedrooms with plenty of room for sleeping bags.)
What were the temperatures? Everyone seems quite bundled up (and I was more than a bit surprised by Storm’s “wading”!)
It wasn’t all that cold (generally around 50) but the wind off the ocean was crisp and constant, making it seem colder. (And as for Storm, his socks were actually still dry when we got back to the house, thanks to quality rain gear.)
I was surprised to see jack-o-lanterns. Are they common in Denmark?
More and more. Halloween seems more popular here every year. It’s easy enough to understand why kids like it, especially since they already have a similar holiday in February, but it’s not unusual to talk to Danes that think it’s embarrassing that Danes are so eager to adopt American traditions.
On a related note, this morning I took Ellen to day-care. I was aware that it was Halloween, but it never crossed my mind to dress her up or anything. We got there and probably half the kids were dressed up. I felt like a pretty crappy American, showing up with my un-adorned daughter, but on the other hand it would be embarrassing to get her all dressed up and show up to a room full of normally dressed kids. So, maybe next year…