Aeroskobing
day 6 - Friday, July 10, 2015
After breakfast in Copenhagen, we head to Aeroskobing on the island of Aero, Denmark. Along the way, we will make a stop in Roskilde to visit the Viking Ship Museum. Also in Roskilde, we will visit the Roskilde Cathedral. Then we are on our way by bus and ferry to the final destination of the day which is Aeroskobing on the island of Aero.
Our first stop of the day was the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde. The Viking sailors navigated their ships as far as the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Americas centuries before the Age of Exploration in Europe. This museum contains the remains of five vessels that were deliberately sunk a thousand years ago to block an easy channel into the harbor. They were excavated, preserved and pieced back together starting in the 1960s. The five ships are; 1) A big, sail-powered ocean trade ship with lots of cargo and a crew of around eight men. 2) A 100 foot long oar longship with about 70 warriors. 3) A modest coastal trader that stayed close to home. 4) A smaller longship that carried about thirty warriors. 5) A small vessel used for whaling and hunting seals.
Our first stop of the day was the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde. The Viking sailors navigated their ships as far as the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Americas centuries before the Age of Exploration in Europe. This museum contains the remains of five vessels that were deliberately sunk a thousand years ago to block an easy channel into the harbor. They were excavated, preserved and pieced back together starting in the 1960s. The five ships are; 1) A big, sail-powered ocean trade ship with lots of cargo and a crew of around eight men. 2) A 100 foot long oar longship with about 70 warriors. 3) A modest coastal trader that stayed close to home. 4) A smaller longship that carried about thirty warriors. 5) A small vessel used for whaling and hunting seals.
Just up the hill from the Viking Ship Museum was the Roskilde Cathedral. The Roskilde Cathedral was built in the 12th-century. It has twin towers and is the first Gothic church ever built with brick. It is the final resting place of 38 kings and queens of Denmark. After our tour of the Roskilde Cathedral, we found some lunch before heading on to Aero. Below are some pictures of the Roskilde Cathedral and street.
Were now off to the island of Aero. We crossed the 12.5 mile long Storebaelt Bridge and then took a 1.5 hour ferry ride to Aero. When we arrived in Aeroskobing, we checked into our very nice bed and breakfast. The Pension Vestergade is owned by Susanna Greve and her daughters, Henrietta and Celia. After checking in, we had a group dinner and then had free time for exploring some of the town of Aeroskobing. Below are some pictures of the bridge, the Pension Vestergade, and our evening walk around Aeroskobing.
day 7 - Saturday, july 11, 2015
The early morning today was free to wander the streets or just take it easy. Then there was an optional bike ride to get out into the country of Aero. At noon we had a bus excursion of Aero with lunch at Sobygaard Manor. After the bus tour of Aero, we headed back to Aeroskobing for afternoon tea at Pension Vestergade with our host Susana. After that is was dinner on our own and then we took a town walk with the Night Watchman.
I got up early today and walked the beautiful and peaceful Molestien Lane which has gardens and beautiful houses on one side and a quiet beach on the other side. Some pictures from the walk are shown below.
I got up early today and walked the beautiful and peaceful Molestien Lane which has gardens and beautiful houses on one side and a quiet beach on the other side. Some pictures from the walk are shown below.
Mid morning, we went for the optional bike ride into the countryside of Aero Island. Aero Island is a small island measuring 6 by 22 miles and has about 7,000 residents. Aero gets 500,000 visitors and 80,000 boaters annually. The main industries are wheat and dairy farming, shipping, and tourism. Aero is going "green" and hopes to become completely independent with wind and solar-power. Below are some pictures of the Aero countryside.
At noon we had a bus excursion of Aero with lunch at Sobygaard Manor. We then visited the Bregninge Church. The interior of the Bregninge Church is painted as a Gothic church in the 12th-century would have been painted. The altarpiece from 1528 is gold leaf on carved oak. After our visit to Bregninge Church we headed to Vodrup Klint, a bluff overlooking the sea. We made our way down to the beach were we searched for flint. The person who found the best flint with a hole in it suitable for a keychain won a bottle of wine courtesy of Susana our host at Pension Vestergade. She uses them for her keychains to her rooms. I happened to be that lucky person! Below are some photos of the bus excursion around the island.
After the bus tour we had tea at Pension Vestergade with our host Susana. Then it was off to dinner on our own and a tour with the Night Watchman. Below are a couple of pictures.
Tomorrow we leave Aeroskobing and head back to Copenhagen for a few hours before catching the ferry to Oslo. Here we go to Coppenhagen-Ferry.