Holland, v4

Hey guys, we went to Holland!  Again!  I'm pretty sure you know all about it, devoted readers that you are.  It was, after all, the fourth time.  But only the second time for C.  As usual, it was great-- lots of flowers, french fries in cones, canals, miniature tulips, and even one of those crazy Czech bike machines.

Mostly, this is a picture post, so behold!

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

Tillykke Danmarks Dronning!

The 16th of April was a big day in Denmark-- Dronning Margrethe II celebrated her 75th birthday!  Although the really big deal partying was all in Copenhagen, the royal family spent Easter here in Aarhus, and we (Aarhusians, not the Daring Trio specifically) held special festivities on April 8th.  The Queen rode through town from her local palace, Marselisborg Slot, down to City Hall, where she was feted with music and dance, and made an impromptu heartfelt speech about how much she likes Aarhus.  Well, guess what, Queen Margrethe?  We do too!

Anyway, little C and I could not pass up an opportunity to get a close-up with the Queen and her hat.  Yes, C is extremely interested in hats, especially Royal hats, especially on windy days.

So we toodled over to Bruuns Gade and stood on the sidewalk with a bunch of flag-waving Danes, waiting for the Queen to pass by.  First there was a motorcade of nine motorcycles, followed by a regiment of trumpeting guards on horseback.  Then the open coach with the Queen and Prince Henrik!  And finally, another regiment of guards, also on horseback.  Normally we only see the guards on foot, so that was pretty exciting.

C's reaction-- "I not done looking at horses."

And for those wondering, Dronning Margrethe's hat was white, and no, it did not blow away.

Summertime?

Here in Denmark we don't have Daylight Savings, as such.  Instead we change the clocks twice a year, in late October and late March.  From October to March we have Vintertid, winter-time.  And from March to October, it's Sommertid, summer-time. 

In a way, this is hopelessly optimistic, since March in Denmark is not especially balmy or sunny.  And yet, there's something true about it.  Of course we get the extra hour of light in the evenings, and it comes right when the days have actually started getting longer-- just over 13 hours long this week.  And if you've ever been to Denmark in the summer, then you know the evening light is special in a heart-breakingly nostalgic, Nordic sort of way.  And when Sommertid starts, that kind of light starts up too.

Despite the special summer light, it is actually just becoming spring.  The first sign of spring here is when the crocuses start popping up.  Some years they have to fight their way up through the snow, but when you see them carpeting Rådhusparken and the grounds of Vor Frue Kirke, then it's springtime in Aarhus.

  

It's getting warm enough now that C and I have been finding lots of ladybugs--more and more each day.  Today we found nearly 100 mariehøns!  Luckily we know the Danish rhyme to say when we find them:

Marie, Marie, Marolle
Flyv op til Vorherre og bed om godt vejr. 

Marie, Marie, Marolle.

Fly up to Our Lord and pray for good weather.

So far it's working!