JUTLAND (DENMARK)

After crossing the bridge from Malmo to Copenhagen I travelled by rail accross Denmark to the country's most western island, Jutland. My initial destination was Arhus, Denmark's second largest city and a thriving university town. Whilst the city was quite pleasant and I enjoyed walking around for the day which I spent there, I didn't find it particularly exciting. Conversely, my next destination, Aalborg, I thought contained far more appealing and captivating architecture and buildings and if I had my time again I would probably have spent a night there instead of in Arhus (such is life). Unfortunately the supposedly 'very interesting' viking burial ground just outside Aalborg did prove to be most dissapointing...

Denmark I found was very different to other parts of Scandanavia which I had visited. Whilst the country certainly lacked the mountain, forest and lake scenery of Norway and Sweden the gentle rolling farmlands of the country were quite peaceful and I found the Danes to be much more out going and friendly on a day to day basis than in other places in Scandanavia. For instance, in Ribe, my next destination after Aalborg, I arrived quite late at night and after trying to find the local youth hostel asked a local for directions. He kindly offered to drive me to the hostel and also suggested we meet up for a beer the next day... It's amazing how little things like that can really leave you feeling good about a place that would otherwise have just been another destination. Furthermore I found myself chatting to people alot more whilst waiting for trains or walking down the street, something that I felt would not have been possible in a Norway.

Ribe was a fantastic little town and not just because of the great people I met there. The oldest town in Scandanavia (established around 890 A.D.) the town had very narrow and quaint little cobblestoned streets containing colourful houses whilst the river which flowed through the town made for a very beautiful backdrop. I really enjoyed exploring the town and capturing some great photos in some of the best weather I had enjoyed since Gotland.

Photo 1: City canal in Arhus. Photos 2-4: Shots from Ribe.