• Emily Arch
aug. – sep. 2019

Reunited with my Dane.

Et 30-dags eventyr af Emily Læs mere
  • Start på rejsen
    24. august 2019

    Leaving day

    24. august 2019, Australien ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    Flight is at 9:35pm how do you fill your day? Slowly... eat, look at your packing, pick up kitty litter, eat, shower. Ok only 5 hours to go.

    The wait is over though and I am through customs, got my Danish Kroner and am now with wine waiting to board.

    Could not be more excited!!! See you soon Stella 😘
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  • Doha

    25. august 2019, Qatar ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Great flight! Had an emergency exit seat by the window. Went to sleep around 11pm and woke up a few time but slept until 7am so best international sleep I have ever had. My next leg to Copenhagen has me again in an emergency exit but an aisle seat. Pays to be nice to the check in agents 😁
    3 hours in Doha so nice and relaxing finding my gate and having a coffee.
    In the lounge now with about an hour to go!
    Next stop Copenhagen!!!!
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  • Arrival Day!!! :)))

    25. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Landed with a delay from Doha around 30 minutes late. Took about 30 minutes to get through passport control and another 20 for my little suitcase to appear. Thank goodness I put blue tape on it to identify it. It’s Stella’s case so I had completely forgotten what it looked like.

    Walked through the glass door to a throng of people and I thought ‘oh golly Stella better see me. As I would never spot her’. Then she did! ‘Virgo’ she calls and comes running all pretty in a pink dress and throws her arms around me!!! Nine weeks since I have seen her! Yay!! I have arrived!

    Coincidence... her Auntie had flown in from the Fair Islands about an hour earlier so she waited for me as well. Little Danish flags in their hands waving hello.

    Meet and greets, cuddles and get me the hell out of the airport. I want fresh air!

    Flights were AMAZING! Exit seats and all the leg room. Slept for 8 hours so I feel fine.

    Off to get on a train and 6 stops to Nørreport. Walked out of the station to a beautiful sunny 26 degrees and picture perfect Denmark. Cobblestones and coloured out buildings.

    I love cobblestones but with a suitcase could probably do without them. People walking the canels and bikes everywhere. Honestly the cliched pictures you have of Denmark I was witnessing it!! Amazing!

    About 10 minutes walk alongside the canal with icecream stalls and tourist towards the Admiral hotel.

    Up to reception. ‘Hello!!! Emily Arch checking in. I have booked the best room in the house’ I say.
    Lovely man who said he must check this for me.
    ‘Oh there appears to have been a mistake with your reservation. We have you in a standard room but all we have available is a deluxe’ he said cheekily. ‘Well’ I reply. ‘If that’s all you have I will have to make that work’. Hahahaha

    A walk down a long corridor with brick arches and to our beautiful room with the biggest wooden beams in the roof. It’s perfect. At the back of the building so no waterfront view buts it’s lovely.

    Shower!

    Off to the waterside our the back. People are sun baking and swimming. We find ourselves some deck chairs and relax with a pitcher of Dark and stormy cocktail and soak up the sun! Oh how I missed you sunshine!

    Perfect start to my arrival day!

    Dinner! What’s Vegan here?! Lol constant struggle. Please just bring me a bottle of nice wine, red. Yep don’t care you pick. We will deal with the menu afterwards lol.

    Great waiter. Anything that I pick can then be also made without the fish or steak for Stella. So we relax into our sea side table. Relishing the weather, view, wine, food and each other’s company.

    It’s around 8:30 and I’m getting tired so it’s time to call an end to this arrival day. Keep the blind open so I know when it’s daylight and ok to wake up!
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  • The avocado

    26. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Woke up at 1am then straight back to sleep to the sun starting to come up at 5:30am. I’m awake. Let’s go! Breakfast!

    All the bread, ham, cheese, fruit, eggs you could want. What does Stella want? An avocado. Seems fair but is there one... oh no.

    The lady keeps offering alternatives but ham and cheese for a vegan doesn’t quite fit the bill :)

    Jams abundant but no. Ok I ask how about peanut butter. Hrrrrm no peanut butter.

    Then low and behold out they run and bring back an avocado. Meanwhile I have found a smoked cheese so I am all sorted for my next to breakfast rolls.

    Unfortunately as Stella was receiving her avo another customer spotted it and also asked for one :/
    Nope sorry. No avocado for you!!

    Delicious start to an early morning 6:30 breakfast. Watched people swimming and the sun start to break through. Back to the room to get ready to head out!
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  • Oops there's the Queen's castle

    26. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Buy our tickets for the hop on off bus.. with boat tour! Doesn’t kick off until 9:30 and it’s 8:30 now so we decide to take a walk down the Little Mermaid. Out the back of the hotel and off we start to walk.

    ‘What is that place?’ I ask Stell. ‘Oh I think that’s where the Queen lives. Yep that’s her castle.’

    Ah what?! Literally across the street from our hotel!!

    A gorgeous square with guards patrolling the doorways. Citizens riding bikes and walking through. Bit of a difference to Buckingham Palace. You are right there up close and yep apparently right there next to our hotel! What a find!

    Stroll down the waterside and we find the Little Mermaid. I hope she goes swimming at night when know one is looking. She is beautiful!

    Killed some time waiting for the bus and found. A fort. Got a coffee and walked the perimeter, well probably a 7th of the perimeter. Then aboard the bus!!!
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  • All aboard

    26. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    We have the front row seat up the top! Yep we are cool!
    Off we go!
    35000 bikes cross the bridge into the city everyday. There are bikes everywhere and they definitely have right of way. Denmark will be 100% carbon neutral by 2025! Australia is an embarrassment.

    The city is beautiful. The architecture, the cobblestones without a suitcase, the green parks. Passed by Tivoli gardens. We are going there tomorrow night Grandma!

    Sitting near the boat tour now having a beer before we head out to the canal tour. It’s a glorious day and we are very happy touring this city together :)
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  • Mind the bridges

    26. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Up the back of the boat tour. Bring your beer aboard! What?! Yes please thanks, yep 2 please!

    In the canals and out into the marina, past the navel base, Freetown, very expensive waterside apartments, the black diamond. Oh that’s where we had drinks last night, that’s our hotel and OMG there are 150 people crowded around the little mermaid. Get up early people. What’s wrong with you ya silly ones?!

    May have got a little sunburnt. That’s the Europe summer oh yeah!

    Sitting in a little restaurant called the Union Kitchen. They had vegan food!

    They also have margaritas:) something for everyone!!!

    Oh yeah the pink drink is mine and Stella is having the beer.
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  • And ..... sleep

    26. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Back to the hotel to have a little break and fell asleep. It was 1:30 and slept until 5. Didn’t realise I was that tired.

    2 missed calls from a friend of Stella’s who we are supposed to be meeting at 5:45.

    He has a sore foot and has asked if we can meet him at his work rather than him coming to us. 22 minute walk.

    Ok let’s review what we know.

    1. He is at work and presumably close to the train station that will take him home
    2. A sore foot
    3. That sounds like bullshit
    4. I am apparently jet lagged

    Ok Dennis we will come to you. Hrrrm

    Nice walk over and meet Dennis then into a really warm coffee shop to catch up.

    Chai latte (jet lagged people should really drink a coffee), conversation AND my limbs start to sink to the ground. My eyes are heavy. I want to go back to sleep.

    ‘Stell, I need to go now.’

    Dennis is understandable and lucky for him his foot feels ok now and yep that’s his train station 5 steps away.

    Bye Dennis.

    Walk back to the hotel and Stella heads back to a supermarket to pick up some dinner supplies.

    Relaxing night in and to sleep actually quite late at 11pm.
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  • Closed due to rain

    27. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Stella asked for another bloody avocado :) successfully too I might add!

    We are off to climb the Tower! Off we go. Hair nice and straightened and it’s raining lol

    Oh well should reduce the line at the Tower where the stairs are on the outside. 20 minute walk, there it is. Yep no queue, living the sightseeing dream.. ‘sorry we are currently closed due to rain.’

    Stupid health and safety.

    Ok well it will stop soon as it’s going to be 27 today so let’s walk over to Christiania. Still quiet in Freetown. Stalls are being set up.

    Hang on a minute... that’s a weed stand. There’s another one. Oh and another. Yep and I can smell it. Pity I don’t like it as it could have been quite an unproductive relaxed sit down here. No photos here unfortunately :(

    Walked up to the water and around a ways looking at some of the houses, got a bit turned around and seeing condoms on the ground just set my anxiety way up and I just needed to escape this tax free, community of dope lovers paradise.

    I am way to uptight for that. Let’s go back to the church tower :)

    Still closed the sun is beaming and it’s so humid now I am dripping. Opens in 15 minutes but the call of the climb has passed and I feel sated by my picture of it from the ground.

    I do need T-shirts though. Let’s go buy some.

    I hate shopping. Why as soon as I say shopping do my feet start hurting? Stupid dresses everywhere where are the T-shirts? I should eat something. Ah better. That’s a great T-shirt! It has a Viking on it! Yay!

    Let’s go chill at the hotel!
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  • Drinks and friends

    27. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We are meeting up with a friend of Stella’s tonight around the corner. We grab a quick bite to eat first then wonder to the wine bar.

    Now bit of history here. Stella met Kathrine (pronounced Katrina) at a Cher concert when Stella was 16 and Kathrine was 12, 17 years ago!

    Bit more history. Kathrine is dating Anne (Anne Linnet), who happens to be the most famous singer in Denmark.

    Ok so we are out the front and we see Anne walking our way. Kathrine is not with her. Do we stop her? Yeah go on. We introduce ourselves. Kathrine is on her way and Anne is grabbing a coffee and needs to do a few things at home and will come back in a bit.

    Kathrine rocks up and it’s big cuddles and catch ups. Had an amazing time with her. Anne joins us and we all stayed chatting until almost midnight.

    So much fun. They were both lovely 😊 Stella and I quite enjoyed our 2 bottles of wine as well!
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  • Meeting Mum :)

    28. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ 🌧 24 °C

    Ok woke up not feeling that fresh! A bottle of red wine each was probably a bit excessive!
    Buffet and all the bacon I can fit in to try to help bring me back to life :)

    Shower, pack and a goodbye to The Admiral and Copenhagen for now.

    Short bus ride to the train station and we board for our 3 hour journey to Aarhus to visit with Stella’s mum Ása and partner Flemming!

    Flemming picked us up from the station (3 seater truck) and it’s a short trip down the hill to the marina where Ása is waiting for us. Big big cuddles hello. She is all smiles and so adorably short :)

    A mountain of supplies has been sought and we haul them to the boat.

    Now Stella told me it was a tiny boat. So I thought dingy. It’s a motor boat with ample seating and even a little cabin you can lay down in!

    It’s called Pig because that’s what the engine sounds like Hahahaha

    The Skanderborg lake is huge, huge!

    Yes of course I went swimming! Every new waterway I visit. You have to jump in! It’s 27 degrees with a slight breeze and the lake was fresh but ideal! Revitalised!!! Bloody gorgeous!

    We were going to have a picnic on one of the islands but decided to head home to cook the bbq instead. Out on the lake for a couple of hours was ideal.

    Arrive at the house and it’s like the best b&b I have ever seen and it’s not one! A rooftop deck overlooking the hillside! Upstairs is a fully decked out bar, record room and projector. The bathroom even has a sensor for the water tap!! I could not feel more relaxed. I actually don’t think I am leaving this house. Magnificent truely.

    Had an absolutely amazing night. Flemming cooked us a BBQ on the deck and we ate overlooking the rolling hillside then inside to the bar. Ása took me on a show and tell of all the bits. The saddles stools that line the bar, the porthole window to the record room, totem pole that she hand painted that was from the local school, so may different lamps and signs, jugs and glasses. This bar decorated so well is so inviting to relax and catch up.

    Ása’s English is really good so Stella and her swap between English and Danish to keep me and Flemming in the loop. Flemming and I use hand signals until we get stuck and call Stella for help.

    Flemming built the deck and transformed the bar so I really enjoyed talking to him about how he did that.

    Mattresses out and I leave Stell and her mum chatting in the chill out lounge area and I am out like a light.

    Absolutely sensational day!!!
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  • Meeting Stella's brother

    29. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Had a relaxing morning with Ása and Stell. Watched a few Danish movies with subtitles. We were going to recline in front of the projector in the bar but the DVD player was being funky.

    It was sunny then rained then sunny again.

    We left around 4pm and drove to Niklas house to meet him and his gorgeous children. 2 year old Agnes and 6 month old Ella. Pernille followed home shortly after and we caught up over noodles and beer.

    Was lovely to finally meet them! Stayed a couple of hours and then Niklas drove us to Nana’s where we are staying.

    Bit worn out then so off to bed :)
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  • Late start

    30. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Off to a late start this morning. Relaxed over coffee and tried to bring some of Nanna’s plants back to life. She has been away and so has Stell so they were a bit thirsty.

    Left the house around 11am to Stella’s Uni to photocopy books for her studies.

    I’m wearing the comfy travel backpack so I look like a mature age student :)

    We had our packed lunch on a bench in the uni then walked by the little river into town.

    Stell showed me where her Dad used to live. 4 floor building and he was on the top floor. Most of the apartment building are 4 floors high.

    Then into a milk bar where Stell dropped off something she had sold on a site like eBay. Here they can drop sold items and pick up items in almost any shop. Doesn’t need to be in a postoffice or sent via post.

    Walked a bit in town. Cobblestones everywhere it’s so pretty. It’s just after 2pm so we pass by the Spanish steps and grab a seat by the river opposite the Australian bar hahaha and I have a wine and Stell a beer and we chat.

    4:30 we make our way to the bus stop. We have stayed a bit too long as we are going to Stell’s friends’ for dinner. Arrive at Nanna’s with 9 minutes to change and head back to the bus stop. Catch the right numbered bus but it’s going the opposite way to what we want. Good mistake as it takes us to a major road where we jump another bus which makes our commute only 10 minutes.

    Short walk to an apartment complex which is similar to Nanna’s 4 floors multiple buildings with parks in the middle of them.

    I meet Anders and Louise and their little one Liva.
    We chatted at their dining table for hours and had a fantastic night! Easy conversation and lots of laughs.

    Anders drove us home around 10pm which was lovely and off to bed for us.
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  • Biking Aarhus

    31. august 2019, Danmark ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Caught the bus into Aarhus and then HIRED BIKES!
    Christine and Elizabeth were their names :)
    Helmets are not mandatory here in Denmark so I get to keep my hair hahaha

    We peddle down the hill and towards the sea side. It is a glorious day and the sea breeze is magnificent!

    Do I want to visit the Queens summer house? Stella asked. Hell yeah. So, we had to peddle up a massive hill and I quickly realised how unfit I am. I had to jump off and walk part the way!

    Was downhill through trees to the house though. We pull up at the gates and wonder if we can ride in.
    We try.
    Hrrrm... and the guard at the gate shakes his head.
    Ok no bikes then.
    We chain them up and head back to the gate.
    Hrrrm... boots slam together.. bigger head shakes.
    Ohhhhh so we can’t actually go in to see the Queen at her place?! Ok seems fair. I thought Denmark was pretty chill with the castles and stuff but yeah not that chill.
    I was hoping to say hi to Mary but not today!

    Back on the bikes and backtrack to the sea so we don’t have to ride uphill again.

    We head to the never ending bridge. A circular wooden bridge that starts on the sand and extends out over the water. Awesome and relaxing. Great place for a picnic!

    Back on the bikes and head back to town to Street food. A warehouse with all kinds of food trucks. Burger and a mojito (2).

    Then a short peddle to find Tattoo fashion Aarhus to book me in for a tattoo the week after next. I still have way to much room on my left international arm so perfect place to capture Denmark :)

    We peddle back home and drop the bikes off around the corner and come home to relax around 5pm.

    Down the the local supermarket for some pizzas to prepare at home. Some wine and chill!

    Another great day!!
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  • Auntie's Birthday

    1. september 2019, Danmark ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Chilled out morning. Stella popped into town to pick up a gift for her aunt’s birthday whilst I did a bit of a clean of Nanna’s house.

    I finally met Nanna!!! Yay! She came to pick us up at 2pm in her white Fiat. She is lovely and we chatted on the 20 minute journey to Hårby.
    A house in the country with 10 dogs! You walk into the kitchen dining area and there were around 10 people sitting around. I met Stella’s aunt Annvør, her brother, his wife, friend from Sweden, partner, ex husband, partners son and mum, cousin Tina and so many others.

    In the last 5 years 9 children have been born into the family. Apparently the get togethers at aunties have changed a bit from late night drinking to early to bed story time for the kids 😂

    Had a really wonderful afternoon. Annvør made me feel very welcome and so did the whole family! Very kind of them to swap into English to include me.

    Niklas and Pernille arrived a bit later as did Stell’s mum and Flemming so it was great to see them all again.

    Left the family around 6pm with Nanna and stayed up and had a wine with her once we got home. Was excited to get to know her better and can’t wait to have more time with her!

    Off to bed around 11pm.
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  • Berlin here we come

    2. september 2019, Danmark ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Stell did some homework today and I relaxed as tonight we are off to Berlin!

    Stell found tickets for $20 each return Hahahaha we fly out at 10:30pm.

    Into town just after 5pm. I accidentally ripped my ear piercing this afternoon so Stella found me a piercing place in Aarhus open to 5:30. The guy was lovely but very disappointed someone had pierced my ear the way it had been done. Apparently it didn’t stand a chance of staying in!
    Out it came and all fixed. Besides the slight tear in my ear 😂

    Stopped into an Irish pop up bar (it’s culture week in Aarhus). Irish coffee and then people started playing music bingo! Was so fun to sing along. Would have stayed for ages if we were not on a schedule.

    Back to Street food for dinner. Then onto the airport bus! I could not be more excited!!!
    I’m going to Berlin! I have wanted to go since I was in high school!!!!!! We are going to be staying with Lasse who is Stella’s best friend. He is Danish but lives in Berlin. So I get to meet him which is amazing!!

    Check out the photo of what you can’t take on the bus. Rollerblades, smoking, ice creams, alcohol and..... bhahahahaha

    At the airport and apparently I had lots of liquids in my case 😬 It’s an hour before we board now.

    On the plane! OMG I am going to Berlin!
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  • Berlin

    3. september 2019, Tyskland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Train into where the gate is and grabbed us hop on off tickets. Saw all the major city sites. Was a bit overcast today and the city looked gray! We were on the bus for about 2 hours so we were desperate for a beer when we got off. Alexander Plas and cocktails!!! About half the price of Melbourne!
    Lasse met us at 6pm and another cocktail.

    Then out to dinner at a great Thai restaurant and conversation!

    A few steps away was Lasse’s favourite bar and the smallest gay bar ever. So small smoking rules don’t apply (don’t get that but not complaining). We stayed for hours chatting to Ugern, an old gay drunk man.
    The bar tending tried making me an expression martini and he made a martini then poured a shot of coffee into it haha
    He tried again and this time more coffee and less martini. I shot them! However I don’t quite remember this part of the night. This is what I am told happened! I also after the bar bought a slice off pizza but threw it on the ground and this certainly doesn’t sound like me... wasting food.

    I was folded into an Uber and taken home and put to bed!
    Bloody fantastic day and night hanging out!
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  • Our morning in Berlin hahaha

    4. september 2019, Tyskland ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
  • Amazing day

    4. september 2019, Tyskland ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Amazing day!!!
    Out of Lassa’s house at 2pm... it’s a slow start on my holidays now :)
    So hungover. Stopped at a Thai curry for breakfast?! Lunch and a beer to stop processing what happened last night!
    Caught the U-Bahn to the river and onto a boat. German information but I had German beer and curry sausages. 27 degrees and beautiful breeze on the river. Berlin is gorgeous from the river!
    So much more beautiful than by the hop on off bus!
    We disembarked by some sunflowers and actually spent 30 minutes doing a photo shoot. Was so much fun actually and I discovered portrait view on my mobile hahaha
    Waved to the boat guy when he noticed the tip Lasse had left 😁
    Had a wonder in the wrong direction. Stella and Lasse do suck at directions!
    Made it to Segesäule and walked around that. I need a coke!
    Got one. Short walk to the bus station and caught it one stop back to the Segesäule. Told you they were bad.
    Ok on another bus and into to Brandenbuger Tor (gate). Walked to the Jewish monument. OMG. I loved it. The feelings you get looking at it and walking through what feels like growing coffins. Very reflective space and so quiet.
    We went into the Museum. Not a sound. So respectful from all who are there.
    So so happy to have been taken here!
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  • The night

    4. september 2019, Tyskland ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Came out of the museum at dusk and we found an Indian restaurant for dinner.
    Hitler’s bunker was right around the corner so after dinner we walk there. It’s a car park now. So incredible that this was the hive of WW2 planning and destruction and now it’s a car park with a view of the Jewish monument. What a fuck you to Hitler.
    We walked back to the monument as it is so different in the dark. We started to walk through it but we all got a bit scared.
    Onto the train and off at the gate again.
    Beautiful in the night lights. I cannot believe that I a standing here and it bought a tear to my eye.
    We went to the gay part of town and above the train station is a rainbow! Awesome!
    Had a drink at a bar and then headed home. Big amazing incredible day!!
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  • Hungover

    5. september 2019, Tyskland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Ok so Mai Tai’s are certainly great... who doesn’t like a flaming drink! However they can put you on your ass pretty quickly 😂
    Tall glass and 3/4 full of alcohol 😬

    So today was a bit rough. Very late start to the day. We caught the train into Schönleinstraße and Lasse did warn us of the drug deals happening here. Quite a few people running around trying to get something and dealing in the open. Christiania has nothing on this train station!

    Found a hair dresser for Lasse and I but I started feeling so rotten I decided it wasn’t for me today.

    Walked in and apparently this was a woman’s hairdresser, the men’s was a few doors down. The area is quite Turkish so made sense.

    Lasse cut his hair off! Looks fantastic!!

    Ok I need to go home. Back to the train and Stell and Lessa put me on the bus home whilst they went off to buy some food and perfume.

    They returned a couple of hours later. I feel better and they bought all the food.

    We had a picnic in the lounge room!
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  • Back home to Denmark

    6. september 2019, Danmark ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Sleep around 12:30pm then up at 4:30am to head to the airport.
    On the plane and off at 7:30. I am so amazed around the ease of travel between countries here. Quick passport check when showing my plane ticket and that’s it! Nothing at the other end either in Germany or Denmark. Not sure how I am supposed to fill my passport stamps this way but it’s certainly quick 😁

    Got in trouble though trying to board with carry on. Apparently we hadn’t paid for that. For $20 return not surprising. But... the machine didn’t work so no 25 Euro payment from me hahaha

    Was picked up and driven back to Nanna’s house by Anders which was just amazing and so lovely of him! We are pretty exhausted.

    It’s raining in Denmark so perfect day to relax and get ourself back on track after Berlin.

    Lazy day inside with us finally eating something healthy with lots of water!!

    Early night around 9pm.
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