Hello again, Aarhus!
We visited our friends Marianne and Mogens in Aarhus for the first time last year whilst travelling in Denmark and here we were, less than a year later, making our second visit.
I sensed we were almost there when I woke, so went to open the curtains and found some interesting architecture outside the window.
As we sailed into the harbour, yet more striking apartment blocks appeared and I found myself imagining how it’d be to stand in that topmost “room” before trying to work out how one might get up there.
We had no tour today, having arranged to meet Marianne and Mogens again. so we had a leisurely breakfast and headed out when we were ready.
Our meeting place was DOKK1, the modern structure across the way, which I had read about earlier. Primarily the central library, but oh so much more. Even before I stepped inside I thought I could probably spend a week there.
We met our friends at the entrance and went straight in for a quick look around before settling into the cafe to catch up with one another. I immediately got a grasp of the innovative approach (and huge stock of books here) as we walked through the craft section. Here, alongside quite a few modern knitting books was an armchair and a basket of knitting. The invitation was there to sit down, have a look at the selection on the shelves and pick up the needles and yarn to try something out.
Wow.
Borrowing and returning a book was an automated, self service process, but peering through the window and feeling curious about what was going on down there prompted Mogens to explain. We were watching the entrance to the car park where one drives into one of half a dozen bays, takes a ticket and leaves the car there to be parked automatically by machine. Upon return, the ticket is scanned and the car “magically” appears in a similar bay to be collected and driven away.
Wow again.
Everywhere around us was activity, whether it was friends meeting up amongst the books, people simply sitting quietly, watching the world go by or families with small children playing in one of the activity areas.
And yes, of course, what better description of a library than a “literature buffet”?
For I’m sure that, were I a local resident, I’d have left with an armful!
After coffee and a catch up, we left the books behind and strolled over to take a look at the Custom House, another of the buildings we’d seen whilst enjoying breakfast and where I’d noticed a flag flying high above the rooftop.
I recognised it immediately: Greenland!
This solid structure was built with the most intriguing brickwork patterns everywhere. The architectural details were stunning and we stood for quite some time simply admiring the craftsmans work.
The shaped inner frames around each window pane (made from wood? I don’t know) and the unusual pattern of the roof tiles (which were triangular in shape) were remarkable and I imagine that one could notice another small detail on every visit.
There across the road, Mogens pointed out his old school: the Cathedral Grammar School, which looked just like so many British schools of a similar age. Those characteristic windows!
We crossed over there and along the street, which opened up into a pleasant square. On one side it the theatre - apologies for the wonky photo!
Can you work out what’s playing there next month? Translate Stolthed og Fordom?
On the other side of the square is the Cathedral, looking great in the sunshine. On a nearby corner was a delightful cafe, perfect for a spot of lunch, too!
Suitably fortified, we crossed the square to admire the hotel which had caught our eye over lunch: the Hotel Royal
I noticed (and was amused by) the alternative corner feature here - quite different from the Marias we’d seen in Antwerp!
But it was around the side where we stood for a while, admiring the glass canopy and the beautifully sculpted figures supporting it.
From here, we browsed around the old town, seeing another side of the city this time. These small, bustling streets were altogether different from the area around the station and town hall where we’d stayed the last time we were here. How good it was to be back! We enjoyed an afternoon coffee in a small cafe here, before returning to the street, taking care.
Of course, as in any European city, one needs to be careful of the cyclists, of which there are many!
We walked between old buildings, some clearly showing signs of their great age, but nevertheless, in good shape and still in regular use; in this case, the private clinic of a surgeon specialising in reconstructive surgery.
Taking the same route beneath the DOKK1 building as we’d taken this morning, we made our way back to the harbour. Here was a great collection of bronze figures celebrating the workmen who’d been familiar sights around here in past times.
We resisted the temptation to pose beside the man and his lunch, making our way to the ship security point, beyond which our friends couldn’t come with us.
We said our goodbyes and thank yous and we look forward to the next time. Of course, we keep in touch online, but it’s really not the same, is it?
How lucky we are to have such lovely friends and the more so that they were happy to spend the day with us too. Thank you Marianne and Mogens, we had a lovely time!
