That's wonderful Charles. I've order a Scandinavia card for my GPS so will bravely venture to the most isolated tip... Marj Associate Professor Marjorie Kibby Film, Media and Cultural Studies Teaching and Learning Convenor School of Humanities and Social Science The University of Newcastle Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia Marj.Kibby@newcastle.edu.au +61 2 49216604
Charles Ess <charles.ess@gmail.com> 8/21/2008 11:10 AM >>> Oh Marj! lucky you!
Some quick thoughts - Were I thee ... pick up the Rough Guide to Denmark; it's great for details and planning. When you land in Copenhagen, go to the information desk to your left after you get out of the customs walk-through; they'll give you a city map with a suggested walking tour - but more useful for bus and metro lines. You can get to lots of wonderful places by train - but car is better for more isolated spots; we've had excellent experience with Europcar - less expensive than others but still first-rate. You can craft a kind of viking tour going north from Aarhus to Skagen, if that's your cup of tea. Skagen is the northernmost tip of Denmark, marked by a long sandspit that goes into the waters where two seas meet. Walking out on the sandspit into the ocean is a remarkable experience. Skagen is a bit touristy, but for good reason - site of an important artists' colony in the 19th century, the museum is a great place to see some wonderful pieces by some of the most beloved painters, including Anna Ancher, Vilhelm Hammershøi, P.S. Krøyer, L.A. Ring and others. (If anyone is thinking of going to Skagen, mail me off-list for a recommendation of a lovely hotel there. Of course, our Danish hosts will have far more experience and recommendations to make, but I'm happy to make a start.) (P.S. Krøyer's "Sommeraften ved Skagens strand / Summer evening at the beach at Skagen," 1899, is particularly spell-binding and famous - but you'll have to go to the Hirschsprung Collection / Den Hirschsprunkske Smaling in Copenhagen, to see it. If you're an art lover, this is a must. As well, the Hirschsprung museum is right behind the Staatens Museum for Kunst (State Art Museum), which is also a remarkable place. If you're in downtown Copenhagen, you can either take a bus in that direction, or simply walk through the gardens of the Rosenborg Castle to get there - lovely when the weather's good.) Philosophers and those interested in science may want to pay homage at Kierkeaard's family grave and that of Niels Bohr in the Assistens Kirkegaard in Nørrebro. Continuing your car trip - see if you can get to the little island of Fyr, and drive up to the stone age burial mounds (ca. 6,000 B.C.E). You can walk up to and on top of the mounds, which offer a panoramic view of the land, sea, and sky - it is immediately clear why someone would want to be buried there. There are also geological formations there that record the volcanic eruptions accompanying the birth of the North Atlantic, as the land masses started to split ca. 55 million years ago (give or take - remember I have a poor memory). And then from there head down the West Coast. Wonderfully rugged, lots of lighthouses - including (at least) one halfway covered up by sand - and WW II bunkers, which are sometimes quite chilling. Lots and lots more - including some recommendations for good / cheap eating in Copenhagen (now _that's a trick ...) - but I'm hoping that we can cooperatively develop a list of these for the website as we get closer to the conference. Sorry for the bubbling enthusiasm ... I guess I'm what Lisbeth nicely calls an aficionado ... best to all as we make our plans ... - c.
I got an excellent price at Hotel Opera with a pay now / no
cancellation deal.
I'm arriving ten days before the conference and inspired by all the
reports at
how easy it is to drive around Scandinavia will do a mini road trip.
Any must-see suggestions welcomed.
Marj
Dr Marjorie Kibby, Senior Lecturer in Communication & Culture Faculty of Education and Arts The University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia Marj.Kibby@newcastle.edu.au +61 2 49216604 _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org
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