A Day With The Deer

Yesterday, Micki and I met for an afternoon of bicycle riding and photo taking in Klampenborg, at Dyrehaven and Bakken. I didn't have any particular theme for my photos, I just wanted to test out the zoom lens and distance shooting. The deer were the perfect subjects yesterday. It is rutting season right now in Dyrehaven. As we rode our bikes into the park, Micki and I were greeted by the loud braying of the male deer.

Our first stop was Dyrehavsbakken, which translates in English to "The Deer Garden's Hill". It is the world's oldest existing amusement park. Bakken has been around for over 400 years. Originally as a Mecca for believers who thought that the Kirsten Piil spring had a life-giving force. Soon all sorts of street performers and bag players lured to the pilgrimage place and eventually the numerous tents became permanent.

It has been closed down for the season which made the empty park all the more interesting to poke around in. We parked our bikes and ventured in. Here are some of my photos...

Santa in glasses, looking more like a "Dead Head" rather than Santa

Murals on a really LONG wall

Peek-a-boo

Huh??

Old wooden roller coaster-kind of ominous 

Fence outside of Haunted House

It was lunch time and we had grown hungry so we went to the Peter Lieps Hus (Peter Liep's House) which is now a well-known restaurant. It is named after Dyrehaven's first sharpshooter, Peter Liep. The house was originally called Kildehuset (Spring house) and is thought to have been built towards the end of the 18th century. The menu was very Danish; Micki had a chicken salad which she didn't enjoy because it had "hidden" mushrooms and lots of mayo and I ordered a homemade sausage open face sandwich. The "homemade sausage" was not what one would think and quite honestly, I have no idea what I ate!! It was tasty, especially on the rye bread along with a bite of onion. Most importantly, everything tastes better with a beer!

Micki's chicken salad is buried under the bacon and my "sausage" is on the right

Once we finished lunch, we rode our bikes towards Eremitageslotte, the hunting palace. We stopped and took a few pictures and learned from some signs and construction materials in the area that the palace will soon be turned into a restaurant. It is nice that it will be used and not just sit vacant but at the same time I think the number of people that it may attract could have an impact on the deer, especially if they are allowed to drive their cars into the park.

This is the field directly behind me when I am facing the palace.

The herds were happily grazing and the young called out to their moms.

I haven't quite figured out my camera yet...LOL!!

We are standing in the field very close to the deer

On our bike ride around the park we saw plenty more deer and were able to get some close up pictures. It was amazing to be so close and to encounter nature in the works. I could have stayed and observed all day but it was time to go home...

This male deer was rounding up his females and keeping them close

He warns another male who was too close

He lays down in the grass

A Day in the City (September 5, 2012)

I am very behind in my posts, not only of happenings here in Denmark, but of the adventures I had while in the US this summer. I do intend to catch up but for now will start with September 5th, a day that was to be spent with my friend, Micki in the city taking pictures of "city life". Our goal was getting out and exploring while capturing interesting things, digitally.

As I neared the train station on my way to meet Micki in Nørreport, I noticed that the city buses were flying their flags.. Here in Denmark, whenever there is a royal birthday, anniversary of a historical battle or the date of  liberation, they attach 2 Danish flags to the front of the city buses. I didn't know what was being celebrated but quickly learned that it was Flag Day.

When Micki and I met up, we noticed large groups of people and families were gathering in the streets. We learned that there would be a parade to commemorate the servicemen and women of Denmark who have been and still are deployed on missions. While Flag Day has been in place for many years, celebrating the deployed and returning military has only been happening since 2009.

Civilians lined the streets while others weaved through the crowds distributing paper Danish flags for waving. The parade would begin on the famous street of Strøget (Copenhagen's pedestrian shopping zone - and it's Europe's longest shopping street). and end at Christiansborg Palace Square. We took our place with our flags and joined in the celebration. There were more than 600 military returning to Denmark. They had been in Afghanistan helping the British and US troops.

The beginning of the parade

Led by the military band

I learned that these are Denmark's summer Army uniforms

While their caps are green, they are not Green Berets

Confetti was flying

The parade ended with gun fire salutes over the city hall. The service men and women went their own ways, some with family, some to get lunch and others headed for the nearest pub. We decided to go to the pub as well. There was a beer that Micki wanted me to try, so we both enjoyed a Hoegaarden . It is a lovely Belgian beer, very delicious, now one of my favorites! We talked to the soldiers and welcomed them home. They were so friendly and when they found out we were American, they couldn't wait to tell us of the US comrades they served with and the friendships they made. They were such nice guys.

After our beer, we ventured on to the Copenhagen Botanical Gardens in the heart of the city. It is particularly known for its extensive complex of historical greenhouses, 27 of them, dating from 1874. The most notable is the Palm House. It is 16 metres tall at the center and has a narrow, cast-iron spiral stair case leading to a walkway at the top. Plants include a palm from 1824 and a fine collection of tropical plants, some of which are more than 100 years old. 

HUMID!! Whew...hot!

So lush, green and...

A really cool staircase leads to the cat walk above

 

 We took our time and ventured through each green house admiring the different and beautiful plants. In one house there were orchids and begonias, another housed the cactus and one of my favorites were the pond and water plants. In this house, we found butterflies and tiny frogs chirping and singing.

 

Right outside the greenhouses are rock gardens with plants from mountainous areas in Central and Southern Europe and Conifer Hill which is planted with coniferous trees. There are trails that circle a large pond where waterlilies abound and where you will see statues of Greek Gods. It was truly a lovely and peaceful place, a gem in the heart of the city!

My buddy, Micki

Love the rock gardens and water features

 

Artemis

The Discus Thrower

Vine covered walkways...smell so good!

The Sandal Tier

Athena and Myron

Micki and I weren't sure but we swear that Athena is giving Myron a "thumbs up" while she is admiring his "manhood"...can't help but wonder about this statue!! LOL Anywho...

This is a beautiful & peaceful place in the middle of a busy city and we give it 2 thumbs up!!