DENMARK

Every day I was in Britain I saw rain.....except the day I left. It was the first sunny day I had seen and I flew out to Copenhagen and snow! I went to Copenhagen because Jennifer, my youngest daughter went here for a 6 months exchange when she was 15. The city of Copenhagen was clean, with wide streets and tall stark buildings. Snow drizzled for the whole time I was here. Copenhagen began as a Viking fishing village in the 10th century. In the 15th century it became the capital of Denmark.

The first night Jennifer led a walk through the city to an area known as Christianshavn. This area was developed by Christian IV in the early 17th century. It was modelled on Amsterdam and includes canals which are usually lined with houseboats. The area was occupied by squatters in 1971 and it still keeps a measure of autonomy. Drugs are sold openly in "Pusher Street", as well as arts and crafts. 

While here I also went to see the Little Mermaid, a statue inspired by the fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen; and the changing of the guard at the palace. This was an impressive sight as the replacement guards were led in by a military band and the whole procedure took place in the square in the centre of the palace. I think Mary and one of her daughters were watching through the palace windows. I gave Princess Isabella a wave and received a wave back.

I was really surprised at how extensive bicycles were used in the city. The city is well set up for their usage, many train carriages even having spaces for commuters' bicycles. Jennifer had told me about the widespread use of bikes but it was still a surprise because it was so well organised. Even in the snow there were bikes everywhere. 

On another day I visited Greve, the town where Jennifer went to school. We walked through the school and were impressed by students working away unsupervised. That night we were able to catch up with Tobias and Simon, who were two school friends who had also come to visit her in Australia. 

The next leg of the trip was a 21 hour bus ride to Paris. At first there were only a few people on the bus and it was easy to spread out and sleep. However the bus filled up as it travelled further south. The trip also involved a ferry crossing. At one border customs police boarded the bus and did a passport check, whether this was procedure or random I don't know, I wasn't even sure which border it was. However they did find a young man from Afghanistan who did not have a passport or identification and they took him into custody.

New Harbour

One wing of the palace.

Changing of the Guard

Bicycles a very common sight in Copenhagen

Even the trains had room for bicycle commuters

Cafes had blankets outside for the smokers to keep warm.

Snow falls in the city

Snowy conditions seem part of life

Jennifer at her old school

Jennifer with old school mates, Tobias and Simon

Jennifer using her phone in the snow

On route to Paris.

CAMPBELL COUNTRY

Loch Lomond

My middle name is Campbell. It is my mother's maiden name, so I am a Campbell. My ancestors trace back to Scotland and have been traced back a thousand years or more. It was therefore interesting to take a bus tour today through the Western Highlands of Scotland, an area which is without a doubt Campbell country. Once all of this area was ruled by the Duke of Argyll, a Campbell, and the Campbell Clan. 

Beside Loch Lomond

The bus left Glasgow via the Erskine Bridge and past Dumbarton Rock and the castle which stands upon it. This has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Britain. The rock is a volcanic plug and stands 73 metres high. The bus then travelled along the west side of Loch Lommond. The Loch is freshwater and is the largest body of water (in surface area) in Great Britain. It is 39 kilometres long and 8 kilometres wide at its widest point. It is considered the border between the Scottish highlands and the lowlands. We were able to stop here and take some photographs before heading into the highlands.

Argyll Casstle

The drive wound its way through the Trossachs National Park, past the Viking village of Tarbet, to Inverary. Inverary is on the western shore of Loch Fyne. It is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll.  The castle, finished in the 1770s, is not typical of other Scottish castles but resembles a classical Georgian mansion. It has been occupied by the Duke of Argyll ever since. Unfortunately it wasn't open on this day. The village was moved to make way for the castle and a new village built in its place...a planned village, this remains today.

Along beside Loch Awe was Kilchurn Castle and then a church built by Walter Campbell, a wealthy merchant. He built the church for his mother. His hero was Robert the Bruce and so he built a sarcophagus to him, complete with a statue on top. However authorities said that since it didn't contain anything it wasn't allowed. The resourceful, and wealthy Walter then obtained a bone from Robert the Bruce which is now interned in the sarcophagus. The church is amazing with views across the Loch.

The bus next arrived at the seaside port of Oban for a lunch break. While I was able to take a walk along the main street the weather stopped further exploring. After lunch arrived at Loch Laich. Here on an island is Stalker Castle, another Campbell stronghold. This is a classic castle on an island and I have seen many photographs of this.....but it didn't stop me taking more.

After hearing the story of Glencoe the bus stopped in the mountain pass where we could look at the mountains known as the Three Sisters of Glencoe. They were covered in snow.  It was very cold and we finished the day at the Drover's Inn, a tavern used by Rob Roy McGregor and now said to be haunted. I didn't see any ghosts but it was a quaint little pub with lots of little rooms and alley-ways and full of stuffed animals everywhere. It gets dark here by 4 in the afternoon. So it was well and truly dark by the time arrived back in Glasgow at 7.

Argyll Castle

Argyll Castle

Village at Inverary

Church at Loch Awe

Inside the church

Church courtyard

Inside the church

Oban

Stalker Castle

The pass at Glencoe

Barman at The Drover

Stuffed animals at the 'haunted' Drover's Inn

UNITED KINGDOM

Dubai airport

OK, the next trip is here. This time its not to do with volunteer work but a trip to the UK. I flew out of Sydney on 24th December. The first stop was in Dubai. This was only a quick stop before boarding another plane to Manchester in England. The airline was Emirates. The flight was very good. The plane was crowded, but the service and the conditions were excellent. I must say the takeoff and the landing were better than any I have experienced before. I wasn't even sure we were in the air. The second plane was less than half full. This meant being able to stretch out across four seats. After leaving Dubai I was able to look out the window and see snow on the ground and the mountains in what was Persia and modern Turkey.

Dubai airport was huge, but I only spent an hour there. Manchester airport, I probably only saw part of it as you quickly went out onto the street, didn't seem very big. There were not many people about as its Christmas Day. There were just a row of "London cabs" and because its a holiday no other public transport was working! The airport is out of town.

It is cold, but not raining, nor any snow. People are rugged up in coats. It is very cosmopolitan. People are not very friendly....but I will change that! Fashion. The predominant colour is black, followed by drab. Everyone is in dark shades, dark coats, very few splashes of colour. Women wear heavy make-up, especially around the eyes, but their faces are coated. There are lots of hair styles which come directly out of the Carry On movies, piled high on top. The men all have short close-cut hair. The women love fur and especially fake cheetah prints, and leather pants are very popular. High shoes are also in, either high heels or the clunky high shoes. A lot of women also wear boots. The friendliest person and clearest english voice was where I had breakfast the first morning....she was from Lithuania. There are quiet a few beggars on the street.

View from plane window

Plane info panel showing where the previous photo was taken.

Cabs waiting at the airport. All other public transport was closed today.

Centre of Manchester on Christmas Day

I was surprised how empty the streets were