May 7th Over to Odense

Today we took an hour and a half train ride from Copenhagen west to Odense.  A Danish man we talked to on the train bemoaned the fact that they design the trains for travelers but not their luggage.  We agreed.  Kind of a neat train ride because it goes under the sea to get from Zeeland to Funen. 

A puzzling sculpture across the street from the Odense railroad station.

A church in Odense - see the bride?

Alli and Karissa with a sculpture of a fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen.

A side street with centuries old houses in Odense.



Dancing Hans Christian Andersen statues in the museum gift store.



We were able to check into our hotel as soon as we arrived at 10:30, and then we walked around Odense’s city center.  After visiting the H. C. Andersen museum (he’s a very important popular figure in all of Denmark, but especially here in his hometown of Odense), everyone took a break before we met two of the Danish principals for dinner. 

The old and the new in Odense city center.



Getting seated at No. 61, a new gourmet restaurant.

The meal was in a new restaurant – kind of gourmet food – run by a fellow who uses local vegetables and meats.  He changes the menu every month to stay in season.  White asparagus with a white dressing topped by locally harvested tiny shrimp for the first course (I’m not a vegetable guy, but this was OK and the shrimp was exceptional), lamb cooked in a French style with some garnishes and juice was next, and we had rhubarb in a sweet sauce topped by white chocolate ice cream for dessert.  It was a very elegant dinner party and a very gracious treat by our hosts.