Tonny and Bodil look at Mikkel under the vines that are looped over the path at Danfoss Universe. I have decided I will do something similar in my backyard one day! It's totally cool...and living!

On the 19th, Bodil and I met up with Tonny and Mikkel and we drove 2 hours down to Nordborg, the home of Danfoss, and their new Danfoss Universe. It's a park that explores the natural sciences, like what you can do with water, electricity, heat and cold, etc, etc. It is designed to encourage kids to go into engineering through the excitement of playing with science. It was a fun experience to see the park, but way too expensive. I almost had an internship with this company....still kind of bumbed about that one.

The beach 80 meters from the summer house is not the best beach, but there is a lot of fun things to look at and of course a pretty view when the sun is shining bright!

I went to Fan� during the Autumn break, just missing my aunt and uncle by a day who were out staying at the new summerhouse. I snuck out by the house during the week, while it was occupied by German vacationers. Here is the house through the dune grass.

This afternoon, my neighbor heard sirens heading out behind where we live. He yelled at me through my window saying there was a house burning behind the hill. I looked outside and saw a huge cloud of black smoke blowing east. I went back in and put my jacket and shoes on and headed up the hill behind the house. It wasn't a house burning, but something beyond the Technical High School in the industrial area of Aalborg. The smoke was incredibly black, and I was pissed I didn't have my camera with me, because amid the black smoke, the sun was shining and there was a full rainbow around it all. The news said the fire was coming from the cement factory, Aalborg Portland. Ten thousand tons of non-PVC plastic was on fire in an outside holding area. Later in the evening, I drove out with Henrik and we found a great view of the fire burning at the factory. The smoke in the middle is from the fire and the smoke stacks to the left are the normal steam released from the factory. They decided to let the plastic finish burning, rather than creating possibly more harmful smoke by dousing it with water.

The Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary with their new little Prince, who was born on the special day of October 15th! (Picture by Steen Evald, Royal Photographer)

A new prince is born....on my birthday!

This year, my birthday turned out to be a very special day. Since the announcement that Crown Princess Mary was pregnant and was expecting at the end of October, I hoped she would give birth a few weeks early...like on the 15th, my birthday, so that the flags would fly in Denmark from the castles to the buses for me...and of course the baby. What a selfish wish, eh?! A month ago, she was admitted to the hospital with contractions in her stomach, but it was over in a day, and she was sent home and all her official arrangements cancelled. Phew...still a chance. So, it had been pretty quiet from the Royal couple's neck of the woods. Articles said that often with such early contractions, it could lead to a later birth, but Mary's sisters said that the Donaldson girls have a history of giving birth early. The due date was the 27th of October.

Friday night, October 14th, I was watching a movie...Save the Last Dance, and right after, at 23.35, there was a news brief announcing that Crown Princess Mary was in the hospital and she was in labor! I couldn't believe it! What were my chances that this could happen?! I kept thinking that she had to hold out a half an hour more....oh, my goodness. I couldn't sleep that night! I thought for sure it would be a girl, because I was a girl born on the 15th. When I awoke (after a 5.30 wake up call from back home), Crown Prince Frederik had announced to the journalists swarming the hospital that after 10 hours of labor he was the father of a healthy son...a new prince, and number 2 in line to the throne. He was born at 01.57 early Saturday morning, October 15th...my birthday!

I couldn't believe it! The whole day was so surreal! I had told so many people about my funny wish about having the baby born on my birthday so the flags would fly for me, too! (I talked to Marieke today and she totally cracked up! I think she was pretty amazed, too! ) So, yesterday, the flags flew from the front corner of the buses, from many houses and businesses, from the tops of buildings...they shot off the 21 traditional canon blasts in honor of a future king, and they lit huge bonfires across the country as the Vikings did when they celebrated a special occasion. It was quite a day...

But in my little world, I celebrated quietly with Martin and his mom. Martin came over for breakfast and then we drove out to the Kattegat and walked close to the beach and enjoyed the beautiful weather. We came back to his mom's for some Danish æblekage (apple sauce cake) and coffee. We watched some news footage of the new little prince (no pictures of him yet). Martin is definately not interested in the topic, but I of course am fascinated. I want to experience it all! Anyway, I made dinner and then we watched a movie... It was a very relaxing and laid back b-day.

Here is Martin at my little birthday breakfast...a typical Danish breakfast of rundstykker (hard rolls), cheeses, butter, and jam, and of course coffee.

Here I am at the east coast of Denmark in Dokkedal. This fall has been incredible, and it was great to get out and enjoy a beautiful day on my birthday.

What my birthdate means?!

Your Birthdate: October 15

With a birthday on the 15th of any month, you are apt to have really strong attachments to home, family and domestic scene. The 1 and 5 equaling 6, provide the sort of energy that makes you an excellent parent or teacher. You are very responsible and capable. This is an attractive and an attracting influence. You like harmony in your environment and strive to maintain it. You tend to learn by observation rather than study and research. You may like to cook, but you probably don't follow recipes. This number shows artistic leanings and would certainly support an talents that may be otherwise in your makeup. You're a very generous and giving person, but perhaps a bit stubborn in ways.

What does your birthdate mean?!

Actually...I think a lot of this really fits who I am...especially the part about learning by observation. I hate studying and I hate research. Which is why I am going to do so great on my thesis!!! Oh, and I like to cook and it's rare that I use recipes...unless it's the first time making a specific dish.

A butterfly in the garden next door.

A kind bird or perhaps the wind planted a sunflower in my garden and because this month has been quite warm, the sunflower is close to opening its' petals all the way! (Oct. 9)

I forgot to put this picture in last week...the two church towers in back are an even more well known landmark of Munich. They appear on my Starbucks City Mug, too!

MUNICH: OKTOBERFEST 2005

Let me tell you, it's amazing what can happen when you go to class! I overheard some Americans studying here mention that they were planning on renting a car and driving down to Oktoberfest in Munich. I was like, dude! I want to go, because I really needed a cup of coffee or 5 with my ol' Aalborg friend Marieke who happens to live 30 km outside of Munich! And so it happened, 3 Americans, a Danish guy and a Spanish girl headed out at 16.45 hours on Thursday in a rented automatic Ford Focus station wagon towards the land of leiderhozen (sp?), oom pa pa bands, and liter sized mugs full of brew!

We drove into the night and decided to stop at 3 in the morning about 160 km outside of Munich to rest up for Oktoberfest the next day. Let me tell you, it is not easy sleeping in a car with 5 people. Garrett (American from Minnesota) and Jesper (the Dane) spent most of their time in the rest stop cafe while us girls, Mia (West Virginia) , Rocio (Spain) and I tried to catch some zzz's in the car. I didn't fall asleep until about 5.30 and then I was up again at 8.30 to use the bathroom (you have to pay 50 cents to get in) to wash my face and brush my teeth and then I was ready to start driving on to Munich. As I had gotten the most sleep the night before and was already comfortable with the car and driving on the autobahn, I was the only driver during the trip. It is over 1200 km to Munich from Aalborg.

After spending about an hour driving around Munich and trying to find the Oktoberfest, we parked the car in a parking garage, walked around the block a couple times, asked a bunch a different people directions, and finally found a map, which led us to Oktoberfest.

We came in the east entrance (above) and were surprised to find a carnival type event. There were rides, game booths, food booths, and of course souvenir booths. We walked towards the middle and found the first of many tents at the Oktoberfest. Now, I could understand when they said there were 6 million people who came to this 3 week festival every year! The tents were PACKED with people!

I have some Husky Band friends that celebrate Oktoberfest in Novembeer every year and I must give them a hand at how well they do in their party. They always encourage us to dress up for the event, and I had always thought it was a little silly to, although fun. Now, I understand why they want us to dress up...because every darn German there is in their leiderhozen and traditional dress for that event! I couldn't believe it! Even on the streets, the underground, and Marieke says at work, Germans are dressed up in traditional garb for the Oktoberfest weeks.

Basically, this festival is awesome. There are people from all around the world at this event. I think if more people got together to drink beer like they do at Oktoberfest, there would eventually be peace on earth! Everyone is singing together, saying Prost! together, and you sit so damn close to everyone around you, you can't help but get friendly! I think the whole world should Oktoberfest-it!

PROST!!

It is amazing how many mugs full of beer a woman can carry! It weighs at least 2 kilos each!

And the meal of choice is half a chicken, roasted to perfection. Crispy outside and juicy inside.

The Husky Alumni Band plays the Beer Barrel Polka every year during football season when that game's theme is Oktoberfest. Well, guess what?! They really do play it at Oktoberfest!

Although I have always wanted to experience Oktoberfest, the real reason I wanted to go to Munich was to see Marieke! I really miss my friends from last year, so I took advantage of the opportunity to spend time with an "old" friend! I left the others to hunt for free seats in various tents, while I got out, met up with Marieke, and got a nice tour of the area.

Annelise and Marieke...cappaccino and gelato at an Italian cafe Friday night.

The famous words that fooled the prisoners at the Dachau concentration camp. "Arbeit Macht Frei" It means (pretty close) "Work Power (or Makes) Freedom". The prisoners were supposed to believe that if they worked hard, it would lead them to freedom. It was a lie.

The barracks at Dachau and the outline of the foundation of where barracks were behind it.

The trenches at Dachau. I overheard a tour guide tell about how soldiers would take a hat from a prisoner and throw it into the grass and order him to pick it up. If any prisoner went on the grass they were shot. So, the prisoner had to decide if he would get shot for disobeying or for stepping in the grass.

The crematorium at Dachau.

This room is labeled as "shower", but was only a cover for it's real identity as a gas chamber.

Where the bodies were cremated.

The old railroad tracks that came directly up to the entrance of the concentration camp with thousands and thousands of prisoners.

The officer's quarters at the concentration camp.

Canadian Geese in Munich!

The natural gardens behind the Munich castle.

Marieke and her dream home in the castle gardens.

The back of the castle...I am standing in the middle on the balcony.

At the castle in Munich and the gardens behind.

Annelise and Marieke at her sister Sandrine's.

Marieke and I stopped to have coffee at her sister Sandrine and her boyfriend's place in Munich. Here Sandrine puts on her costume, while Marieke shows a friend's costume. Sandrine and her boyfriend were planning on getting to Oktoberfest at 8:30 Sunday morning to be sure they could get a seat.

Traditional Bavarian costumes in a store window.

One of the main squares in downtown Munich and the old town hall.

Marieke's favorite church downtown.

Munich at night.

Marieke asked me if I would remember the names of the buildings...and I don't. I am really bad at that, but this is a well known landmark in downtown Munich

Downtown Munich

Annelise enjoys a Bavarian meal Saturday night in Munich. Roasted pork with a HUGE potato dumpling...a very gooy consistancy, but great with the pork juice.

After sleeping in the parking garage the night before, Marieke and her dad very generously agree to take in the rest of the gang, so we head out of Munich and out to Marieke's village in the country side.

After a well rested night at Marieke's, she treats us to a very nice breakfast before we head back to Aalborg.

A group picture before we head back to Aalborg...12 hours and 1250 km.