Circus parrots. The sign says: The parrots can bite.

Circus Zebras

The tent where the circus horses live.

It was really great, because a few hours before the start of the circus, people in the area could come by and look at the animals of the circus. Here are some pigs eating their afternoon snack of potato peals and flowers.

More circus elephants!

It's Dumbo! Ever since I saw the trucks arrive last night, I have had the song from Dumbo stuck in my head where the circus train is rolling down the tracks on the way to their next performance site. I don't know any of the words, but the tune is definitely there! La la la lalalala la!

Last night, around 11.30, I was finishing up some stuff in the kitchen when I heard the rumble of something large driving into town. I looked out the window to see several huge trucks and trailers with their logo of ARENA: The largest circus in the North. It was actually quite exciting to see the arrival of the circus...especially in the middle of the night! Jan said that at 4 in the morning, the whole road was backed up to the main road with trucks for the circus. I couldn't miss out on the circus, so I biked up to the fields where they pitched their enormous tents and saw some of the attractions of the upcoming show. I would have to admit that the life of the circus is far more fascinating to me than the circus show itself. I think it would be exciting to travel with a circus for a little while...a day or two. This circus will have only one performance in this town, and then a few days from now will have a performance in another town close by. It is amazing all the setting up and taking down they have to do. Although they had a lot of trucks and trailers, I noticed that many of them were for living quarters and for the animals.

A picture of some of the many rhodadenrons that are nearly in bloom around Frijsenborg. I was very excited about the way this picture turned out with the focus on the half bloomed bud and then the shiny effect that appeared on many of the leaves in the forground.

The entrance to Frijsenborg Castle. Now, the trees have all their leaves. If you look at the picture taken less than a month ago, you can see the drive with naked trees! Spring happens fast here!

Fields of wheat and an old rustic barn in the background.

I focused on the little blue wildflower on purpose....

Fields of rape (quite a depressing name for a flower).

Looking direct into the yellow fields of rape flowers. The English word for this flower is rape, the Danish word is raps. These flowers will be turned into rapsolie, a type of cooking oil. Right now, the landscape over Denmark is glowing bright yellow with the rape flowers in full bloom. I love how the sun caught these flowers with the dark clouds in the background.

A Frijsenborg cow. Moo.

The weather held out from raining for a while, so I was able to get out and take a bike ride through Frijsenborg forest. This is a picture of Frijsenborg Castle, which is actually lived in full time. The owners own thousands of acres of land and forest in this area. The grounds around the castle are beautiful and are filled with many colors of rhododendron flowers.

I'm an idiot!

So, I still haven't done much on my thesis. I really have no idea what my problem is...other than I am SO burnt out from school. I just want to be done and get a job! Aah! I'm frustrated with myself, because I have just made my summer a stressful one, because I will have to write my thesis while I am home. My deadline is now mid August. Damn it!

I head back to the States on June 9th. That means I have under two weeks and then I am back in Seattle again! Wow! I haven't been home for over a year and a half! I am bringing my rollerblades home with me so I can get out around Green Lake, Alki or the Burke Gilman. I totally miss that. There are way too many bricks in the roads here and many of the good paths are not paved, so it is difficult to find a good place to rollerblade...at least around here. There are some nice places around Copenhagen.

Did you know Danes talk about the weather a lot? It's not surprising. The weather around here is crazy. It was totally hot a few weeks ago, now it is cold and rainy. Today, it is rather warm, but the clouds are dark and with the size of the hail that just pattered against the kitchen window, I wouldn't be surprised if there is some thunder rolling in. It makes it difficult to decide when is it a good time to get outside to take a walk or ride my bike. I was nearly ready to go out when it started to rain again. I really want to get out to take some pictures of the fields of yellow raps flowers and wheat. It is amazing when the sun is shining right down on it. I'll see if I can get a dry run today.

I'm off to the post office now. I have to return a book that is way overdue and it is reserved...sorry for them.

The driveway to the castle...which is actually lived in, thus it is private property.

The local castle seen through the trees.

A common site along the country roads

Pretty!

But there are also beautiful beech tree forests right next to the fields! These trees have finally turned green during the last 5 days! Denmark didn't get a spring, we went directly into summer!

This is what the countryside looks like around my new place of residence. Lots and lots of farmland!

Old housemates Rikke and Annelise

Old housemates Morten and Rikke

Old housemates, Kristina and Palle.

Sitting in our seats...it is quite crowded if you are in the middle section...there is no way I could fit there, or at least no way to come out again!

The first course

Party guests looking for their seats.

Looking down at the guests gathering for the party in the back garden.

The tables are set for the Valkendorfianers Samfundsfest.

Annelise and Nyhavn. (I have to start doing some crunches!)

Modern and living art

Mens shirts sewn and strategically turned into art.

A close-up of one of the artistically mangled shoes, that is accented with a soup spoon.

...and lady's shoes were installed across the walls is if they were alive and in motion!

Ties have also been used in an amazing feathering effect created by the Finnish artist

Also by the Finnish artist, this is a beautiful installation of flowing toilet paper.

I was in Copenhagen this weekend for the annual party at my old kollegium. Before the event, Mette and I went to a modern art exhibit at Charlottenborg, close to Nyhavn. Here is one of the installments by a Finnish artist. It is a room full of clothes...that continue (or come from) the wall.

On Easter, we took a little Sunday outing south of Aalborg. We drove by the Rebild hills, the site of where Denmark celebrates the 4th of July. It was so interesting and sad to see the hills so bare...and weird to think that the Husky Band had been there! I think the landscape is very beautiful and very unique.

Whoa! It's been a while since I have written in my blog. I've been quite busy in the last month. An amazing amount of events have taken place in my life, and definitely for the better! First of all, I no longer live in Aalborg! Yup! I have moved in with a man and it's great! I live closer to Aarhus now, which I like, because I feel like I am closer to the rest of the world. It takes a little less time to get to Copenhagen and to Fan�, too. It's a nice little town where I live...surrounded by lots of farmlands and some beautiful forests. I regret I won't be here during the summer. I will be heading back to Seattle for a few months at the start of June. I'll stay long enough in Seattle to enjoy the first Husky football game! Maybe they'll win one! Anyway, I'll be sure to update some more soon. Here is a picture of an apple that I found fascinating...wouldn't it be great if we could eat an apple like that?!