- Travel on the Rail -

Part 10

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"Lyntog" at Copenhagen station

Ticket for the seat of "Lyntog"

I am on "Lyntog" leaving Copenhagen at 8:10. This is the express train by diesel cars DSB is proud of, running through the plain in Denmark with 100kph in average. We have to reserve a seat whenever taking Lyntog with 25DKK (about 500 yen), 10DKK more expensive than other trains. We may have to pay for the speed.

Every seat of it is an open-type. It is better for me than I would be with unknown people in a small compartment. I also can stretch my legs. Today, I am going to Odense by this train.

Arriving at Korsor in about an hour, we were loaded onto the ferry with the Intercity (by passenger cars towed by a locomotive) that had left Copenhagen 10 minutes earlier than us. We have to cross Store Baelt between Sjaelland Island where Copenhagen is in and Fyn Island where Odense is in. It is absolutely necessary, very common, and extremely easy for Denmark that is an island country to load trains on ferries.

Leaving the port, I got off the train to be into the ferry. I found our "Lyntog" with 8 cars divided in half. The inside of the ferry is so clean, even with a restaurant and a kiosk (it is better to call a supermarket). I am relaxing, sitting back the sofa by the window.

After sailing for about an hour to Nyborg of the opposite side. running on the track again from there, we arrived at Odense at 10:47.

Around H. C. Andersens Hus

The train museum is here, but closed during the winter. The reason why I came here is that this is Andersens's home town and I wanted to know about him. First, I walked to H. C. Andersens Hus where he is said to likely have been born. Whole the town seems to be in a park. There are tall buildings in the downtown, but it is a preserved district around his house, with small buildings built in the Middle Ages along the stone pavement.

His history is explained from his birth until his state funeral in chronological order in this museum. Also picture books translated in several languages, letters, manuscripts, and so on are displayed.

After lunch with bread at the cafe in the supermarket, I went to the house for his child days. It stands out as it is old all the more because surrounded by modern buildings. Seeing the inside, I understood he had not been rich at least.

On the way back to Copenhagen, I stopped over at Nyborg to see Nyborg Slot (castle) built in 1170. It is a museum that arms, domestic articles, and so on are displayed. The old man at the reception asked me if I was from Germany! Why Germany?

I will drink free beer at the beer factory today. There are two biggest brands in Denmark; Carlsberg and Tuborg. We can visit both factories. Since I had drunk Tuborg on my first day in Copenhagen, I decided to drink Carlsberg today.

I will go to Carlsberg by train called S-Train. I have a map of the train lines and know the station to get off the train, so anyway I caught the train first coming. But this train did not stop at the station of my destination by contraries. The returning train also passed the station. I was at the first station again. After all, I got to the station close to the factory by the train with another line number.

Big statues of elephants welcomed me at the entrance of the factory. But I was told that the next tour would be started at 11 o'clock, after more than an hour.
"Bye-bye, go away soon."
In a tone like the above, I was kicked out. I decided never to drink Carlsberg (although actually I have drunk several times after that).

After going back to the downtown and to the store of Royal Copenhagen and so on, I went to Tuborg's factory by bus. I was welcomed by a big beer bottle here. I started the tour with a group of young men maybe from a foreign country, Danish father and his son, and a man who was a guide speaking English very well. I am not happy they all are men!

His explanation in English and Danish was so detailed for every process, maybe. I sometimes nodded or laughed as if I could understand him. The process for bottling was most interesting for me after all. Several broken bottles were on the floor.

Then, it is the time to drink we were waiting for. We drank three kinds of beer in order of low-to-high alcohol. I would prefer the highest one with a label of a chick (rooster?). I should have enjoyed the conversation with them with drinking it, however, I who could speak neither English nor Danish was neglected at all. It was uncomfortable for me so I left there soon. Here as well, I was just said,
"Bye-bye."
Well, I know I, less educated, made it by myself.

In front of the city office, near the wax museum

Back to the downtown, I went to Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum. A lot of famous people from all over the world are here, but..., they are quite unlike! Princess Diana looks like 10 years older. Among them, he is the only one who resembles; the only one Japanese here, Caesar Hirohito, with Hitler and Mussolini.

In the evening, I had my last dinner of my journey around the Northern Europe, at DSB Cafeteria in Copenhagen Station, which was fried flounder. I feel lonely without anyone to talk with. Also I have a touch of cold.

To be continued

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