Helsigor, North Zealand, Denmark

 Its across the channel from its sister city in Sweden, Helsingborg and ferries goes back and forth between them. I watched as one ferry loaded up with people and cars and headed out over to Sweden and I saw its counterpart coming over the water. It just went back and forth regularly. Cruise ships also dock here. It was quite dead when I arrived early this morning but soon after the buses began to deposit their load of tourists from the cruise ships. They spoke English (Americans) Chinese, Japanese and Korean. I see the type of people who takes cruises and I said to myself, 'I'll never be one of them!' I'm kind of a snob!

 The beautiful train station in Helsigor.

 The most prominent feature in Helsigor is the Kronberg castle, sitting high on a mound. There are no hills here so the highest place is a mound and there is a moat that surround it. It wasn't opened and so a lot of us just walked round it. I never got in.

I did go in the Maritime museum. It is built right in a dry dockyard and the way its done is very impressive. Denmark has a very important maritime history and a proud one too. They grow many things and the growing season is short so a lot of things have over its history being brought in by ships. They were active in both WWI and WWII. Maersk is the biggest container shipping company in the world and the CEO at Maersk was given a title by the state only reserved for royalty. Shipping has been and still is important to Denmark.

A Danish, a pastry

 Breakfast this morning was a coffee and a Danish. This is a proper and authentic Danish. I was in North Zealnd in the town of Helsingor. It was a shipping town but now its laid back and sleepy. There are ferries that goes back and forth between it and its sister city across the channel in Sweden, Helsingborg. Things are cheaper in Sweden especially alcohol, so lots of Danes goes across to Sweden to shop for most things especially for booze.

 For lunch, of course, the proverbial 'smorresbrod' or open sandwiches. These were really good and they had a wonderful selection.

 Food is cheaper in Helsingor than in Copenhagen. Here was a wonderful selection of open face sandwiches. I just noticed the Danes don't put a top layer of bun on their burgers either.

These are the famous Danish cookies that sent to all over the world except I've never seen them in these containers.

Christiania, Copenhagen, Denmark

Christiania was originally an army depot which was abandoned. A bunch of hippies moved in and started a community here. Marijuana is freely sold and consumed here but I wasn't allowed to take any pictures of that area without someone running after me to delete the picture. But I can take pictures of their homes which was what I did. I went deep into Christiana and took a lot of pictures. They're so beautiful. These are only some of them but I'll post some more when I go home in 3 months time. Copenhagen is a little confusing but with a little help from a local it gets much better. This is my first day and I think I am getting the hang of it. Traveling and especially to a place I've never been always pushes me to do things I'm not comfortable doing. This is a mixed dorm but I'm already used to it since I stayed in a mixed dorm in York, England. Welcome to the brave new world.

I'm in Copenhagen, Denmark

First order of business is always food, and here in Copenhagen, what is important? A genuine cinnamon roll the kind they make in Denmark. Its really good and huge. Got to have some more before I leave.

Queen Mary's garden, Regent's park, London

 I found some guy who was willing to take my picture. Here is London's best and largest rose garden, right in the centre of London. The city of London is busy with locals and myriad of visitors. The visitors are mostly concentrated in a few places, Buckingham palace, Parliament house, Westminister Abbey, 10 Downing street, Horse guards parade and of course the shopping areas. The few who are intrepid and want a different experience can also find it. Take for example at Regent's park who in and of itself is not spectacular, it is huge, granted. It hides a great secret, the Queen Mary's rose garden which is London's biggest and best rose garden containing numerous tea roses, old fashioned roses and climbing roses. My favorite are the old fashioned roses. They say, 'stop and smell the roses'. It took me a long time to smell every rose.

 They use the park for photo shoot also, here's one.

I love the pink blowsy old fashioned roses. Some of the blooms are so big that they droop. This is an amazing rose garden. Be sure to be in London only when the roses are in bloom.

St Martin in the fields, London

I'm back in London, left Keswick by bus for Penrith. Then took the train from Penrith for London. I'm now at a cheap hotel near Victoria station. I took the bus to Trafalgar square, right behind it is the National gallery and to the right (if you are facing the gallery) is St Martin in the fields. I went there for Evensong. The choir and the organ music was so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes. The crypt has been rented out to a restaurant and I had dinner there, Sunday roast of lamb. I survived the first 10 days of my 4 month trip!

Hiking in the Lake district, England

 I took 2 hikes this morning, the first in Buttermere lake. Buttermere lake is small enough that one can walk round it in 2 and 1/2 hours. I wasn't a serious hiker, I didn't have time but I did walk a bit just to see what it was like. It was cloudy today, perfect weather because I didn't even break a sweat. I saw some ducks but when I approached them, they flew off. I've never seen ducks that fly.

 The second hike I took was out of Grasmere, the Easdale tarn. The description was very interesting, 'the bluebells are fading but the foxgloves are coming out...' Sometimes its the little things that some people write that pique one's interest and one just have to go to investigate. This was what I did. Even though its not bluebells' season I did see some along the way. That was very nice, it has satisfied my need to see bluebells.

 The rhododendrons are in full bloom, all the jeweled tones, some in private gardens, others in the woods. There are some places in Nepal where there are huge rhododendron forests. Again I've satisfied my need to go there to see them. I just saw them here in England. In some area they are almost like the rhododendron forests in Nepal.

 The bluebells and the foxgloves....

Today is my last day and I will almost remember these fields, vast and as far as the eye can see, filled with yellow buttercups. I'm a little sad. Now its on to the next leg of my journey but the past 10 days in England has just been stupendous. When I return in September it will be a different season.

Dove cottage, William Wordsworth, Grasmere, Lake district

 Dove cottage in the village of Grasmere in England's Lake district. Here lived years ago one of the world's most beloved poet. He said he never wrote anything when he wasn't inspired but Dove cottage has everything that inspired him. His sited, Dorothy planted the gardens around the house, she kept a diary of everything that went on. From his poems it was evident that he depended on her notes and have lifted some of her words.

 The view from the house. I'm so glad they allowed photos.

 The view from the back of the house, in the early days before the area became built up, one can see Grasmere lake from the house.

 This is the path that led to the woods on top. Wordsworth found lots to inspire him here.

They lived here till after the birth of his third child and then it became too small because he and his wife went on to have 5 children. After that the house was taken over by his friend, Thomas de Quincy. The museum is also incredible. I was rushing everything today because I had to rush back to town to see about my room situation. So I got a dorm bed for tonight and tomorrow night and I'm working on this right now at the hostel. I have one more day but I could stay forever.

Hill Top farm and Beatrix Potter

 She was very young when she and Norman Warne fell in love and became secretly engaged. She left on holiday to the Lake district as she and her family usually did. They promised to write everyday. She did but he never replied. She went back to London to his house, his sitter answered the door. It was then she found out that they had just buried him, he died very suddenly. I can only imagine how a young person could bear that kind of heartache. She placed all her efforts into her work. She bought Hill Top farm and her family thought it was a joke. But she was very serious, she bought more land around it.

In this world, and at any day and age, we need courageous people. People who march to the beat of their own drum. People who doesn't care about being ridiculed. We need authentic people. They leave behind the most binding of legacies. The area is so lovely, its beyond words.Its 2 miles from Hawkshead but there is a shuttle that goes back and forth.