Hillerød

I journeyed to the town of Hillerød today to see the famous Fredriskborg slot, a 15^th Century castle. My trip started out like any other, except on this occasion I experienced the rain that the Danes had been telling me about since my arrival. Danish weather is truly unpredictable; you can have a sudden downpour, flowed by clear blue skies, then rain again. You never know what to expect so your best course of action, like a good scout is to ‘be prepared’ I’m sure Baden Powell, founder of the scout movement coined his famous motto during a camping trip in Denmark.

Fortunately I bought a pair of waterproof pants today. A must if you live here. Denmark is the first country that I’ve ever encountered where waterproofs and wellies can be a fashion statement. But for the type of rain found here it makes complete sense. I don’t believe I’ve experienced this many rain variations in one day. There’s fine rain, drizzle, mist rain, rain, sheet rain, sideways rain as well as the good old fashioned downpour!

My waterproofs earned their keep on the first day of purchase.

Arriving in Hillerød, I followed the signs to the ‘Centrum’, most Danish town have them, once you’re there, you’ve basically ‘solved’ the city. Following the snap-happy Japanese tourists, their broad smiles unfazed by the weather, I arrived at the castle which is situated at the far end of a lake. There was a beautiful fountain greeted me in the centre of the courtyard. The fountain’s water streamed upwards as if to defy the current downpour. Despite the rain, I could not help but marvel at the magnificent craftsmanship and attention to detail. The Danes really have ‘stuff’ figured out: Literacy is at 100%, Unemployment low, healthcare is free, work hours are reasonable and the place exudes culture and charm. It’s hi-tech as well as historical and cultural

It took a while for me to enter the castle actually, there was, what looked like a wedding that had just taken place. The women in their evening dresses and stilettos struggled precariously along the cobblestoned courtyard.

The interior of the castle boasts spectacular décor. Paintings from the 15^th Century to the present are aesthetically placed within the castle. There coronation chamber and chapel are truly magnificent.

I took a stroll into the castle gardens which consisted of beautifully sculpted miniature hedgerows with fountains and a rose garden. I sauntered around the gardens despite the torrential rain.

The next day I returned to Hillerød, but this time to see the Fredrensborg slot. This is the royal family’s summer palace, which is actually used during the summer, so it was the last day to see the interior of the castle. It was glorious summer day and the gardens were predictably immaculate. The pathways are lined with trees and sculptures. I took the tour guide of the castle interior (no pictures permitted), it’s much like the interior of other castle, except with photos of foreign dignitaries. The Queen started a tradition of having each head of state engrave their name on a pane of glass on her palace window. The most recent inscription is that of George and Laura Bush, that met the Queen for lunch at the palace in July.