Back from Ribe (or, Wet, Wet, Wet)

Hi all! John and I returned from Ribe last night about 10 pm, after three days of manic sight-seeing in Ribe. Ribe is a very small town that has kept very strict building codes, and as a result, has a very historic look about it. Many of the buildings date from the 1600s, and there are several buildings surviving from earlier. It was a very quaint little town. I was hoping to see storks, but there weren't any nesting in town this year.

The buildings were very, very droopy. They've had time to settle! I wonder how anyone repairs the window panes . . . is there a guy there who will make windows with funny shaped panes for replacement?

We arrived Sunday, and spent that day in town. Monday we went to the island of Mandø. It's a nature preserve, and looks like it's about 2 feet above sea level, not including the dikes. We planned to bike the perimeter of the island, and search for seals and amber. We arrived at the beginning of a storm, and ended up hiking 6 km in a downpour on the cow paths surrounding the island's tiny hamlet. It was actually quite fun, even if the 'wildlife' we observed was limited to cows, sheep and geese. I swear the cows were following us around, hoping they'd let us back to their barn. There no way we could have made it out on bikes. I have never, never had so much water in my shoes in my life! They are still drying. Worse still, the ipod got wet, even though it was wrapped and stashed in the center of the backpack. I'm hoping it will dry out soon, and it will still work. (I'm not too hopful about that.)

Karen, I might have found a new home for you! Mandø is islolated, gets lots of rain, and features many sheep. The 'town' was comprised of a few dozen homes, tops. It has a forlorn look about it. Unfortunately, they do not have a library. I also doubt that anyone there knows how to make a good cup of tea.

Monday we hiked to the Viking Center outside of Ribe, which was a living museum featuring 'Viking Volunteers' going about their Viking ways on a daily basis. We saw more cows (John enjoyed that) and a falconry show (I really loved that) in addition to touring the Viking homes, farm and marketplace. That was super.

We took the train home last night. It took three hours. I've beecatchingng up with laundry today, and trying to dry out what can't be washed (our shoes, the ipod). Surprise, surprise, the rain has held off today. At least the clothes can dry.