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To commemorate the Smithsonian Presents Travels with Rick Steves magazine — now on sale online, and at newsstands nationwide — Rick is blogging about the 20 top destinations featured in that issue. One of those destinations is the Danish isle of Aerø.
While big cities often mask the distinctive features of a nation, I find the rural corners and small towns give a better insight into what makes a particular culture unique. A strong social ethic permeates Danish society, and you really feel that on the quiet and sleepy little isle of Aerø.
On Aerø, you’re welcome to pick berries and nuts, but historically the limit has been “no more than would fit in your hat.” For years I’ve been recommending Mrs. Hansen’s bike-rental depot next to the gas station at the edge of town. Recently, a big hotel in town (with far more economic clout) decided to rent bikes, too. I saw Danish communalism in the reaction of a local friend of mine: “They don’t need to do that — that’s Mrs. Hansen’s livelihood.” Of course, there’s no law forbidding it, and with our social ethic, we’d just say competition is good. But in Denmark, to look out for Mrs. Hansen’s little bike-rental business was a matter of neighborly decency.
I love to rent a bike from Mrs. Hansen and pedal into the idyllic Danish countryside, where I find myself saying “cute” more than I should. When in the Netherlands, I have a running joke with my guide friends. We say, “Everything’s so…Dutch.” Now, in Denmark, I say, “Everything’s so…Danish.”
Denmark is, simply, cute. Travelers here find the human scale and orderliness of Danish society itself the focus of their “sightseeing.” The place feels like a pitch ‘n putt course sparsely inhabited by blonde Vulcans. And survey after survey finds the Danes the most content and happy people on the planet.
Good post Rick. Aero looks beautiful……hope to visit one day….after some new goals such as Istanbul, based on your recent DVDs and information….enjoy the rest of your Denmark visit…..
For me, it gets a bit tiresome to hear about the Danish utopia. If the “happiness” and “contentedness” of the people of Denmark and other Scandinavian countries was recognized by the rest of the world as a real and positive phenomena, the region would be the most densely populated on earth and it’s political and socio-economic system would be the universal model. Personally, I don’t see “contented” as a suitable goal in life and “happy” is usually fleeting and very subjective. Historically, there have been numerous non-productive and/or oppressed people who seem to be contented with food, shelter and circuses. Reading the “Slave Narratives” reveals A significant number of American slaves who were opposed to freedom and it’s responsibilities, so it must be assumed that even they were “contented” and occasionally “happy”. I’ll take the daily challenges of the dynamic American”rat race” (albeit recently stunted) or teeming Asian metropolises or any other place that encourages a relatively unfettered life experience. All those places make me feel alive, but the “nether regions” of northern Europe make me feel like I need an energy drink. The next time someone urges me to visit Denmark, I’ll suggest Minnesota or Vermont.
Bill27, definitely get to Istanbul! I think you will find the experience rewarding.
Bill27, let me second Alfran’s advice for you to go to Istanbul. You won’t regret it. I have been there several times and it is enthralling. Also, if you can, make some trips into the rest of Turkey. It is a beautiful country and you will be welcomed by the people everywhere you go.
Rick, if survey after survey finds the Danes the most content and happy people on the planet, then why are suicides there as high or higher depending on the survey, than in our country?
I'll take the daily challenges of the dynamic American"rat race" (albeit recently stunted) or teeming Asian metropolises or any other place that encourages a relatively unfettered life experience. All those places make me feel alive, but the "nether regions" of northern Europe make me feel like I need an energy drink. <a href="http://www.2cheaptravel.com" rel="dofollow">Travel </a>