Woke up at 3 AM to pack our bags and leave after dropping the keys in morten’s mailbox. We took the metro to Luftavn station. Metros here runs all night long so we didn’t have any problems getting there. From Luftavn station free airport bus took us to Terminal 1, which is the domestic airport. These busses start at 4:30 AM and hence we got the 1st one. Our flight was at 7:35 AM and being the calculative indian we reached the deserted terminal at 4:45 AM only to be told checking starts only at 6 AM. Checkins are pretty smooth as you do self checkin and also print out the luggage tags at self help machines. After dropping off the luggage, we had a quick breakfast of rye bread, open sandwich and croissants (87 DKK) at the airport before boarding flight. Norwegian seemed to be quiet an ok carrier and got us to Aalborg on time at 8:30 AM.
Aalborg airport is really small and cute which normally doesn't get more than a flight at a time. We got down and took 5 minutes to buy a bottle of wine for the Gronbechs at the duty free, in the meantime everyone picked up their luggage and left and i found only 2 of our backpacks going around on the conveyer. Outside was deserted, as if its our own private airport. John was nowhere in sight. After waiting for 10 minutes i decided to give him a call, only to find out that he confused the dates and thought we were coming the next day. So have to wait for 45 minutes before an embarrassed John arrived to pick us up.
A fantastic drive through the countryside amidst wind turbines and potato fields took us to the small town of Saeby. We were welcomed by John's lovely wife Lotte and kids Mess,Younas and Matieyas. Also John's mother in law was in the house and was a very nice lady to meet even though she doesn't speaks a word of English. We were introduced to the liberal Danish culture, when we were introduced to 17 year old Mess's girlfriend Sophie who was staying along with them for the time being. Hopefully indian parents get even half as liberal to that.
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| The Gronbech Mansion |
We had a filling breakfast of fresh danish bread, cold cuts and cheese and were told we will be taken on a tour of the town soon.So we took the leisurely walk around the old lanes and renovated, brightly coloured houses of Saeby along with John and Lotte. We looked around a lot of artist studios and art galleries before admiring the danish church at the havn or harbour.
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| Frank's Restaurant |
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| Saeby Harbour |
All this time the weather was chilly with an overcast sky, drizzling here and there. We sat at Frank's cafe next to the small harbour filled with numerous yachts and speedboat for a few beers. In the meantime the sun came out and then never went out. We drove back home as we were told that we have to join them for a traditional family dinner at John's parents house closely.
It was a very cosy and well done up house that Paul, John's dad has, who was a farmer and hence loved his garden and green house. They have a huge kitchen farm with fresh vegetables coming out apart from numerous flowering plants and apple trees loaded with fruits. John's sister Hanna and her husband Chris joined us with their 5 kids and a golden retriever. A fantastic time filled with tuborg, chats and traditional danish meal is what followed. The speciality was this fish which is salted and dried for days before frying and serving it with berry pastes and parsley dip, along with boiled fresh vegetables from the garden.
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| Paul's House |
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| The lovely Gronbech Family |
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| Having a hyggely time |
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| The traditional dried fish dish |
We came back after a day full of warmth from the extended Gronbech family. I caught a bit of flu due to the cold weather and have to get in bed after a few nicely brewed coffee and chit chat.
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