Date
Århus
CountryDenmark
- Reading
- 4 min
- Words
- 910
- Images
- 13
A Quiet Day with Pernille
After the emotional rollercoaster of the past few days — especially the chaos at The Slaughterhouse and the long travel the day before — this was exactly the kind of day I needed.
I spent it relaxing with Pernille in Århus. We slept in, read, watched TV, went for a walk, and later sat around while she played piano and sang. It was low-key and easy, and that felt like a gift.
Pernille and I had grown close during our exchange year in Australia, and seeing her again reminded me how strong those bonds still were. Even though years had passed, we picked up right where we left off.
The Watermill
This was one of the most picturesque spots I came across in Århus. An old watermill with a thatched roof sat quietly beside a small stream, its wooden water wheel slowly turning. It felt like something out of a storybook — peaceful, timeless, and very Danish.
My Photographs from today in Århus, Denmark
-
Still No Locks Get this as a printEven here in Århus, the same thing I noticed in Lund was true — bikes were everywhere, and almost none of them were locked. This one was just leaning against a fence in the park as Pernille and I walked by. It was another small but clear reminder that I was in a place where people generally trusted that their things would still be there when they got back. It felt very different from what I was used to back home.
-
An Autumn Afternoon in Århus Get this as a printSomeone had left their bike leaning against the fence while they walked through the park. The thick layer of fallen leaves on the ground perfectly reflected the season.
-
Everyday Århus Get this as a printA typical view while walking through Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city. Founded by Vikings in the 8th century, Aarhus has always been an important regional center. By the mid-1990s, it was also a thriving university town — home to Aarhus University and a large student population that kept the city feeling young and vibrant.
-
Århus to Aarhus Get this as a printIn Danish, the city was officially spelled Århus (with the special character Å) from 1948 until 2011. In 2011, the city council changed it back to Aarhus for international use. Since I was there in 1994, the official Danish spelling at the time was Århus, though in English it was almost always written as Aarhus.
-
University City Get this as a printAarhus has been a major university town since Aarhus University was founded in 1928. By the mid-1990s, it was Denmark’s second-largest university, with around 18,000–20,000 students. The large student population gave the city a youthful energy that was easy to feel, even while walking through quieter, more residential areas like this one.
-
Den Gamle By – The Watermill Get this as a printPernille took me to Den Gamle By (The Old Town), a beautiful open-air museum in the heart of Aarhus. It’s a collection of historic Danish buildings that were moved here and preserved, including this working watermill with its thatched roof and wooden water wheel. It felt very peaceful walking through the park-like setting, seeing these old structures still functioning.
-
Traditional Danish Windmill Get this as a printThis is a classic Danish post mill, once a common sight throughout the countryside. These windmills were primarily used to grind grain, and at one point Denmark had thousands of them. Many have been preserved in museums like Den Gamle By in Aarhus.
-
Chasing the Light This was my attempt to get creative with the camera. Late in the afternoon at Den Gamle By, I tried to capture the setting sun shining through the spinning blades of the windmill. It didn’t quite turn out the way I imagined, but Get this as a printChasing the Light
This was my attempt to get creative with the camera. Late in the afternoon at Den Gamle By, I tried to capture the setting sun shining through the spinning blades of the windmill. It didn’t quite turn out the way I imagined, but I was happy with the effort. You can still see some of the sun flare hitting the dark wooden structure. It felt good to slow down, experiment, and be creative with my camera.
-
Symmetry on the Street Get this as a printThis street scene caught my eye. The buildings had a wonderful rhythm and symmetry — the repeating windows, doors, and rooflines created a strong visual pattern. The buildings were quite colorful, but I actually like how the black and white version strips everything down and puts the focus on the architecture and the clean lines. It was a quiet, pleasant moment during our walk.
-
Laundry Day Get this as a printLaundry hanging out to dry in the courtyard of a large apartment building. A quiet, everyday moment in Aarhus. I always enjoyed catching these small, ordinary scenes while walking through a city — they often felt more telling than the big landmarks.
1994From my journal
DAY 57 / 11-02-94Århus, Denmark
Didn’t do a whole lot today. Slept in until noon, and while Pernille studied, I just read and watched TV. I get such a kick out of the American shows I am finding here. Today “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” was on.
At 4 Pernille & I went for a walk. After eating she had to study with a friend so I found “Picket Fences” on TV.
After she was done we went to a bar for a drink, and when we returned we looked at more stuff from Down Under and she played her piano and sang.
That was about it, just a nice relaxing day.
JournalMy handwritten journal pages · 1 page
-
“Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” was an American TV show that aired from 1990-1993 on FOX. In my opinion, it was the television version of my favorite movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
“Picket Fences” was an American TV show that aired from 1992-1996 on CBS.