Running routes

It has been nearly a year in our apartment here and I've really enjoyed access to some nice running trails. I try to run a half-hour three or four mornings per week. This summer, despite the rainy weather, has been very enjoyable. Winter can be trying when it involves running into a cold windblown rain, but I still managed to keep up the habit. Mostly I run around the lakes which are two minutes (running) from our apartment. On weekends, like this morning, I've been running around Kastellet which affords nice views of the harbor (with cruise ships coming and going in the summer), the fortifications, and the city. Today I ran once around the inner ramparts and once around the outer ramparts and past the Little Mermaid. In the future I may add a route through Øster Anlæg park and around Kongens Have by Rosenborg Slot.

Our Danish class started yesterday after a summer recess. We both felt like we didn't lose any ground and in fact may be understanding more than when we stopped in June. We have the same teacher, but half of the class has been moved to a different teacher, so we can get to know some new people.

On the subject of Danish, we celebrated a birthday this weekend. We've learned the Danish birthday song. The (rough) translation is:

Today is Alexa's birthday: hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!
She is certain to a gift that she has wanted this year,
And wonderful chocolate with cake.

The other verses, which we haven't memorized, are about how the person gets to come home, have a party with family and friends, with wishes for long life and fulfilled desires. These are all good things, and more fun to sing than the standard English fare. Really, "Happy Birthday to You" is a song with lyrical complexity exceeded by "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and that's not saying a whole lot. To end on a positive note, they're both easier to memorize.

On a final note, by the time you read this the Sea Stallion will likely have arrived in Dublin after a 40+ day journey from Roskilde.