Denmark - Day 4

Tuesday, July 19th

Our Airbnb had bikes to rent, so we took off for the North Sea (about 5 miles away).

It was beautiful and crisp.

There was only one smaller-sized bike, and Adele didn't like the adult bike, so she rode on the back of mine for awhile.

Our Airbnb owner also had some horses. She let the girls have a little ride before we were on our way.

We headed back into Thisted, now that the town was "open". (We loved the country flag garland!)

This is still the main town square, with the bank behind us and the church behind the building on the left. 

Geoff's grandfather's portrait still hangs downstairs by the vault.

We got to go inside the Thisted church. In Denmark, if you are Lutheran, you pay a church tax. A government church agency makes sure all churches in Denmark maintain their traditional look and are in good condition. They are very well-kept inside and out, with many of the same relics and interiors that existed in the Middle Ages.

We passed through the small town of Haverslev where many of Geoff's ancestors came from.  As a matter of fact, it was the surname until a few generations ago when it became Havers-Christensen or Havers-Andersen. We didn't have any specific information with us for these ancestors so we didn't stick around long.

We drove north to Saltum. Saltum is a very familiar town for me. I have researched many family members from this town, and I have tried to imagine their lives as farmers and school teachers and choir singers. After hours and hours of searching records from the church, these people are familiar to me. I couldn't wait to get there.

The town was bigger than I imagined, or at least it is now. I wished I had been more prepared with information, and I wished we had more time to visit the town archive, which we had learned existed in most towns. But we planned enough time only to visit the church.

We were disappointed to find the church locked. Unsatisfied, we wandered around the church yard. Geoff approached a man painting his fence at a nearby home if he knew anything about the church (with the house being so close, maybe he was affiliated). He just happened to be the main "leader" of the church!  We told him why we were there. He took us into his office, and after some time talking, went into the church safe and pulled out one of the very books I've spent hours looking through online!

I knew then that I was a total Family History geek. Here is the very nice church leader, still in his paint clothes.

He offered to take us up to the bell tower.

The large bell still rings at the beginning and end of day like it did for centuries to let the towns people know when the work day began or ended. Smaller bells of different sizes (and sounds) were donated more recently. Those ring for church, weddings and other special occasions.

From Saltum we drove inland to Aalborg, another town where Geoff's family lived. We intended to have all sorts of names and places ready, but the months leading up to this trip were a little crazy and I didn't get around to it.  Next time we'll be better prepared. Alborg was really just an overnight stay. We had an airbnb near the old town and took a quick walk around to get a feel for it.

Another great day in Denmark!