Visit to Iceland and the Scandinavian NorthPfeiffer, Ida
History
Visit to Iceland and the Scandinavian North
Pfeiffer, Ida
Iceland -- Description and travel; Old Norse poetry -- History and criticism; Scandinavia -- Description and travel
To-day I still rose with the sun; but that will soon be a difficult
matter to accomplish; for in the north the goddess of light makes amends
in spring and summer for her shortcomings during the winter. I went on
deck, and looked on the broad expanse of ocean. No land was to be seen;
but soon a coast appeared, then disappeared, and then a new and more
distant one rose out of the sea. Towards noon we reached the island of
Moen, which lies about forty {14} miles distant from Copenhagen. It
forms a beautiful group of rocks, rising boldly from the sea. They are
white as chalk, and have a smooth and shining appearance. The highest of
these walls of rock towers 400 feet above the level of the surrounding
ocean. Soon we saw the coast of Sweden, then the island of Malmo; and at
last Copenhagen itself, where we landed at four o'clock in the afternoon.
The distance from Kiel to Copenhagen is 136 sea-miles.
I remained seven days at Copenhagen, and should have had ample time to
see every thing, had the weather been more favourable. But it blew and
rained so violently, that I was obliged to give up all thoughts of
visiting the surrounding parks, and was fain to content myself with
seeing a few of the nearest walks, which I accomplished with some
difficulty.
The first street in Copenhagen which I traversed on coming from the
harbour generally produces a great impression. It is called the "Broad
Street," and leads from the harbour through the greater part of the town.
In addition to its breadth it is very long and regular, and the splendid
palaces and houses on either side give it a remarkably grand appearance.
It is a peculiar sight, when, in the midst of this fine quarter, we come
suddenly upon a ruin, a giant building resting on huge pillars, but half
completed, and partly covered with moss and lichens. It was intended for
a splendid church, and is built entirely of marble; but the soft ground
would not bear the immense weight. The half-finished building began to
sink, and the completion of the undertaking became for ever impossible.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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