Helsingborg, Denmark

Travelled: 142km plus ferry Helsingborg Sweden to Helsingor Denmark (525sek)

Visited: Helsingor and Christianshavn, Copenhagen 

Stay: Copenhagen- free parking at sports field (park4night) 55.6721 12.6072

Today's first decision was weather to go over the Oresund bridge (Malmö to Copenhagen) or to take the ferry from Helsingborg to Helsingor Denmark. The weather forecast was predicting rain so we thought we may as well drive to Helsingborg and take the ferry so we could go and visit Helsingbor in Denmark before heading to Copenhagen, our 28 European country on Bluey's travels. We took the country roads and enjoyed driving through some very pretty and established country villages. 

Love that they use the Swedish colours in their road signs.

We lined up at the terminal, catching the 10am ferry and 20 mins  later we were disembarking in Denmark, heading to a free parking area near the port (56.0414, 12.6124).

 Wearing our raincoats and armed with umbrellas we headed into the old quarter and followed the blue dots to see the highlights of the town. Fish sculpture made from 'rubbish' left in the sea.

 St Mary's church,

 St. Olaf's church,

 through the centre we saw a couple of lovely murals,

A few Hamlet spots,

Some pretty colourful buildings 

Some poor fellow in a Motorhome stuck in some narrow street (probably the GPS ..we've all experienced that !)

to the shipyard 

We think this might be Helsingor's answer to the little mermaid

and then to Kronborg castle. We strolled around it in the driving rain and returned to Bluey soaked. 

We then followed the coastal road into Copenhagen and drove through the middle of the city to a parking area on the other side of Christianshavn. 

When the rain eased we ventured over the bridge to 'paper island' to explore the street food area and to choose some dinner. 

We then braved the 'Freetown' but we're not tempted to partake in what they had to offer...and so returned to Bluey. 

Karlskrona

Travelled: 227km

Visited: Bergkvara, Kristianopel, Karlskrona, Solverborg bridge

Stay: Horby - free parking in the forest at a trail head, lake with toilet close by. 55.9222, 13.6308

We started the day with a stroll around Bergkvara's port area. There were historical information panels scattered about explaining the ports' activities and about prominent people who shaped the towns history.

 At the camp ground they were selling fresh strawberries, so on Helenas and Regis's advice that Swedish strawberries are delicious, we bought some. 

We drove a short distance to Kristianopel, an old fort town. The Danish and Swedish fought over the town for many years until 1678. We had a walk around the pretty little village and browsed through the few stalls set up at the second hand market.

Midsummer pole. Not looking so good as it would have been decorated on 21st June for the celebrations.

We saw a few Danish flags flying in the area.

Our next stop was at Karlskrona, a naval base town that has been heritage listed by Unesco. We parked in the centre of town (red zone 13sek/hr or green zone 5sek/hr). 

The city Square.

The town hall.

Round church.

Main pedestrian street.

After a visit at the tourist office who suggested we go to the free maritime museum and to try the restaurants' Swedish smorgasbord lunch at 120sek each which included a beer! We tried out some Swedish meatballs and dumplings as well as some bean stew and more! 

With our bellies full we then had a look at the very extensive museum starting with the old timber vessels and ending with submarines. 

We admired the architecture as we drove out of town.

We then went to have a look at the longest (760m) pedestrian bridge in Europe at Solvesborg. Of course we had to walk along it. 

After a quick stop at a service point along the E22 we were off again and found a nice quiet spot in the forest near Horby which has many walking trails to explore the area.

The service point is in one of these doors!

A lovely church on the E22