Scenic Bornholm

Happy Birthday to me! Cruising on the Viking Venus is a great way to celebrate another year!

Today we docked at Bornholm on a picture postcard day. That should not have been a surprise since we had been told this Danish island is nicknamed solskinsøen (Sunshine Island) for its weather. Bornholm was the second of the new ports on our revised itinerary.

Tim and I set out on a Scenic Bornholm tour, and scenic it was. My first impression of Bornholm was color – vibrant greens and brilliant yellows. We learned that yellow takes over Denmark in May, and it is an incredible sight. Vast green fields give way to oceans of yellow rapeseed fields. Just gorgeous!

Field After Field of Yellow Rapeseed

Vibrant Green Fields

I Couldn't Get Over the Colors

Yellow and Green - Fond Memories of Bornholm

We stopped to explore Hammerhus, Northern Europe’s largest castle ruin. Likely dating to the twelfth century, the castle sits on a steep, rocky prominence with a magnificent view of the Baltic Sea. The castle was impressive, but I happened to be distracted by the sheep that seemed to call the area home.

Hammerhus

Another Photo Op!

I Love Sheep!

Driving around Bornholm confirmed what a picturesque island it is, with its rocky coast and quaint buildings. Perhaps that was why I was so surprised when we rounded a corner, and I caught a glimpse of a modern, Buckminster Fuller-inspired dome structure.

The Dome in Allinge

Our bus dropped us off back at the port, where we wandered along the harbor into the town of Rønne. Overlooking the harbor is St. Nicolai Church, dedicated to the patron saint of seafarers. Inside the church, we encountered our first replica of a sailing vessel hanging in the church sanctuary, a custom widespread in Denmark Some ships may commemorate loved ones lost to the waves, while others may celebrate a safe return from a voyage.

Along the Harbor

St. Nicolai Church

Replica of a Sailing Vessel Hanging in the Sanctuary

From the church, we began our exploration of the old part of Rønne where we admired beautiful half-timbered houses. We learned that the red and yellow brick houses in between these historic homes are more recent “bomb houses,” which were built as replacements for the ones destroyed by the Russian bombing in May 1945.  Rønne is a often referred to as a garden town, and we tried to catch a peek of the gardens behind brick walls. We enjoyed the lilacs and other flowers that were blooming on this spring day.

Houses of Rønne 

Gardens of Rønne 

We eventually found our way to St. Tory, the central marketplace in Rønne. Our guide had told us about the famous Bornholm licorice, the only handmade boiled licorice in the world, and we stopped in a grocery store to look for some. We weren’t successful despite the assistance offered by a store employee and a very helpful patron.

St. Tory, Rønne's Central Marketplace

When we returned to the ship, I was surprised by a lovely birthday cake prepared by the Viking chefs, as well as a bottle of sparkling wine. How thoughtful!

Happy Birthday!

Cheers!