This was the view from the train platform in Lund. Up ahead were classic Swedish countryside tracks disappearing into the trees, while right below on the platform was a McDonald’s sign. It was a funny little contrast — the quiet, old-world scenery in front of me mixed with a very modern, American fast-food presence right at my feet.

One of my last impressions of Sweden was how incredibly clean everything was. Early in the morning on the train platform in Lund, I watched this custodian methodically sweeping the entire platform by hand. It wasn’t a machine doing the work — it was just this man with a broom, quietly keeping the station spotless. I really respected that level of care and pride in public spaces.

Another view of the custodian working on the platform in Lund. I really admired how seriously he took his job — methodically sweeping the entire length of the platform by hand, right along the edge of the tracks.

Further down the tracks, the custodian continued his slow, steady work. He had already swept a long stretch of the platform and was still going. Watching him methodically clean the entire length by hand, early in the morning and in the cold, really stuck with me. It was a quiet but powerful example of pride in one’s work.

These giant cranes along the water’s edge were something I never saw back in Nebraska. I was drawn to their scale and the way they dominated the skyline. Standing there looking at them felt like another small but clear reminder that I was far from home, in a place built around shipping and industry instead of farming and open land.

The view from the ferry as I crossed back into Denmark. Sweden was slowly disappearing behind me under a moody sky. It was one of those in-between moments on the trip — not quite in one place anymore, and not yet in the next.

One of the things that surprised me on this crossing was seeing actual picnic tables set up on the open deck. People were sitting around them casually, like it was no big deal. After everything I had been through the night before, and with my ongoing nervousness about being on the water, it felt surreal to see everyone so relaxed. It was a very European way to travel that I wasn’t used to.

These five photos are my attempts to capture the mood of the ferry crossing from Sweden back into Denmark. As we moved across the Øresund Strait — the body of water that separates the two countries — I became fascinated by the dramatic sky, heavy clouds, and dark, rolling water. While I took several shots during the crossing, the one where the sun finally broke through the clouds and lit up the surface of the sea was my favorite.

Spotting Kronbo rg Castle

As the ferry crossed the Øresund Strait, Kronborg Castle slowly came into view on the Danish shoreline. This is the real-life castle that William Shakespeare used as the setting for Hamlet, which he called Elsinore. Originally built in the 1420s as a fortress to control maritime traffic and collect tolls from ships passing through the strait, it was later transformed into a grand Renaissance castle. Seeing it appear through the mist and clouds felt like history coming to life right in front of me.

Kronborg Castle is protected by massive brick fortifications and a real, functioning moat. Originally constructed in the 1420s as a fortress to control maritime traffic and collect tolls from ships passing through the Øresund Strait, it was later transformed into a grand Renaissance castle while maintaining its role as one of the most powerful strongholds in Northern Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.

This is one of Kronborg Castle’s most distinctive towers, rising high above the main building with its ornate spire and copper roof. When King Frederik II rebuilt the original medieval fortress into a grand Renaissance castle between 1574 and 1585, he added these impressive towers and spires to showcase royal power and wealth. The castle’s dramatic silhouette became iconic — and later world-famous as the setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Standing in Kronborg’s main courtyard, this view captures the full height of its tallest and most ornate tower. King Frederik II’s major rebuilding project in the late 1500s turned the old fortress into a magnificent Renaissance palace, complete with these impressive towers meant to showcase royal power. Its dramatic appearance later made Kronborg the perfect real-life setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

This view from high inside one of Kronborg’s towers looks down over the main courtyard. The castle’s tall towers were added during King Frederik II’s major rebuilding project in the late 1500s, both to display royal power and to provide commanding views over the Øresund Strait. From up here, the full size and strength of the fortress become very clear.

These cannons lined up along Kronborg’s ramparts were once used to enforce one of the most profitable toll systems in European history. For nearly 400 years (1420s–1857), Denmark collected “Sound Dues” from every ship passing through the narrow Øresund Strait between Denmark and Sweden. If a captain refused to pay, the cannons at Kronborg would fire warning shots — or worse — to force compliance. The castle’s strategic location at the narrowest point of the strait made it the perfect place to control maritime traffic entering and leaving the Baltic Sea.

This is Kronborg Castle’s famous Great Hall. At 203 feet long, it was the largest hall in Northern Europe when it was completed in 1582. King Frederik II built it to host grand banquets, diplomatic events, and royal celebrations. The black-and-white checkered floor, massive chandeliers, and large historical paintings on the walls all reflect its original purpose as a space to impress visitors and display the wealth and power of the Danish crown.

This photo was taken inside Kronborg’s famous casemates — a network of underground tunnels and defensive corridors built beneath the castle. These thick, vaulted passages were designed so that soldiers could take shelter during sieges, store weapons and supplies, and even house prisoners. In times of attack, up to 350 men could hide here with enough provisions to last for weeks. The casemates were a critical part of Kronborg’s military strength, allowing defenders to remain protected while still being able to fight from within the fortress.

This is a statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, holding his trident. It is located on the exterior of Kronborg Castle. Given the castle’s strategic position overlooking the Øresund Strait — and its long history of controlling maritime traffic and collecting tolls from ships — Neptune was a fitting figure to display. The statue reflects the Renaissance-era emphasis on classical mythology and the importance of sea power to the Danish crown.

The full exterior of Kronborg as seen from outside the ramparts. Originally constructed in the 1420s to control the Øresund Strait and collect Sound Dues from ships, it was transformed in the late 1500s by King Frederik II into a magnificent Renaissance castle. The long sandstone facade, spires, and grand main gate were meant to impress visitors and symbolize Danish power.

This was my last photo at Kronborg Castle. I loved how this stone arch created a natural frame for the entire castle. Standing there looking through it felt like the perfect way to end my visit — seeing the full grandeur of the towers, spires, and long facade one final time.

After spending the afternoon exploring Kronborg Castle, I returned to Helsingør Station for the long train ride across Denmark to Århus. This photo was taken on Platform 3 as I waited for my train. The long, empty platform and the strong afternoon light gave it a quiet, almost cinematic feel. I had about a seven-hour journey ahead of me, but I was excited — Pernille was waiting for me at the other end.