Backpacking through Europe in 1994

Day 63 • November 8, 1994
Århus, Denmark

I spent another day with Gitte on November 8, and it continued to feel easy and familiar in the best way. After the whirlwind of the previous weeks, being around someone who already knew me — someone from my old life in Kearney — was surprisingly comforting.

We didn’t do anything particularly dramatic. We just spent time together talking, walking around, and catching up on the years since we had last seen each other. It felt good to slow down for a bit and not have to constantly explain myself or where I’d been. Gitte’s company was steady and kind, and I found myself relaxing more than I had in quite a while.

Even though I was still in the middle of this big adventure, these quiet days with old friends were starting to feel like little anchors — reminders of who I was before everything got so complicated, and maybe even hints of who I might want to be when I finally went home.

My Photographs from today

Fish Market in Aarhus

This was one of the first things that really struck me in Denmark — a proper fish market right in the front window of the store. Back home in Nebraska, I was used to seeing beef everywhere, but never fresh fish displayed like this. The sheer variety laid out on ice felt completely foreign to me. And of course, there was the ever-present unlocked bicycle parked right outside, something I still found surprising every single day.

Shopping for Cheese

This woman was window shopping for cheese at a beautifully stocked counter in Aarhus. There were big wheels and different varieties stacked up, along with a large illustrated sign showing how cheese is made and cut. It felt like cheese was treated as something special here — not just another item on the grocery list.

Street Scene in Aarhus

This was a typical street view in Aarhus — beautiful old European buildings with ornate details and that classic Northern European feel. I loved how the architecture told a story of the city’s history while everyday life (cars, traffic lights, people going about their day) moved around it.

Between the Tracks

I took this photo standing between the railroad tracks on the edge of Aarhus. In the distance you can see the industrial area with its smokestacks and cranes, while a church spire rises above the buildings. It felt like a very “in-between” kind of moment — both literally and figuratively — as I moved through the city on my way to somewhere else.

DAY 63 / 11-08-94
Århus, Denmark

Today was pretty low key. I slept in until 1:00 and spend the afternoon taking pictures.

Gitte & I watched a movie called “La Grand Bleu.” More than anything, watching this movie made me want to be home with MY VCR and MY MOVIES and MY TV and MY STEREO.

Peter & Annie, Gitte’s brother & girlfriend, came over for dinner.

Then we looked at my pictures, and spent the next 3-4 hours telling more stories and jokes.