It’s our first full day in Denmark. It’s hard to believe we only have two more weeks on this fantastic adventure. The sunshine surrounds us as we begin our first day of sightseeing.

Caves were on our agenda today, so after a quick city tour, we headed to Mønsted Kalkgruber—the world’s most enormous lime pits. Mønsted Kalkgruber is a marvel. It’s a labyrinth of 60 km of tunnels, 4 km open to the public. These tunnels, all hand-dug, are a testament to human ingenuity. Some tunnels open to caverns as massive as castles, while others are so tiny that you’d have to crawl. In the 11th century, limestone was in high demand for cathedral construction, making limestone mining a lucrative business.

Our journey through the caves was an adventure: the eerie lighting, the sound of water droplets echoing, and the cool air that made me grateful for my sweater. We encountered underground ponds, their clear waters disturbed only by the occasional droplet, creating tiny ripples. As we delved deeper into the tunnels, the air grew damper, and our shoes were soon covered in white, slippery silt, making our walk a bit more treacherous.

Jason was brave and went up a steep incline to find that he had to duck under a low wall and through a narrow tunnel to get to the other side. There was barely room for one person at a time, and with people in front and behind him, there was nothing to do but push forward. On the other hand, I stayed back and caught up to him a bit later. We followed the rail tracks of the cars that had so long ago carried the lime out of these vast caves, and I couldn’t imagine working down here for hours on end, day in and day out.

Oh, did I mention that 18,000 bats live in these caves during winter? We don’t think we saw any, but there was a distinct aroma in the air at moments, and we didn’t dwell on it.

Once out of the caves, we took a break in the sunshine at a picnic table. A young park worker approached us and engaged us in a nice chat, giving us information about the area and sharing funny stories. His English was excellent. Afterward, we headed to the Lime Works building and museum. There was lots of walking and stair climbing, but it was very well laid out and informative.

We checked into our hotel and were informed that a rooftop music concert was beginning shortly, so after a bit of rest and freshening up, we headed up and were amazed at the size of the patio and the number of people already there. At the top of the 12-story building sat an old Volkswagen van, refurbished and converted into a food truck-like bar. A long line had already formed for drinks. There was no seating left near where the 4-piece jazz quartet was getting ready to play, so we headed up a sloped area and sat on some long, wide steps and a grassy area (yes, we were still on the roof) where we had a 360-degree view of the town.

Red rooftops dotted the landscape for miles among the green hills and thick trees, and a cathedral could be seen off in the distance. It was beautiful. The band began playing the music I love. It was such fun just being up there—until the wind picked up. After a bit, we headed back downstairs and out for supper.

We wandered the town where it was less windy and enjoyed fish and chips at a local restaurant. We were only about three blocks from our hotel and could still hear the music of our rooftop band echo through the streets, so we got to enjoy them a little longer. Giant flower arrangements hung from wires above, adding splashes of colour to the beautiful streets.

The town was alive with energy. It was a Saturday night, and the streets were bustling with people out celebrating the weekend. The sounds of music, laughter, and the occasional police siren filled the air, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Thanks to the lively surroundings, it wasn’t the most restful night. However, it was a wonderful and memorable first full day.