LA: Is it a place that is mainly visited by locals or those who know that part of Denmark?
DN: It’s quite interesting. There are many summer cottages. Tourism hotspots are located along this coast. Germans are frequent visitors. Germany has a limited coastline, and there isn’t much ocean. So they go to Denmark.
There are a lot drownings each year, because the ocean is so dangerous. The Germans are the most common tourists, because they’re used to the ocean and know how to swim and what not to do. Locals have traditionally avoided swimming in the sea. They have constructed huge nets into the sea to prevent people from swimming in the water. Sometimes, they are pulled out of the water by the current, or the undertow. They will then be stopped before they reach Scotland.
LA: What I am going to say is that it sounds cold. The horror.
DN: Hawaii is cold. At this time of year – late summer – it’s blissful.
LA: What is the description of your cottage? How would you describe it? How does it feel when you enter?
DN: When you open the door you are greeted by a tiny kitchen with wallpapers dating from the 1950s and right after World War II. It’s a time capsule. We use gas to cook and make our coffee. When you turn left, you enter a very small living room which I use as my office. This is because this room is where I do most of my writing.
LA: It is a beautiful place to write.
DN: It’s a beautiful place. The view is one of the most beautiful things about the place.
LA: Was about to ask you what your opinion was when I read your letter.
DN: The Limfjord runs directly into the North Sea. It’s magnificent. It’s breathtaking. I have no electricity or running water. I cannot write in the winter, because I don’t have heat.
LA: Is there no AC in summer? It’s possible that it isn’t hot enough.
DN: In Denmark, it’s easy. It’s not a problem to open the door. You probably know about the shelters where people go to sleep during summer, bringing their sleeping bags and mosquito nets. It is like a small luxury shelter. It’s a place where you can sit at your table with your coffee and enjoy the comfort of your coziness. Then you have this amazing view from both sides.
