If you’ve ever put an Alka-Seltzer in a glass of water, you’ll know what happens to kids with a super soaker. It’s elementary. Add H2O and they start fizzing about in all directions. Water isn’t the only thing that shoots in the air … so do energy levels, noise levels and even the odd passing dog or cat. (Actually that’s how my mum keeps cats off her garden.) So even if we get another wet summer in Denmark this year, let’s make the most of it. If it’s raining but still warm, you can make your very own ‘slip and slide’ from plastic sacks, cheap vegetable oil and an old pillow. Like we did. See how and watch ‘The Fantastic Plastic Bagman’ in action at www.helendyrbye.blogspot.com.
Apparently baby shampoo, the kind that doesn’t hurt if it gets in your eyes, is good and slippery too, but we weren’t sure our lawn would like the bubbles. Luckily it was the day before Jake broke his arm falling out of a tree. Ouch! Into a bramble patch. Ouch. Ouch.
Slip and slide
Of course, you’ll find plenty of ready-made water slides in local theme parks under ‘vandland’. Or visit Lalandia, like we did, which has rides ranging from tiny tot slides to the tummy-lurching Tornado – a thundering water rafting experience that begins with heaving a large inflatable boat up Mount Everest, and culminates in crashing, white-knuckled, down a frothing tangle of huge pipes, arms, legs and swirly tunnels. I have never screamed so loudly before. Aaaaargghhhh … gluuurggle. Or felt so brave – afterwards.
We had a terrific time and tried everything, but would advise you to follow these three top tips.
Don’t worry what you look like in a swimsuit. Everyone is too busy watching their kids to look up. Or should be. Just wear black and stand next to the tattooed lady and no-one will bat an eyelid – plenty won’t be able to … their eyelashes will be stuck together by mascara that claimed to be waterproof.
Just think, as you heave large rafts and inflatable boats up lots of stairs, what great exercise you’re getting and how long the queue would have been if you didn’t have to heave large rafts and inflatable boats up lots of stairs.
E=MC squashed … large objects propelled by water travel down slides faster than smaller objects, though larger objects tend to not have such bony elbows, so it evens out in the end.
When you’re thoroughly waterlogged, you can dry out in the Monky Tonky indoor adventure playground, where parents can actually keep an eye on the children scrambling up, down and sideways. Or you can flake out at the onsite cinema. Don’t fancy a one-day road trip? Rent a handy holiday chalet – and relax until checkout time, which rather took us by surprise at 10 am. Oooh, another adrenaline rush …
Lalandia Rødby, Lalandia Centret 1, Rødby; 5461 0500; www.lalandia.dk (check for details of the other Lalandia in Billund, Jutland if you fancy that)
Dip and dunk
Of course, the beaches in Denmark are lovely for a quick dip too, especially Liseleje (one hour north of Copenhagen), the popular Bellevue beach near Bakken, or Amager Strandpark with its volleyball nets, football goalposts and basketball baskets – great for a different kind of ‘dunk’. Rent a kayak or learn to kitesurf and dive if you prefer.
Amager Strandvej, Cph S; www.amager-strand.dk
Wet-look wig
And finally, after letting off steam at an aquadome or in the open air, when you’re thirsting for something different, older kids might like Copenhagen Museum. There the ‘Past beneath us’ exhibition, which has an authentic ‘wet-look’ Jack Sparrow-style wig (pretty slick), elegant leather hand-stitched heels and other everyday historical objects dug up during the Metro construction project. Two of the exhibition’s four themes are ‘rain’ and ‘the sea’, which fit our water theme nicely. Try drawing the artefacts and plague victims’ skeletons preserved by the moist Danish climate. Then upstairs see what the Danes have held dear from 1900 to the present day. Though the museum’s sparkling chandeliers, wedding cake ceilings and lovely old tearoom called Tante T, with comfy seats and leafy green palm tree, are what I’ll remember best.
Københavns Museum, Vesterbrogade 59, Cph V; open daily 10:00-17:00; tickets 40kr, under-18s & Fri: free adm; 3321 0772; www.copenhagen.dk
Have a fun summer!
Helen Dyrbye is a published author, translator and former scout leader from East Anglia in England who relocated to Denmark a long time ago and loves it here as much as ‘back home’.
