RonnieAdventure #0113 - California, 2014 Part III and Denmark

Although Solvang is now connect with the Danish culture, the Franciscan Friars were the first Europeans in the area. In 1804 they founded Mission Santa Ines to teach and convert the Chumash people to Christianity. In 1835, when the Mexican Governor confiscated the Mission lands and buildings, the Spanish Franciscan Friars were replaced with Mexican Franciscans who were allowed to stay in the mission buildings. However, when President Lincoln returned the property to the Catholic Church, the Spanish Franciscan Friars once again regained control of the Mission.

Most trips to Solvang start at The Pea Soup Andersen Restaurant, one of the largest Danish restaurants in the area, which serves over two million bowls of pea soup each year. If you do not like pea soup, there are other Danish items on the menu, but as a tradition most people stop at the restaurant even if they just go through the gift shop.  And, there is even a quilt shop located just down the street from Pea Soup Andersen’s.

 Solvang was settled by a group of Danish educators in 1911 that were fleeing from a brutal Midwestern winter. (Raise your hand if you remember those days!) When they found the current Solvang location, they though that the area was like heaven, so decided to call the new community “Solvang,” which means “sunny field.” As other Danish settlers moved to the area, Solvang became known as the “Danish Capital of America” and still retains a strong traditional Danish feeling today. Even if you are not Danish, you can be a “Dane for a Day” while visiting Solvang by eating aebleskiver and visiting the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, the Elverhoj Museum, and the Vintage Motorcycle Museum. At the Elverhoj Museum, you can even learn how to make lace and aebleskiver!

After spending time in Solvang, it reminded me our trip to Denmark a few years ago, so I am including some Danish pictures. Our trip to Denmark was especially memorable, since we were able to stay and tour Denmark with the US Ambassador to Denmark. The Ambasador’s residence in Copenhagen has beautiful gardens and was used as the German Third Reich headquarters during WWII. The Ambassador's (and my wife's) Grandfather's picture (person on the lower left)  is even hanging in the residence entryway.