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In the first week of June, Yiming & I first went to Møns Klint in Denmark, then Potsdam in Germany and finally Skagen in Denmark. Møns Klint  (or in English ‘the Cliffs of Møn’) is one of the most geologically interesting sites in Denmark made of remains of shells deposited more than 70 millions years. As a biologist I’m always amazed at the large and unique diversity of plants and insects in this location. Next we went to Potsdam that used to be the residence of the Prussian kings and famously known for hosting the meeting between the  victorious allied leaders in the summer of 1945. However, we did not come to Potsdam to appreciate the historical sites but for attending a conference on stable isotopes. Since Yiming had an appointment in Northern Jutland right after the conference we hastily went back north. This time we visited another scenic area, Skagen where Kattegat and Skagerak meet, and Råbjerg Mile, which is a giant sand dune of about 1 sq. km.

View of Møns Klint

The Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

The landscape at Møns Klint is spectacular

Impressive gardens in Park Sanssouci

The New Palace in Park Sanssouci

Yiming sitting in front of one of the many gates in Potsdam

Yiming walking along the Skagen beach

Råbjerg Mile is a large sand dune of about 1 sq. km.

Yiming tried to take a picture of while I was jumping.

I’ve just returned from a short trip back home to Denmark. In Fairbanks, we are at the tipping point to winter and I could not help noticing how green the vegetation was in Denmark even here in late September. Staying at my parent’s farm, I indulged in wholesome fruits and vegetable all week. This is something I’ll miss being back here in Alaska. Then again, the scenery and nature is so fantastic up here and I cannot have it all at once. I gave a talk at my former high school, Aabenraa Gymnasium, about life in the far north and my research. It was lot of fun to see my old high school after so many years. The students looked very young – I’m just getting old I guess.