I went to Denmark in search of our family’s Danish roots. That meant hoofing it to the tiny town of Daugård, Denmark. I didn’t know what I’d find there, or even if I would find public transportation to get me there, but I set out to find whatever the place had to offer. (I did find a bus to get there, Europe has phenomenal transportation systems, and there were buses running through town about every 20 mins…)
I learned from my Danish friend that the suffix “gaard” means farm, so the town, and our ancestors, started out as a farming community. When I got to Daugård, I could believe that this place started as a farm. It was very rural, surrounded by what looked like corn, wheat, and somthing like alfalfa. Actually, southern Denmark looks amazingly like the upper midwest. It was, by far, the place in all my travels that looks closest to back home. Cattle, fields, farms, corn, wheat, soybeans…the whole bit. Maybe a little more like Minnesota or Iowa, though, because they have a few more trees than good ol’ SoDak.
Daugaard is a bedroom community for nearby Vejle, Denmark, a town of about 50,000. It makes sense that Daugård wouldn’t have many businesses or town proper, as it used to be a big farm. (By the way, the “å” when translated to English is just a “aa,” so it is the same thing…) I was a little disappointed, because I wanted to really “experience the town,” but there wasn’t a restaurant, pub, bar, or bakery to be found in the town. There was only a small convenience store that acts as post office, flower shop, liquor store, bakery, and grocery store among other things. I went there and got a real, authentic “Danish.” I figured I’d better eat a Danish in Denmark, right? What better place to do it than Daugård, where I could just FEEL my ancestors? 
Well, maybe not. But the Danish was awesome anyway.
While I was searching around for Daugård, I stayed in Århus, Denmark. (In the seediest hostel ever, I think) I didn’t stay long in Denmark, though, because everything was SO expensive! The Danish currency is the Krone (Crown). I thought I might see a movie as the night was kind of dead in town, but I went to the theater, did some quick mental math, and realized that they expected me to pay the equivalent of $18 to see a movie. Let’s just say that I passed. I couldn’t have afforded anything in that town, so I think I ate 3 meals at the Seven-Eleven. They were good, though.
(A quick side-note. The Seven-Eleven, just like McDonald’s and Burger King, seem to be much more respected in Europe than in the US. For example, even though the ingredients are the same, I get a better made burger in Europe than I do in the US. The Seven-Eleven was nice, clean, and had REALLY GOOD food! People in Europe are not used to chains, as they are slowly migrating from the US to some places in Europe, and it seems like they take more care with the business than you see in the US. An interesting observation, but one that has been unfailing since I’ve been here.)
All in all, Daugård was worth the trip. I got to tramp around town, seeing all there was to see. (I actually walked from end-to-end, all the way through town and back) Denmark was really cool, and looked A LOT like back home, which was, in all actuality, really cool. I took some great pictures of myself with the Daugård town sign, and I have more to show when I get back home.
That red line indicates that you’re “leaving Daugård.” 
