Seen from the outside, this is the house where Andersen was born. The streets and homes and shops surrounding the house are the definition of quaint - seemingly three-quarter sized, freshly painted, with doors that open directly onto the cobbled street. Many had window boxes with just budding spring bulbs. But what is now quaint was, in 1805, cramped and dingy.
Read what the "Andersen Was Here" guide says about the birthplace.
"In times past the attractive yellow house on the corner of Hans Jensens Stræde and Bangs Boder used to be part of the city's slum area. The corner house, which looks so romantic today, comprises actually 3 dwellings, and was home for up to 5 families or about 20 people. Hans Christian Andersen's grandmother and later his father's aunt lived in the room – the flat – furthest down Bangs Boder. It is with all likelihood here that Hans Christian Andersen was born."
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You know, this whole HCA pilgrimage sounds like what we did for spring break back in early April. We combined vacation (Monterey), college visits (Cal Poly, Pepperdine, UCLA and USC), and Steinbeck.
ReplyDeleteBrad and I had just finished "East of Eden" (Brad for American Lit, I because I hadn't ever read it and I like reading whatever he brings home for American Lit) so I routed our trip to Monterey through the Salinas Valley. We left I5 and the San Jauquin Valley at Coalinga and went over the mountains to King City. The next morning we went into Salinas, visited the National Steinbeck Center (well, okay, just the gift shop) and walked over to the Steinbeck House. I took Brad's picture under a sign for Cal's Liquor (someone had a sense of humor to reference East of Eden).
Next time perhaps will try locating Tortilla Flats.