Copenhagen! Finally!

Hello friends my apologies for a lack of blogging, but here is my Copenhagen Post..

Copenhagen (København) Denmark: So the weekend of February 3-5, I hopped easyjet to fly over to see Tara Cantwell, a fellow peer mentor and friend who has been studying in Denmark since September. What an incredibly interesting country. When I really think about the best way to describe Danish society I think about the amount of trust that Danes place on other people around them. For example, upon my arrival Tara, her friend Rita, and I grabbed the Metro toward her apartment, so I bought my 34,00 DKK Metro ticket...like $5 one way. So I asked Tara do I get this validated when I get off? And she said no, random attendants jump on at different stops to check your ticket otherwise, you could ride the Metro for free. But if they catch you its the equivalent of a $200 fine. So needless to say I bought a ticket every time and thank god I did, cause I didn't see an attendant until I was alone on the way back to Lufthavne (Copenhagen's airport).


So on the easyjet Flight I made a list of different things about my weekend in Denmark:


1.) Freezing Cold: I really showed up at the right time, that Siberian wind was in full force over Europe, as I took photos my hands literally went numb. So I bought a pair of cheap gloves and thermal socks. I have to say the socks were a great choice. 


2.) Danish Pastries: Both mornings Tara took me for pastries, so GOOD. I got these cinnamon rolls with chocolate and vanilla frosting on them. Unreal.


3.) Francis Pony Bar: Both nights we went to this bar called Francis Pony, which was awesome because it was a really cool atmosphere, like very cozy and comfortable. Just a really nice place to have a drink and relax. The funniest part...the bar tender looked like JonLars Carlson...I really wanted to yell LARS in his face...but at the same time I was not really up to be thrown out in the cold night air. Although it was probably his cousin. 


4.) Tara's AWESOME apartment: This place was so cool, it looks like something out of IKEA (I mean Sweden is like 30 mins away by train) all the furniture was really comfortable. The floor in the bathroom is heated so when you walk in, your feet immediately feel warm. Taking a shower was a thrill. Little did I know that because the Danes are so eco-friendly, they have a button you need to press to activate hot water. Didn't see that, and was already naked, so I took shower in polar temperatures. Best/Worst experience ever. The next morning I was taught how to push a button and all was well. 


5.) Danish People: The nicest people ever, just so kind and outgoing. A lot of people thought we were Swedish, which was nice cause its better than being called "oh another American."


5a.) Babies: I figured this connected back to the people. People wheel their babies everywhere, but when they go into a shop, Junior is left sitting out in his stroller in the cold. Remember what I said about trust, they must have a  TON OF IT. Anyway Danes apparently believe fresh air is good for a baby so they wrap it up really tightly in blankets and yep, leave it outside with a cover over the carriage. I passed by a larger buggy that had 2 kids in it, one who must have been 5 or 6 and then her baby brother who must have been like 2, the older girl was holding an iPhone and they were just outside watching TV on the iPhone. 


6.) Where did $20 go?: to postcards and stamps. Not until after I did the math that I blew $20 on 5 postcards and 5 international stamps. You're welcome to everyone who got them. I'm cutting back on what I can eat over here now to make up for that deficit. 


7.) Christiania: This was a very interesting section of Copenhagen, but as much as its a part of Copenhagen to the Christianians its their own separate province with no association to the city of Copenhagen, nation of Denmark, or the EU. They think of themselves as their own private colony with their own rules. And they sold weed openly for like an entire block. Just kiosk after kiosk. Wikipedia them for more information, its...interesting.


8.) Snowy Denmark: Sometime after Tara and I went to bed, it snowed...A LOT in Denmark. They got like 4 inches...people weren't kidding that Europe has no idea what to do. There was a man sprinkling table salt outside a restaurant, and the roads were a mess. But I did not see a single car slide into an intersection. (Learn that lesson America). But the snow was beautiful.


9.) Bikes: Copenhagen has more bike and walking paths than any place I have seen before. The insurance tax on cars is like 200%, so if you own a car its like a major financial burden, but the lack of cars was nice, less intersections to cross, less noise. Not too shabby


But anyway thats one of my overdue blogpost for Denmark. More to come maybe later today (Laura), and to everyone else who feels let down by my lack of blogging. SORRY. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with it.