Just Beachy

Feeling adventurous, and in the mood for swimming, I decided to bike out to the beach on the island of Amager. This island is still technically part of the city of København, so shockingly, the beach wasn't too hard to find. In fact, I only got lost once. Granted that one time, I found myself biking full speed towards the unwelcoming gates of what I think was a cement factory, but I managed to correct my course in time. 

Roughly 11 kilometers later, I found myself in Amager Strandpark. It was pretty majestic. The weather definitely contributed to this, going from beautifully sunny, to ominously dark and rainy, right back to bright sunshine.

On one side of the beach, the bridge to Malmo, Sweden.

The calm after the storm.

On the other side, an off-shore wind farm.

I found a jellyfish. 

And another artsy shot of the windmills.

Note: The pictures look a lot better if you click on them. Especially the one of the bridge

Productivity

Yesterday my roommates and I  accomplished many things. We found our way from our current apartment in Østerbro, all the way to school. Apparently the walk took over an hour, but we didn't notice since it was so nice out and the walk was so pretty.

I get to bike over the lakes every day for a month.

 We also went shopping because we all forgot fairly important things. Like toothbrushes.

Even dollar stores in Denmark are somehow more exciting.

I saw my old home. From the outside, Skindergade 40 hasn't changed a bit.

 During our wanderings we checked out the King's Gardens, which are all around Rosenborg Castle.  

There's the castle.

The beginning of the artsy pictures. Behold: Lavendar!

I think these are roses, but one of the master gardeners reading this will no doubt correct me.

A very attractive path.

And still more flowers.

Yesterday I also had my first encounter with operating a Danish television- naturally it was hideously complicated. But I fervently wanted to watch the Olympic opening ceremony. I failed disastrously and am now waiting for the internet to have coverage of it.

It Begins Again

Well ladies and gentlemen, I'm back in Copenhagen, settling in for the next four and three-quarters months of fun, games, and cultural differences. It's weird being back, but I'm amazed at how much I remember. I'm glad I do remember so much, because dealing with an unfamiliar transit system on no sleep and full of stress would definitely have warranted a full-scale freakout. 

But anyway, that was avoided, and I'm safe and sound in my new (temporary) apartment.Apologies for the lack of pictures, but you'll just have to make due with selected anecdotes from my adventure and the view from our living room.

Here it is.

Notable highlights of the trip include discovering that SAS has forward and downward cameras that you can watch on your seatback televisions. This made my seat in the rear of the plane, center row, across the aisle from a closet, much more bearable. 
Also, in case anyone was wondering, Sodexo caters to Stockholm Arlanda Airport. There is literally no escaping their culinary reign of terror.
Finally, in my last minute rush leaving the house yesterday, I forgot to get directions to my apartment here. (I also forgot my toothbrush. No Mom and Pop, I was not kidding about that.) Using the magic of a Blackberry, I got very rough directions to my neighborhood here. However, after getting off the bus at Hans Knudsens Plads, all Google told me to do was 'Arrive at Engelstedsgade 51'. Helpful. 
I tried asking some off duty bus drivers for directions, but they had no idea, so I ended up asking some clearly local older gentlemen in the park. They were all originally from Russia, and spoke surprisingly wonderful English. They were also quick to offer me a heavily chewed cigar and a swig from their bottle of vodka, even though it was only 12:30 pm. I declined.
Not only did one of them walk me to my apartment and insist on taking one of my 50 lb bags, but I now have the sworn protection of the local Russian posse. There are definitely worse welcomes that one could have.

A gratuitous picture of Archie.

Final Preparations

The time that I've been simultaneously dreading and looking forward to has finally come. Tomorrow I will be on my way back to Denmark, this time for an extremely long 13 months. And as I'm sure no one will be surprised to hear, packing is still well under way. But that's not the point of this post; the point is to give a shout-out to all the people I've said goodbye to over the past few weeks, whether in person or on the phone.  All of you have played a huge part in my life, and are making it both easier and yet incredibly hard to leave.(If your picture isn't here, please don't feel slighted- I don't have good pictures of a lot of you, and I'm sorry for that.) 

Obviously the Koch People get top billing. You guys are the best- thanks for all the support and patience. I'm already excited for your visit.

To the ladies of 117, thanks for hanging with me for 4 years. It should be even easier to put up with me when you don't see me every day.

Davis, I'm going to miss you kid.  Our hedges still need trimming. Life won't be the same without you as a fifth roommate.

Grandma, Grandpa and Barbara, so glad you could make it this weekend.  Can't wait to tell you all about my adventures!

Grandma and Opa, thanks for a great boat ride. See you on Christmas Eve!

Jake, KMac, Bailey and Jojo, I can't think of  four people I'd rather await the end of the world with. See you in December.

JP and Jonny, your philosophy and facial hair will leave an empty void in my life.

Dearest Elizabeth, we are the studliest ladies and/or gentlemen in the world. I cannot wait to Skype you whilst watching Britcoms. Becca, you're pretty cool too.

Peps, don't hit your head. (Or get smallpox).

Aunt Julie and David, I'm so glad I got to see you before I left.

Casey (and Jody), I'm so so excited to Skype with you guys.

Ladies of Kinnelon, we didn't get to hang out enough this summer. Sorry.

Fhatay, this is the oldest picture in the world, but it still makes me smile.

Hi Carol! So glad you stopped by!

Matt and Dan, Keep the bromance alive, and get ready for an epic reunion in December.

Hej Hej

As unbelievable as it seems, my four months in Denmark are at an end. It seems like mere days ago that I hauled my jetlagged carcass off a plane and into an almost completely unknown country. It took about half an hour for me to realize that I had picked the perfect place for me. Even accidentally buying buttermilk instead of normal milk was unable to lessen my enthusiasm for the country.


Over the course of the next few months our apartment straight out of the pages of an IKEA catalog became a home.

Group dinners became a highlight. Pictured here: Latkes in progress.

What started out as a random group of strangers coalesced into a family unit. We got hyggeligt, swapped the most outrageous Youtube videos we could find, made gourmet meals on a whim and were just generally great friends. Skindergade 40, 3rd Floor, you will forever hold a place in my heart.

The family, together at last. Notice the American Gothic interpretation going on on the far left.

I learned how to cook things I never dreamed I'd ever be able to make. I discovered how few clothes I really need.  Although I didn't think it possible, I became even more independent. I figured out a several things about what I want to do with my life.

Hint: It does not include sitting at a desk day in and day out.

I came to understand a culture very different from our own. I picked up some admittedly limited Danish.  I became  much more outgoing. And organized. And I made some of the best friends I could ever hope to have.

'Where's the party?' 'It's at A Bar.' 'Yeah I know. But which one?'

Studenterhuset. So glad we barely benefited from your presence.

Stay tuned for further musings, reflections, and venting of reverse culture shock. 

To Be Or Not To Be

No trip to Denmark would be complete without a stop at Hamlet's castle, also know as Kronborg Castle, began life as a fortress called Krogen in 1420. Its position along the sound between Sjaelland and Sweden allowed the Danish kings to exact tolls from all ships passing through. Frederik II renovated it into a Renaissance castle which then proceeded to burn down. Christian IV, when he wasn't too busy being totally awesome all over the country rebuilt the castle into what it is today.


Some fun trivia: The cannons on the rear battlements of the castle are the oldest in Denmark, and are still used on special occasions.

These cannons.

They are so powerful that windows behind them have to be opened when they are fired, otherwise the shock waves would shatter them.


Shakespeare never actually went to Helsingør, but rather relied descriptions of the castle brought back by Christian IV's theater troupe, who he was acquainted with. Elsinore, the name of Hamlet's castle in the play is derived from  Helsingør, the town where Kronborg is located.


The location of this castle is quite simply phenomenal. Luckily, by sheer dumb luck I got a perfect day for my trip- sunny and brisk, but not quite mind-numbingly cold. The waterfront was gorgeous, the lighting as is always the case in these northern latitudes was almost sickeningly perfect, illuminating the most minute details of everything.

A bird was here.

Frost in the grass.

Christmas decor. Sorry to subject you to these artsy shots of mine, but I like them.

Ice crusted rocks along the water.

Hej Hamlet. Just look at that southern lighting.

Sunset. At 15:00.

She's Back

Yes, the Little Mermaid has finally been returned to her post on the harbor. Now that I actually have the luxury of time on my hands, I was able to go on a nice long bike ride yesterday, and naturally she was one of the stops. This trip took me down towards Parliament, along the harbor, down to Kastellet where the Little Mermaid is situated, and then back up though the Jul Marked in Nyhavn.

Looking down the waterfront.

This chap s also guarding the harbor.

There she is. Finally.

People take their Jul very seriously here.

 One of the Danes I've met here told me a story about the Little Mermaid. An American couple stopped him one day as he was walking near the park where it's located to ask him where they could find the statue. They had assumed it would be very easy to find. After he pointed them in the right direction, they proceeded to ask him what the hours for the restaurant were. Confused, he asked what they were talking about. "The restaurant in the Mermaid," they replied.


Sadly, that is apparently not an isolated incident. So please, Americans, be advised that the Little Mermaid is in fact little- roughly life sized. 

Oh, and I went to a dedicated Lego store. I was in heaven.