The Copenhagen Experience

CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR…

Denmark.  Lured by a cheap EasyJet flight –  (this is usually our plan of attack in deciding where our next vacation will be) – we set off to Copenhagen. What better way to get in the Christmas mood than to go to the country that is one of the “European champions to cultivate and produce Christmas trees”, selling on average 10 million Christmas trees? (Source:  Copenhagennet.DK )

If you’re feeling like Scrooge and need to get into the Christmas spirit, look no further.. The feeling of Christmas is everywhere in Copenhagen in December – Christmas markets, green garland hanging from the street lamps, Carolers, even a brass band whose trumpets and trombone sounds echoed through the streets with traditional Christmas music.  If that wasn’t enough, there’s also an amazing Danish concoction called Glogg , a classic Scandinavian spiced wine punch.  It was hot,  alcoholic, warming to the stomach and rejuvenating, prepared me to step back outside into the cold, crisp air, and tackle another long walk through Copenhagen.

Our itinerary was open and carefree. The only plan was to go on a long city walking tour –self guided and to stop in some good beer spots along the way….

COLD CITY WITH WARM PEOPLE

If you look at a globe, Denmark is up there in that northern section. Cold weather is very normal.  As a child, I loved the snow and the cold air. Sadly I’ve grown up and become a wimp.  There are many nights when it gets dark early and a voice repeatedly tells me to go home and stay inside.  Snuggle up underneath a comfortable, blanket and drink a glass of something warm.

During the month of December in Copenhagen, it is light out for an average of 7 hours of the day.  You’d expect people would hear that same voice I do on these cold, short days. Wrong. The city was alive! Cold weather, rain, sleet and snow doesn’t stop the residents of Copenhagen from getting outside and doing things.  I felt joyful seeing the children all wrapped up in snow suits.  They were not out to ski or play in the snow. They were out to go to dinner, go shopping,  or walk around the city.  But snow suits were the norm. And I loved it. Magical. It reminded me that I was truly in another country.

CYCLING IN SNOW – WHY NOT?

The other piece of Copenhagen that truly got to me were all the people cycling.   Copenhagen is known as “one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the world” (Source: Wikipedia) Architects clearly designed the city with bicycles in mind. There are bicycle lanes that are completely separate from the car traffic.  During my brief time there, I observed a very civil and law-abiding system among the cyclists, who all seemed to respect one another. Friends would ride side by side on their bikes as they progressed through the tourist part of town.  Mothers had some sort of contraption hooked up to the front of their bicycles that formed a wheeled cart where their children could sit and enjoy the ride as the parents pedaled through the streets. There are blankets in that contraptionand it even has a plastic tent-like covering that protects them from the rain or snow. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Fascinating!  There are cities that feel unsafe for cyclists, but Denmark was exactly the opposite.  It felt safe and magnificent. No loud noise, traffic or pollution everywhere either.

THE POWER OF LANGUAGE

Tired and staring off into space at the airport as we waited to fly back to London, I didn’t even notice that I was the next person in line at the souvenir store.  In Danish, the cashier spoke to me and asked me if I was ready to pay.  When I didn’t answer him, he automatically switched to English, and then apologized, saying, “We never know whether to start off in English or Danish.” I couldn’t believe he apologized – of course he should start off in Danish. We were in Denmark!  Everyone we spoke to and met could easily switch back and forth between languages without even pausing to think about it. The US has a major problem here. Regardless of whether or not English may be the  “universal language”, fluency in another language should be mandatory at an early age, especially when you’re young and soaking everything up around you.

QUALITY OF LIFE

There are many advantages of living in a city versus living in the country, and equally just as many disadvantages.  But for me, Copenhagen seemed to have it all. Now, am I really the person to judge? Maybe not. I only spent 48 hours there. There’s still a lot I have to learn. But at first impression, I couldn’t have been more impressed on the livability factor. And I can’t wait to go back.

Ideally, I’ll be back when it’s a little warmer,  the days are 12 hours long, and I can cycle around the canals, across the bridges, and through the entire city in my separate, spacious bicycle lane.

I will definitely be looking out for another cheap EasyJet flight to Copenhagen in 2013!