Last Stop Copenhagen

Copenhagen, oh how we love you. It was a great last destination. We were all a little overwhelmed with the dark history in Berlin, we needed a pick me up. What better place then the happiest place on earth? They even have a #happywall

Seven Reasons to Love Copenhagen and the Danes

1. Hygge (pronounced hooga)

• Translated loosely to coziness
• Often associated with good food and drinks with people you love
• Although the definition of Fika is different, it seems the Swedes and the Danes are striving for the same feeling.
• The number one reason I think Kelly is a true Dane. She is always striving for hygge with the house, with parties, with everything.

Here are a couple of the times in CPH I think we experienced hygge.

At this hygge moment, Kelly and Johan finally had a very much missed IPA. Berlin and CPH are more of lager cities.

2. People

• I mentioned Denmark is the happiest place on earth, so the people are pretty fantastic.

Meet Mike, our CPH bike tour guide. He loved his city and loved his people. And the feeling was very contagious. We all ended the tour with a fond adoration and respect for the Danish people.

For one, the following picture is of Mike encouraging us to take a break to experience the CPH city center.
Yes, I said city center. Geographically, this beautiful park was the center of town. Across the water you should vaguely be able to see a beach. That beach is a part of a little neighborhood called Christiania. We were not allowed to take pictures in it, but it was quite the experience. It is a little hippie sect that has supposedly stayed exactly the same since 1969.
More about the people. Mandy and Johan love to collect a piece of art from every city they visit. In CPH, not only did they find a really cool piece, they were able to meet the artist. It was at a local shop called "Bob Moon."


Danish people value education. They value it to such an extent that they invest in the future of any of their youth that decide to go to college. No tuition fees and living expenses included. Here is one of their university dorms.
Yes, their taxes are very high. But according to our trusty tour guide Mike, over 80% of Danes think what they use it for is worth it. Interesting...

Finally, the Danish people legitimately have half women in government positions. And at this time, both the Prime Minister and the Supreme Court justice are both women. There is a true partnership.

Below is the Parliament building. It is like a combination of the U.S. Capital building and the White House.
Take a close look at the absence of security and fences. We were in the courtyard of this very important building. We could even have entered to have a meal under the clock tower at the second location of the world renowned new Nordic restaurant "noma."
3. Strive for sustainability

This technically could be classified under the "people" category, but it felt to big to not get it's own section.

Thru the trees in the picture below, you can see part of a hotel and one wind turbine. The hotel is totally CO2 and wind energy efficient. Additionally, the guests of the hotel can take their turn on bikes to help return some of the energy they have used. You kind of get to be a mouse on a wheel. The wind turbine is one of many scattered across all of Denmark.

Sustainability Facts from Mike

• 1 of every 4 wind turbines comes from Denmark
• 50% of energy comes from wind
• by 2020, they plan to be 100% wind energy and 100% cars running on CO2
• 60% of the population commutes via bicycle

4. Dessert... Of course. We went to the #1 bakery in Europe. The named translated to "layered cake."

5. Style

Everywhere we went, we were impressed by the architecture of the buildings inside and out.


The buildings really did seem straight from the fairy tale stories.

And, oh the dishes and glassware. They even put Hill Glassware to shame. Kelly was in heaven, oh the possibilities.

They even create their own beach oasis on their city river. This is style...
Have we convinced you that you need to visit yet? Quick book a flight pronto.

Need a couple more reasons.

6. Brunch
- Although it did not include the long awaited and ever evasive æbleskivers. Forrest, you really got our hopes up that they would be on every corner at every restaurant. Now, we are going to need even more at the condo this year to make up for it. And, we might have to plan a Denmark Christmas trip.
7. Dane vs Swede jabs
The Danes took every opportunity to tease the Swede. Everywhere we went: restaurants, bike tour, even the airport. These three Americans thought it was the greatest part of the trip.

But at least our apartment neighbors understood his pain.
But now, all good things must come to an end. It was a fantastic trip with fantastic people.

Thanks everyone for joining us on our adventure. We enjoyed it and hope we were able to make you enjoy it as well.

Tack!

Danka!

Tak!

Thank you!

Till the next adventure...