pictured: ghost-like wind turbines i the sea between sweden and denmark
first off, don't let the title of this blog give you the wrong feeling about copenhagen. it's a really nice place and it is expensive - but no more than anywhere in sweden. the title of this blog is much more personal than copenhagen itself. it just happens to be a place where alex and i can't help but spend money on all the wrong things.
pictured: alex next to big building
it all started many months ago when a train ticket was purchased, by me, via the internet. i made a booking, thinking it was the cheapest deal (or at least the nicest option) and i was gypped - hard core. not only did i pay three times the amount (for a SJ ticket - comparable to amtrak) compared to what i later discovered was the local rail system (comparable, no nicer than, but kind of like the LIRR), but the train i booked via SJ's website was the local rail anyway! that's right, i paid more and ended up taking the cheap train anyway (SJ didn't stop in kristianstad). WTF. i was pissed. but whatever. money down the drain.
after my bitterness was left in sweden we quickly arrived (via crazy long bridge) into the different, yet similiar, country of denmark. red instead of blue, multicultural instead of white, bike sidewalks instead of bike lanes, copenhagen so far seems more like berlin than stockholm (minus the steep prices, similar language, love for coffee, and odd graduation traditions).
pictured: a typical street // funny color // port hole window
yesterday we spent the day wandering around - seeing what the neighborhoods have to offer and where the worst food could be found. the latter unfortunately was another of those money wasters. after forgetting how late it was, since the sun was still out (we have become so dependent on our wwoof hosts to tell us when dinner is), we went looking for a bit to eat, a bit too late. most restaurants were closed, or nearly closed, and one was kind enough to cook us a take away meal within minutes to closure. all i have to say is - thai food gone wrong (think chunks of meaty grossness) = waste of money + hunger. sad sad. we at yogurt and plain rice instead.
but today was a good day. the weather was almost perfect and we did a lot.
pictured: tivoli's swing ride
first up was tivoli gardens for a little amusement. one of the oldest amusement parks in the world, tivoli is historically fun. alex and i bought ourselves some pricey multi-ride wrist bands and set off to get our money's worth. we drove boats, sat in scary swings, and got sneezed on by a giant animatronic. it was pretty cool. different than disney because they've preserved lots of old rides and arcades, but also different because it wasn't as imaginative (at least compared to the disney i grew up with). nonetheless it was fun. especially when we saw some man rebating thrown away cups for 5 dkk (just insert the cup into a deposit machine and out drops the moola), which is worth nearly a dollar. we trash dived 3 cups for fun and then called it quits after reading a sign that said doing so was forbidden. oops.
pictured: where's alex? // me and #4
and then we wandered some more and ran into MANY graduation trucks. tradition in both sweden and denmark, these truck/trailor/van type vehicles are decorated with banners and sometimes vines. the backs are always open, so as to allow young graduates to drink themselves silly whilst screaming, waving, and blowing fog horns as they are driven around town by the honking vehicle. it's weird. people, complete strangers, wake and smile in the streets as though they are remembering the good ol'days of being footloose and fancy free. oh, and graduates in both countries don't wear the same garb as back home. instead they wear whatever they want - so long as it's white and a sailor's cap which is their graduation cap. it makes the whole ordeal that much more weird.
pictured: crazy kids
eventually we arrived at our destination of christiana - a city/village within copenhagen that has its own laws and unique style. it's a pretty neat place because people seem relaxed and carefree (probably because beer flows like water and marijuana is tolerated - and even sold in a farmer's market setting) and the buildings and playgrounds are all armature-built. and we ate at some hippie-vegetarian restaurant that was pretty good. i would have liked to take some pictures to share with you all, but it's one of the few rules in christiana that no pictures are allowed (at least in the main areas we were in). so below are some images i swiped from google to give you an idea.
pictured: google image of christiana house
then we wandered on back into the main city with our hearts set on ice cream and more food. we got both (and both were organic). i have to say i sort of liked the ice cream more than the food, but the food was okay too. we ended up eating at a place called biomio. unfortunately the fish option looked way tastier, bigger, and prettier than any of the other options. and for dessert we have a strawberry shortcake type thing that was soaked (really, soaked) in alcohol, so my sweet tooth wasn't quite satisfied. oh well.
pictured: biomio
back to wandering. and wandering. it's free and it's telling. copenhagen is a nice looking city with what i think is lots to discover.
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