Week #2

Wednesday, July 31:

COPENHAGEN!  Finally.  I am in love with this city.  

Today was jam packed with activities.  We were able to drive in to the city and park at my dad's work (which used to be the Danish company Danisco but just recently got bought by DuPont... ironic because that company is based in Delaware.)  We met his colleague Charlotte who showed us around the building.  We then walked to Nyhavn, the classic landmark in Copenhagen with all the colorful buildings along the harbor.  It was surreal actually standing there after seeing so many pictures.  We went to see the changing of the guards at Amalienborg Slot (where the royal family lives) which is right next to a beautiful marble dome church called Marmokirken.  We met up with Nigel and Fiona at the Little Mermaid statue, another great landmark in Copenhagen.  Swarms of people were crowded around her, which made it difficult to get a picture, but it had to be done.  We walked past Gefionspringvandet (which means Gefion fountain) on our way to lunch, where we had Denmark's famous smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches.)  After, we got traditional Danish pastries which were DELICIOUS.  The best pastry I have ever had.  My sweet tooth will be dangerous here.  We of course had to go to A.C. Perch's Thehandal, a very old traditional tea store that has not changed since 1835 - the oldest tea store in Europe.  I love tea.  I tried their best selling tea (white temple) across the street yum.  We walked down Strøget, Europe's longest pedestrian shopping street,  saw the Hans Christian Andersen statue, found a Scottish Pub, walked through the back streets to find my DIS building on Vestergade, and then drove home in time to watch the Celtic soccer game on the computer.   Good day.  

Nyhavn

The Little Mermaid

Danishes!

Tea House

Hans Christian Andersen

DIS

Thursday, August 1:

Since yesterday was so hectic and exciting, today was slower than usual.  We took an audio tour of Frederiksborg Slot.  I think this is my favorite castle.  We also walked around the castle garden which was french-inspired and really pretty.  We then drove to the Louisiana Modern Art Museum and spent a couple hours walking around.  The two things things we did today were very juxtaposed.  

Frederiksborg Slot

Meeting the Queen of Denmark

Louisiana Modern Art Museum

Friday, August 2:

We went into Copenhagen again today because there is so much to do in the city.  This time, we borrowed 4 bikes from DuPont and Charlotte which was awesome experiencing the bike highways!  I'm definitely getting a bike for the semester.   We rode through Nyhavn and saw where Hans Christian Andersen lived, up past the Little Mermaid to the harbor, to the barracks, then the King's Garden and Botanical Gardens.  I love how everyone was laying out on the lawns soaking up the sun - I will definitely be spending my sunny days there.  We returned our bikes at 4, and continued on foot back to Nyhavn for a beer on the side of the harbor just like the locals.  Since it was Friday afternoon, the harbor was really hip and happening.  We walked through Slotsholmen, the government center of Denmark which has remained the center since the Middle Ages.  All of our feet were hurting from so much walking, so we figured ice cream might take our minds off things.  We ended up getting the best ice cream EVER ugh it was so good.  I got coconut and hazelnut.  On top, we each had a traditional Danish flødeboller - a delicious chocolate covered fluffy marshmallow with a cone base.  While eating the ice cream, we walked through Christiania.  I don't even know how to describe this area of Copenhagen.  It's pretty much a huge hippie squatters town where drugs are legal.  Yeah.  When we went home, there was a Karlebo Sommerfest right across the street with a DJ and beer which was a good time.

The King's Garden Castle

Biking to the harbor

Nyhavn

Delicious ice cream

Saturday, August 3:

Today was one of the best days so far.  We started out by seeing the Frilandsmuseet (Open Air Museum) which is an area in Lyngby featuring more than 100 buildings from rural environments and dating from 1650-1950.  All buildings are original and have been moved piece by piece from their original location.  Then we headed over to the Carlsberg brewery.  Tickets included 2 free beers, a walk around the original brewery, and the world's largest collection of beer bottles.  For the rest of the afternoon/evening, we visit Charlotte and her family for a tour around their town South of Copenhagen, as well as a delicious dinner with smørrebrøds from a store that has been making them since the 1800s.  Charlotte also made the classic Danish dessert rød grød med fløde, which is the big joke to ask non-danes to pronounce it.  I failed miserably.  It was a really great night of talking and eating, and I now have a contact Cecilie while I'm here in Copenhagen.  

Filandsmuseet

Carlsberg Brewery

World's largest beer bottle collection

Smørrebrøds

Sunday, August 4:

This morning, we went back to the Karlebo Sommerfest for an all-you-can-eat herring breakfast (brunch in our case), walked around the little stalls, and watched the local soccer tournament going on.  We biked around our neighborhood and then to Nina's Natur Cafe (where Karen works - the daughter who lives here.)  They had a whole cake buffet!!!!  It was hard to restrain myself to one piece it was so good.  We took a little rest at home, then drove to Bakken, the first amusement park in the world!  It was really fun soaking up the atmosphere.  We of course had to go on at least one ride, so we picked a roller coaster as a family.  Then Shona and I went on this crazy twisty turny ride "Extreme" that was so much fun.  I don't even remember the last time I went on rides but I absolutely love them.  We came home for dinner and to pack for our 6 hour drive up the coast of Sweden to Oslo, Norway!

Herring Buffet

Cafe

Bakken

"Extreme" ride

Monday, August 5:

NORWAY!  Today we drove to Oslo, Norway with some stops in Sweden along the way.  The trip took us 7 hours driving alone.  We drove over the Øresundsbroen (Øresund bridge) which is a 12 km bridge/tunnel combination connecting Denmark and Sweden.  It's the world's longest single bridge!  It doesn't come cheap though... the toll was around $40 USD one way.  In Sweden, we stopped in Malmö and Göteborg.  We finally reached Oslo around 10pm and called it a night.

Øresundsbroen

Malmö

Lilla Torg, Malmö

Tuesday, August 6:

Today was rainy, but we made the most of touring Oslo.  We stepped inside the Oslo Rådhus, where the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies take place.  Right across the street is the Nobel Peace Center which was really inspirational.  We then walked to the Norwegian Resistance Museum and learned all about WWII from Norway's perspective.  Today's two main events were also very juxtaposed - peace vs war.  We also went to the Opera House just as the sun decided to come out.  Shortly after, the clouds came back as we walked down Karl Johans gate, the main street in Oslo.  At the end of the street is the Palace, then we grabbed some dinner at a little Norwegian Cafe and had Norwegian meat cakes.  

Oslo Rådhus

Nobel Peace Center

Resistance Museum

Opera House

Wednesday, August 7:

We took a few stops outside of Oslo's city center before heading home today.  First, we went to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump which was SO COOL.  It's the world's most modern ski jump updated in 2010, but they have been using this location as a ski jump since 1892.  It's also the world's only steel ski jump.  We spent time walking around the museum and went up the tower, then came across this massive troll statue.  Gustav Vigeland's Sculpture Park at Frogner was our next stop.  This is Oslo's #1 attraction, and rightly so.  After 3 hours of driving, we made it to Boras, Sweden to watch the Elfsborg vs Celtic Champions League qualifier game!!!!  So much fun even though the game ended scoreless.  This still means that Celtic goes through to the next round woooo.  Another 3 hour drive later, plus a ferry, we got home around 2am.  Tomorrow is our last day in the home exchange house before we leave for our week in Germany!!!  Bittersweet.  

Top of the Ski Jump

Does not do it's size justice

Sculpture Park

Georgios Samaras!! Celtic vs Elfsborg