Travel Whim: Kobenhavn, Denmark

I just came back from my first European excursion to Kobenhavn, Denmark and had an amazing time.  I spent 8 days touring buildings with architecture students, and saw some of the most beautiful designs. The Danish people live in small spaces (hence, Ikea) and take pride in their modern living spaces. Women hold many of the top jobs- thus marriage and having babies don’t top their to-do list. As a result, the birth rate in Copenhagen is considered “dangerously low.”

The country provides social programs such as free medical care and college tuition. Yes, free tuition, housing and a $1000/month stipend! Danish people don’t seem to worry too much about money, which is probably why they are considered the happiest people in the world. They love to shop, eat at cafes and travel. They appear genuine, less intrusive than Southerners (groan away, its the truth!) and were glad to help if one of us needed directions.

Most importantly, even the immigrant neighborhoods appeared suitable for living. Subsidized housing is required in many of the ritzy condos and apartments and  unemployment is only around 1%. Compared to my hometown, Kobenhavn is the Taj Mahal.

LET’S EAT!

I ate, A LOT. Danish food was better than I expected. Smorrebrod (open sandwiches) are delicious! They are often topped with fresh fish, meat, caviar, greens, eggs and even fruit.  Some of my other obsessions: Belgian waffles, Turborg beer (in the morning) and almond cake.

Contrary to Ikea’s frozen food section, Scandinavians don’t just eat salty fish and bread. The city has a juxtapose of immigrants from Poland, East Africa, Italy, and China so there were countless dishes to choose from.

Cycling Superhighway

Nearly 55 percent of people in Copenhagen use biking as their means of transportation. The Danish government is big on clean air and green energy using wind power to produce 50% of the country’s energy as a result of global warming; which they started tackling in the 80s. The government discourages driving with high gas prices. It was somewhere around $8 per gallon during my stay but I was only in a car twice- to and from the airport.

But unlike many American cities that don’t accommodate bikers, here cyclists have their own lanes, which include traffic lights at busy intersections and even designated turning lanes. These are necessary because just like in cars- traffic on the bike lanes occur during the early mornings.

IF YOU BUILD IT…

If you are a design buff, than Kobehnhavn is the place to go. Many of the tourists were design and/or architecture students, professors and investors. Some of the biggest name in architecture are Danish, including Bjarke Ingels (BIG), whose designs include the 8 House, a three-dimensional housing block that connects by a continuous walking and bike path from the bottom to the 10th floor. Its amazing to see in person.

View of the 8 House from the top

“An alley of 150 rowhouses stretches through the entire block and twists all the way from street level to the top and down again. Where social life, the spontaneous encounter and neighbor interaction traditionally is restricted to the ground level, the 8 House allows it to expand all the way to the top,” -Bjarke Ingels of the 8 House

I end with a drunk Danish man (or maybe he was just really, really happy) dancing during the Midsummer Eve Festival. No beer glasses were thrown during the making of this clip, although we were told this is common when Danes get drunk.