København

3
Written by Graham

or Köpenhamn in svenska or the more recognizable Copenhagen in engleska.  Pronounced shep-en-hen literally translated the name means “buy harbour”.

Last Friday night we flew down to Copenhagen to spend the weekend checking out the city.  It’s a little late in the season for “touristing”, but since Catherine was going to a conference in Odense on Monday her airfare was paid for so it made sense to take advantage of the opportunity.

It was interesting to see Stockholm one weekend and Copenhagen the next to compare them especially as the Swedes and Danes have a long-standing friendly rivalry.  I’ll probably get in some trouble for saying it, but Copenhagen seems to be the city that Stockholm is trying to be.  Both are great places that appear highly livable but Copenhagen is just a little more stylish, cosmopolitan, grand, and hip therefore I fit in better in Stockholm…

We definitely came home lighter in the wallet as you really pay for the good life in Copenhagen. But we made up for the lost Kronor-weight with some good eating weight; I’ve got a serious self control problem when there is bacon at the breakfast buffet (some of you have been unfortunate enough to witness this first hand) and Catherine had desire for crazy-ass-nothing-but-butter-sugar-and-whip cream-cake for lunch (twice!)

So as to not get all long-winded like some of my last posts I think I’ll let the pictures say their thousand words.

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Gammel Torv (Old Square)
City hall, 1m shorter than Stockholm's. Guess which was built first?
City hall, 1m shorter than Stockholm's. Guess which was built first?
Jorks Passage
Jorks Passage
Canadian Embassy right beside the H&M. Nice to see the Maple Leaf again.
Canadian Embassy right beside the H&M. Nice to see the Maple Leaf again.
Changing of the Guard. They go right through the heart of town with their own band.
Changing of the Guard. They go right through the heart of town with their own band.
One of the lakes surrounding the inner city which were the moat in Medieval times. Now cannal boats show torists the city by traveling from lake to lake. Note the low clearance under the bridge; the boats are fat and low deigned to just fit under the bridges.
One of the lakes surrounding the inner city which were the moat in Medieval times. Now cannal boats show torists the city by traveling from lake to lake. Note the low clearance under the bridge; the boats are fat and low deigned to just fit under the bridges.
Inderhaven canal. Note the toppled bike - unfortunately we saw the aftermath of many acts of petty vandalism, generally knocked over bikes, broken potted plants and graffity on public art.
Inderhaven canal. Note the toppled bike - unfortunately we saw the aftermath of many acts of petty vandalism, generally knocked over bikes, broken potted plants and graffity on public art.
Most of the trees still had their leaves. It felt a lot more like the October weather that we are used to in Vancouver. About 10C each day with rain or a thread there of.
Most of the trees still had their leaves. It felt a lot more like the October weather that we are used to in Vancouver. About 10C each day with rain or a threat there of.
Ørstens Parken
Ørstens Parken
Botanical gardens. The floating teathered half spheres were public art that would float around the pond pushed by the wind.
Botanical gardens. The floating teathered half spheres were public art that would float around the pond pushed by the wind.
There are bikes and bike parking lots everywhere. Copenhagen may be the worlds most bike friendly city being compact, flat and with bike paths all over. 36% of residents commute to school or work by bike with a target of 50% by 2015. The massive use of bikes keeps the congestion of automobiles on the roads to a minimum even during rush hour periods.
There are bikes and bike parking lots everywhere. Copenhagen may be the worlds most bike friendly city being compact, flat and with bike paths all over. 36% of residents commute to school or work by bike with a target of 50% by 2015. Cumulatively 1.1 million kms are ridden by bike each day in Copenhagen. The massive use of bikes keeps the congestion of automobiles on the roads to a minimum even during rush hour periods.

Calorie-dense lunch at Le Glace
Calorie-dense lunch at Le Glace
Since there is very little Halowe'en in Scandinavia the Christmas crap is already on full display.
Since there is very little Halowe'en in Scandinavia the Christmas crap is already on full display.
Everyone's favourite Danish atomic physicist Niels Bohr.
Everyone's favourite Danish atomic physicist Niels Bohr.
Rodin's "Thinker" taking a dump at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.
Rodin's "Thinker" taking a dump at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.
Life imitates art
Life imitates art... literally.
Think safety when going out for a night on the town - look closely...
Think safety when going out for a night on the town - look closely...
Close up
Close up
What to do after a successful tennis career? I know, design mens underwear. Ads for Bjorn Borg underwear were all over the city.
What to do after a successful tennis career? I know, design mens underwear. Ads for Bjorn Borg underwear were all over the city.
Huge poster selling condos I think. Yes that is an actual full size sea kayak - not sure what that's about.
Huge poster selling condos I think. Yes that is an actual full size sea kayak - not sure what that's about.
Gotta love free (legal) public urination in Scandinavia.
Gotta love free (legal) public urination in Scandinavia.

3 Comments

  1. i kinda wish i had my own band. that would be rad… ok guys… now lets get the elizabeth is going to the bank melody… 🙂

    i like the treat pictures, and the life imitates art.

    i really like safety statue, RAD!

    Also graham is looking euro-chic in his public peeing pose. awww.

    also, thanks for the ongoing food shots, i love that!

    i love you both.
    hugs and snuggles from chi and i.
    xo

  2. Wow, the pictures tell quite a story: i love the Jorks Passage shot. Also, the parks and waterways there are beautiful – wonderful to see that kind of land-use throughout the city.

    The shot of Catherine with the statue is cool – looking even more Euro in the styling sister-there. And the one of Graham making horse-eyes at the pee station? Classic.

    Quite the take on Danish city and culture!

  3. Great pictures – the botanical gardens look so much like Vancouver!!!

    That cream looks wickedly delicious :)!

    The architecture is really beautiful – even in the dreary overcast weather.

Comments are closed.