The Final Weeks in Denmark

So while I have finally caught up with all my blogs about traveling through Europe, I have neglected Denmark. And obviously I can't write about every day, not only because of the length but I can't remember nearly everything. And yes this entire blog site was supposed to focus on Denmark but I hope my pictures, video, and scrapbook can do it justice instead.

So for my final update about my time in Copenhagen there were a few big/interesting things I did and experienced:

Canal Tour, April 21st:

See there are modern buildings in Europe.

With my study abroad program DIS, you could join a program called the Buddy Network. Basically you get to hang out, meet, and become friends with Danes your age because that's not such an easy feat. It was a great decision to join and I'm glad Liz was invited into our group/got to join a network, ha. Anyways on this event we took a canal tour in Copenhagen combined with multiple Buddy Networks. It was a gorgeous view and they narrated what we passed by altho I couldn't hear the leader. But on a side note, they hired drag queens to be the ship attendants and pass out snacks and drinks. Afterwards we grabbed dinner, a bottle of wine, and headed to Kulor bar to celebrate the bar's birthday. They had free drinks at the bar!

Liz and I on the canal tour!

The Hunger Games, April 25th:
I'm sure your wondering what the hell I would have to say about this, but it was the only movie I saw in Denmark at a theater. Now it was in English with Danish subtitles. Well Liz and I eventually figured out how to get our tickets and the movie begin. I remember being overwhelmed in the movie by all the English. I wasn't used to being able to understand everything again. This happened again in Ireland when the Disney channel was on in English. But it's safe to say my ears and brain are used to English again.

Danish Labor Day, May 1st:
The Danes take celebrating their labor day to a new level. Unfortunately I had a class presentation I could not skip and work, but I got to show up at the tail end of the celebrations. Basically the Danes take full advantage of their open containers laws and if the weather is right, they go to a park and drink and socialize with friends. There are even some performances and the park is jammed packed. Well after I found the park by following drunk Danes in the wrong direction for awhile, I showed up and saw a lot of sunburnt danes who were falling over, peeing in the street, and eating food off the ground. Wow. All of this was a sight in and of itself, there were even portable urinals set up, apparently the government was prepared for this. And the homeless got a shit load of cans and bottles to recycle.I was just there for about an hour with friends and watching all the crazy people, but around dinner time everyone started to leave. Day drinking had taken it's toll on the Danes.

This is how the Danes do labor day.

Now getting home was a story in itself and extreme struggle. Usually it would take me about 25minutes to get home, not today. It was over 2.5 hours. First I got to sit at Osterport train station for over 40 minuets waiting for a freakin train. When everyone finally got on it, we had to sit on the aisle floors because it was so filled. From there the train didn't just go, it stopped and started way too many times for way to long. Finally I got to Klampenborg Station where the train stopped for good. Now this happens on Denmark on a biweekly basis, I believe. But it was the first time I experienced it. Someone had committed suicide on the tracks. Well of course all the announcements were in Danish so I had to idea what was going on until I asked a young lady about the same age as me. She then proceeded to have a morbid conversation on what's the best way to commit suicide. Anyways, busses were sent to take us to the next working train station, thankfully my own: Rungsted Kyst. It took forever for the busses to appear and they were so packed that I didn't get on the first round of busses. 

Carlsberg Brewery, May 9th:

All unopened bottles from around the world.

This morning Chris and I headed to the Carlsberg Brewery. Now Carlsberg is Denmark's pride and joy and it's pretty big within Europe. If you find it in America, please buy it and invite me over, thanks. Anyways it was cool to see all the old beer bottles and how they use to transport the beer with big horses from Western Denmark (Jutland). If you ever see Elephant statues or things around Copenhagen it's because of Carlsberg. Also, Carlsberg has been through many logos and mottos. One logo used to be a slightly changed version of the swastika. One motto used to be "Probably the best beer in the world." The Danes are modest people. Anyways we got two free beers at the end of our self guided tour before heading to the International Businness program social for more beer and dinner.

Did I mention that they have a play ground too?

Tivoli and Medina, May 11th:
Now this might be my number one recommendation to do in Denmark, but of course I've already written about this. This amusement park is gorgeous and amazing! What I didn't already say about this is that there is this one ride that is 4Gs and it might be the most intense ride I have ever been on. It's called Vertigo and is a flight stimulation as it goes in big circles at high speeds. This line was probably over an hour long wait, not because it was super busy. But because only one plane was working and then there were technical issues with the one that was working. So Laura and I were the second group to ride it after it was fixed and I was a little hesitant. I think I screamed the entire time and the Danish guys next to us did not like that, well suck it. Anyways when trying to get off the ride we were stumbling and my face was permanently pushed back. It was intense.

Holy cow it goes fast.

Medina, Medina, Welcome to Medina!

Tivoli also does concerts on Fridays that are free if you get in before a certain time, and the day I was there was Medina! She is super popular is basically the Lady Gaga of Denmark. There were young and old people all around, people drinking 10kr beer (~2$), and of course the gorgeous lights of Tivoli shown at night. The concert was amazing, although it was quite cold. Now I don't know if it's just the family atmosphere of Tivoli or what, but the Danes don't sing along or dance. Well we did.

DIS Picnic, May 13th:
It took until this date for me to finally get completely lost in Copenhagen. But first the picnic was a great time because we got to visit with friends and their families but also see the beach and enjoy our last times together as the semester wound down. I intended to leave the picnic and head to the Black Diamond (a library) to study for finals. I took the metro to get close to the library, but upon leaving the metro station I took the wrong turn. I thought and should have been able to recognize the area when I was close to the library, but when I saw the scenic Nyhavn (colorful houses on the harbor) I should have stopped and turned around. OR at least taken out my map. Nope I continued walking until I was sure I went the wrong way and finally stopped at a bus stop. I waited there for at least 20 minutes, but no bus showed up and I have no idea why. Anyways I ended up at the Osterport Train Station, about 1.6 kilometers of being lost. Anyways I didn't feel nervous, instead I got to enjoy the views, ruin my boots some more, and avoid the library. So I ended up studying a home. But I redeemed myself and made it to the Black Diamond a few days later. Success.

A hot dog cart getting pulled down the road, that's what I saw.

Botanical Gardens, May 14th:
So I decided to head into the city early before work and walk through the botanical gardens literately right next to our favorite Norreport Station. It was really pretty and it reinforced my obsession with flowers. I probably looked like a goofball taking a picture of everything, but that's alright.

These flowers are actual tiny.

Roskilde and Tourist Activities, May 15th:
This was only the second time I spent the whole day or large amount of the day being a tourist. And this time I was alone for a large amount of it. Now Roskilde is on the top tier of my recommendations for Denmark. It's one of my 3 favorite buildings in Europe. Before stopping at this cathedral I went into Tiger, a local shop that sells the most random things and I got some free stickers there, score! Now I thought the cathedral was amazing from the outside... and then I went inside. Wow, all I can say is holy moly, oh my gosh. Gorgeous. Beautiful stained glassed windows and adornments, and many royals are buried there and their coffins are beautiful.

Roskilde Cathedral

Some royals.

Just part of the inside.

I thought they would be bigger.

Next on the stop was the Viking Museum that is based on the fjord in the town of Roskilde. While I enjoyed my lunch on a bench and watched some Danes move a viking ship, I didn't actually go in and pay for the museum, which if you know me at all is completely normal. Not a big museum fan and I'm way too cheap to spend money on old stuff. Anyways I did walk around some cool reconstructions of the ships. All in all, Roskilde was great, there were so many gorgeous flowers and I'm sad I didn't charge my camera before I came. Another thing about Roskilde is that all the doors, like normal looking but fancy house doors were automatic. So they would swing open when you got close... I also saw a biker signaling in a roundabout, idk where he thought he was going... it's a circle.

For the afternoon I meet Chris in Copenhagen and we headed to the harbor to check out some trampolines that were put in the ground! We also went to a public microphone where you shout out anything and people choose if they agree with you or not by standing in the appropriate circle painted on the ground, called a Speaker Box, google it. Next was the main even, riding a water bus. We had to do this since our transportation passes covered it. Well it was super slow and we got off at the next stop because we didn't want to have a long wait again to catch one back.

They only come out when the weather is nice.

"I've got my sunglasses on"

The last part of my day was taking advantage of the blue skies and climbing the Church of Our Savior spire! It was really curvy and awesome view of the city. Again it's on the top of my Denmark list of things to see and do. Thanks again Chris for letting me borrow your camera.

Seriously, go.

Distortion, May 30th:

Distortion = Amazing

After traveling through Spain, Portugal and Ireland, Liz and I arrived back in Copenhagen at the best time. Just in time for Distortion! It is a street party that takes place in a different area of Copenhagen each evening and night (called the bros). Before I get to that experience though, there were a few struggles. I found my hostel no problem, but I wanted to make the most out of my bus pass and take a bus closer to DIS instead of a 20 minute walk. Well when the bus finally came it didn't go on it's normal route because of the street party, so I ended up walking anyways. After that waste of time, I finally meet Liz at DIS to pickup my suitcase and grab some food. Rolling my suitcase through crowds of people was a little awkward but we finally made it to a bus where we snuck pass the driver without really showing our expired bus passes. Well again the routes were screwed up and we went to far and ended up walking more. That's what we get for being lazy.

Anyways we finally got everything to the hostel and got ready before heading out to Distortion and picking up some wine. Now the street party was located in the heart of Copenhagen where I spent most of my time throughout the semester. Never have I seen the streets so packed with people. DJ's were set up in the street, rave music blaring, people dancing, and the public urinals made their appearance again. Liz and I even saw our oldest host brother Johan walking down the street. He said the next nights party would be the best but unfortunately I had to be up at 4am the next day to catch a flight back home.  Eventually we meet some Danish friends and enjoyed the last of Distortion before heading to good ol Billy Booze for our final time.

All in all, my last few weeks in Denmark were jammed packed and I would do it all over again. Vi ses Denmark (see you later).