I started my new job last Thursday, and so far so good! I will be teaching Year 2 (US equivalent of 1st grade) in a brand new school. There will only be three classes in the entire school! So very different from my last teaching position, where there were five classes in each year. I’m happy it’s a new school, as everyone is just starting, so I don’t have to worry about being the new girl. Everyone is incredibly friendly and helpful. This whole week is setup and training, with the kids starting next Tuesday. I am so excited and nervous at the same time! It should be a very challenging year, getting to know a whole new curriculum in a new country, but I’m grateful to have the opportunity to keep doing what I love. Now on to travels…
Copenhagen is less than a two hour flight from London. When we arrived in the evening it was a simple train ride to the center of the city. Our hotel was right in the center of the inner city. It was not posh by any means as Copenhagen is a very, very expensive city! That night we grabbed some hot dogs (a popular Danish cuisine) off a street vendor and enjoyed some Danish microbrews at a small bar (Cost = equivalent of $10 per pint!). The next morning we walked down the Strøge, which is the largest pedestrian street in the world. Tacky souvenir shops share the space with the likes of Gucci and big chain retailers. There are also tons of restaurants and the inevitable street performers. It was really nice to walk around and not worry about traffic.
Next we headed over to Christiania, which is a small separate 'free town' in the middle of Copenhagen. Squatters originally inhabited the area, eventually turning it into a haven for anti-government supporters. To most however, Christiania is famous for one thing: Marijuana. Although technically still illegal, the selling and smoking of marijuana is overlooked in this part of town. The vibe is funky and relaxed, definitely a cool place to check out whether or not you’re looking for drugs! Next we made our way to an old church where you could climb up its outside spiral tower and enjoy a view of the whole city. There was only one staircase so it was quite slow going as we had to often wait for people heading down. But once we made it outside, the view did not disappoint. The weather in Denmark in the middle of summer is cool and damp. By this point it had started to rain and it was quite an experience to be over 300 feet up, rain pouring down and signs all over telling you that you were up here at your own risk! We stayed just long enough to see the whole of Copenhagen and take a few pictures. We then walked to Amalienbor
That night after dinner, we decided to check out the city’s nightlife. Copenhagen has a reputation as a lively place after dark, and again it did not disappoint. Hundreds of young people were out and about enjoying the many bars, clubs, and live music venues. We had a few drinks at a few different spots and called it a night. It was quite a nice scene compared to London where most places close by midnight. Even the many 7-11’s (where I’ve seen no place else in Europe) were open late which came in handy when we stopped at one on our way back to the hotel for a midnight snack. The next morning we sampled some of the famous danishes and they were delicious! We then walked over to the National Museum where we saw exhibits of the early Danes, the Vikings, followed by lunch at one of the numerous outdoor cafes. Eating alfresco is very popular, even in the dead of winter. Thankfully the eateries provide heat lamps and blankets! Dan sampled another Danish dish, the smørrebrød, or open sandwich. Consisting of bread and fish, it was right up Dan’s alley. I had a coke. An $8 coke. Did I mention that Copenhagen was expensive?
Approximately 1/3 of the residents commute by bike, so we wanted to do as the Danes do, so we tried to find some of the city’s free bikes after lunch. But there were none to be found, so we settled for walking. We walked to Marble Church, a church that was built to rival St. Peters Basilica. We went to check out one of the city’s most famous attractions: The Little Mermaid. Hans Christian Anderson was a famous Copenhagen resident so they erected a bronze statue of the sea maiden as a tribute. The waterfront and park that contained the statue was very lovely. I was however unimpressed with the actual statue, it was rather small and unremarkable. We fought our way through the crowd, took a few snaps, and left. We then headed to the King’s Garden, a lovely square in the middle of the city with beautiful gardens. The park also holds Rosenborg Castle, a former royal residence, now a museum. The castle, which includes a moat, is what I dreamt castles looked like as a little girl. As the evening drew near, it was time to head home. I had a great time in this Scandinavian city, and I definitely recommend it for younger people who like the outdoors and going out at night.
My next blog will be about Portugal, our last scheduled trip! With school starting, it may be awhile before I have it up. Until then, enjoy our Copenhagen pics! Denmark
