Category Archives: Denmark

In April we went to Silkeborg to visit Lisbeth’s long-time friend Karina and her boyfriend Michael. Karina and Lisbeth met in “efterskole” which is a sort of boarding school which is pretty common for Danes to attend for a year at around age sixteen. (And in case you can’t tell, Karina and Michael are expecting their first child at the end of may.)

Silkeborg is perhaps best known for its natural beauty, but it was also where the Nazis choose to place their headquarters during the occupation. (Which is disturbing because thus far I’ve been quite charmed by both Nazi headquarters that I’ve visited: Berlin and Silkeborg.)

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On Sunday we decided to go for a walk around one of the lakes that separates Christianshavn from Amager. I suggested that we walk through Christiania, since it was on the way, and because it’s strange to me that we live so close to it but almost never go there.

We got there, and we could hear some singing on pusher street. This naturally made us curious, so we decided to walk by on our way to the lake. I was taking pictures of some of the sights, and, just as I’d finished saying, “We really should come through here more often” we were kind of sidled by a young guy that said, “Hey, how’s it going — where you from?” It wasn’t really asked like a question, and we both took is as a prelude to a sales pitch. Christiania is notorious for drugs, and so we both ignored him and kept walking. Read More →

I’m not complaining exactly, but I do think it’s scary that it’s hardly dropped below freezing this winter. It snowed once — about two inches (7 cm). It was just enough to annoy the skaters at Kongens Nytorv (where, by the way, they keep the rink frozen with freezing apparatus.)

Two years ago in March, having just arrived, there was a week where it got down to -14 Celsius (that’s about 7 in Fahrenheit.) With the humidity and the wind, that was amazingly cold. This winter hasn’t felt that way at all. Not even close.

There are advantages to this mild weather. I’ve certainly done more biking this winter than last. And I’ve probably taken more pictures too. But on the other hand, when it’s not cold enough to snow, it rains, and that gets really old.

One thing that is like last winter, though, is the lack of light. For at least a month every winter (if not two) you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark. And so, on the weekend, it’s nice to get out and see… well, not the sun necessarily, but some color.

In two weeks we’ll be going to Norway to ski for a week. That, I hope, will be cold.

This year, before heading to New Mexico for Christmas, I spent a few days with Lisbeth and her family in Vejle. It was really nice. The whole family is sweet and they make me feel very welcome. And it doesn’t hurt that Lisbeth’s mother Karen is a great cook!

Most of the time we were inside eating, playing games (I’d never played “RISK” before), and talking. The weather was cloudy and chilly, but that didn’t stop Lisbeth, Hanne, and me from talking a long walk. Read More →

It won’t last long, but for now Codehouse is located in a beautiful old building in the heart of Copenhagen, a brisk seven minute ride from my apartment. (Our offices are on the top floor — the ones with the lights on.)

It won’t last long because they’re looking for new office space. Something less centrally located. Something with parking spaces. It’ll still be in Copenhagen — it won’t be 15 miles out of town like Microsoft is, but still, it’s a pretty cool location right now.

In the summer there are tables in the courtyard, where customers of the brewery that occupies the ground level sip beer and chat. In the winter it’s just another courtyard in Copenhagen, but this one with a tree clinging on to the last leaves of the season, and a bike that is ready for Christmas…