Kicked out of paradise… or Christiania anyway

dsc_0538.jpgOn 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.

dsc_0539.jpgWe 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 →

Norway

We spent last week skiing in Hovden, Norway with Lisbeth’s family. For me it was fun for several reasons. For one thing, I’d never been to Norway before. I’d also decided years ago that I hated skiing, and that I’d never do it again, so enjoying myself was a pleasant surprise.

The new liftMarie, Hanne, me, and LisbethThe slopes in Hovden, Norway

We met in Vejle, at Lisbeth’s parents house on Saturday, where we spent the day leisurely shopping for supplies, packing, and, eating, visiting. We went for a walk after dinner, before we got serious about loading the cars. It was a very pretty evening.

Marie, Lisbeth, Karen, and AnneOn a short walk near Lisbeth's parent's houseOn a short walk the day we left for Norway

We took two cars, one with Lisbeth’s brother Mogens’ family — his wife Anne and their three girls, and one with me, Lisbeth, Lisbeth’s sister Hanne, and her boyfriend Kaspar. Both cars were heavily loaded — there wasn’t much room to move around, but most of it was blankets, pillows, and coats, so it wasn’t uncomfortable. We drove for about three hours, up to Hirtshals, quite close to the very Northern-most tip of Denmark, where we took a ferry from there to Kristiansand, Norway. Read More →

This winter’s limp handshake

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.)

The old tax station near Nyhavn (now a pricey restaurant)Skating at Kongens NytorvUnderneath The Royal Theatre

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.

Office buildings alight at 5:00 pmWindchargers and a power station near Zealand Brygge

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.

The afternoon commute at R dhuspladsen (Town Hall Square)The afternoon commute at R dhuspladsen (Town Hall Square)

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.

Just a church doorFrederiksberg Have (Castle Garden)dsc_3384.jpg

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

Christmas in New Mexico

(After conducting a few pop-quizzes this Christmas, I learned that certain members of the family don’t actually read what Iwrite here. You know how you are. So if youjust want the pictures — including many that aren’t in this post — go here.)

After spending a few days with Lisbeth and her family, I went home to New Mexico just before Christmas. It was COLD! It was colder than Denmark has been all year. That actually isn’t unusual (Denmark has been record-breakingly warm recently, thanks in part to global warming), which makes it frustrating when Danes say, “Oh, you’re going to New Mexico — it’ll be SO warm!”

The view from mom and dad's porchthe road up to the ridgeThe view from the house

It was the first time I’ve used my sunglasses since September. Even on a clear summer day, the sun in Denmark is muted compared to the sun in New Mexico. Read More →

Danish Christmas

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!

Lisbeth gets ready for a walkHeading out the front door

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 →

Ã…rhus and Christmas lunch

The 'Brock' House

December has already been a busy month. We were in London the first weekend, and in Ã…rhus the weekend after that. Lisbeth’s sister Hanne and her boyfriend Kaspar invited us to a Julefrokost, or Christmas lunch.

Hanne and Kaspar live in a cooperative. In this case it’s eight people sharing a house. Each person has a room, and they share the bathrooms, the kitchen, and the common living spaces.

It’s a great house — originally part of a military barracks — and it even has an area for a little workshop. It’s been a cooperative for decades now, and they have a well-defined system for everything from selecting new residents (they do interviews) to shopping (it’s done once a month, and that’s one of the things Hanne loves about living there) to making dinner (each person is responsible for making dinner for everyone once a week.)

We got there on Friday at around 9:00 and sat in the living room with Hanne in front of a fireplace and talked. (Kaspar was at work, but joined us around midnight.) The next day we went for a walk around town.

Living at 55 degrees North gives people a keen appreciation of the sun. When we set out the next day, Kaspar pointed out that, despite the fact that it was noon, the sun was hanging low in the sky. Just look at the shadows.

Hanne, Kaspar, and Lisbeth basking in the weak winter sunTaken at 12:07

This also means that the average Dane is very likely to bask in whatever sunlight is available. This often happens without warning. They just stop in a sunny spot, close their eyes, and start smiling. At first I thought they were crazy. Then I tried it. I still think they’re crazy. Read More →

London

Codehouse, my new employer, threw their Christmas party in London this year, despite the fact that Copenhagen is the headquarters. They flew us over on Friday afternoon and we had a nice dinner. Most people went back on Saturday, but Lisbeth and I opted to stay for the weekend.

Borough MarketBorough MarketBorough Market

On Saturday morning, a few of us that weren’t incredibly hung-over went to the Borough Market – a market that has apparently been around for 20 centuries, but “only” 250 years at its current location. It’s an amazing market, and there were enough samples thatwe didn’t need breakfast.

Borough Market -- excellent coffee in an excellent wayBorough MarketBorough Market

But not everything was appetizing. I had some cheese that tasted exactly how Iimagine a sheep’s brainwouldtaste, for example. And, although I love seafood and even sushi, the seafood at the market seemed… too fresh. Notice all the blood oozing from the shark. Read More →

Blog upgrade

Wordpress Logo You may notice some strange characters and missing images. I just finished upgrading the fabulous and free WordPress that makes this blog possible. And, while I’m pleased that I didn’t screw the whole thing up and that you’re reading something other than “page cannot be found”, there were some…irregularities…

I’m getting things patched up though. For the most part you shouldn’t notice any difference. Which — yes — does make me wonder why I bothered to upgrade in the first place…

The new office

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.)


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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…

Lisbeth’s birthday

This weekend we went to Vejle, where Lisbeth grew up, and where her parents still live. It was my second visit. (The first time I brilliantly forgot the memory card for my camera, so there were no pictures.) The occasion this time was Lisbeth’s 31st birthday.

Just outside Vejle, DenmarkJust outside Vejle, DenmarkJust outside Vejle, Denmark

Vejle (pronounced vie-la) is in Jutland — the largest portion of Denmark, and the only portion physically attached to the rest of Europe. It is quite different than Zealand, the island where Copenhagen is located, in that it has a lot of farm country and rolling hills. In contrast, Zealand is pretty much completely flat.

The home of Frits and Karen HansenThe home of Frits and Karen HansenThe home of Frits and Karen Hansen

Read More →