Hej København!

Hej København! I have been recovering from jetlag for the past few days, but this morning I woke up from a full 8 hours rest, finally ready to write about my time in København thus far. I'm trying to focus more on enjoying the city and what it has to offer instead of trying to take photos of it all the time so there may be fewer pictures and blog updates, but the ones that I write will be full with thoughts and musings.

I am not living right inside København but in a little town about 20 minutes train ride away called Albertslund. A wonderful family has taken me in as one of their own; they've been very gracious in helping me navigate the craziness that is the København S-train but also in welcoming me into their home and giving me a beautiful room to stay in while I'm here.

I have only gone into the city three times so far, but already I am falling in love with the cobblestone streets (which are not fun to ride a bike on FYI...), amazing coffee and pastries and rich history that is København. Yesterday, I spent some time trying not to get lost while biking around the city and I stumbled across a coffee shop within a little plaza which was next to a church and what is called the Rundetaarn (Round Tower). I attempted to read while sipping on strong Danish coffee, but my eyes were constantly drawn to the hustle and bustle of the plaza and the comings and goings of many Danes.

Danes are normally characterized as a coconut in that it takes time to get to know them and crack open their shell as opposed to Americans who are characterized as peaches as we are open and friendly on the outside but harder to crack on the inside. All the Danes I have met so far, have been absolutely wonderful and welcoming. I spent some time with the daughters of my Mum's Danish classmate from 25 years ago and we laughed and talked and made Oreo Balls. Yesterday I got to see my Danish family who I have not seen in 10 years and we spent time together seeing the Little Mermaid statue and drinking coffee. Even at the coffee shop in the plaza, the guy preparing my coffee made an effort to ask me about myself and what I'm doing here and told me that I was pretty ;)

Danish pastries and coffee are no joke. So many of our American pastries consist of dense dough and super sweet frosting/icing. Here pastries are made of a delicate, papery dough and topped with a just-sweet-enough icing which leaves you pleasantly satisfied, instead of overwhelmed with sickly sweetness. The coffee is very similar. There is just enough sugar to hide the bitterness of the coffee, because Danes like their coffee strong,  but you don't feel like you're drinking straight sugar. 

I knew that København was the biking city but I don't know if I really knew the extent of the biking culture here. Bikers have their own bridges, lanes, and even cars on the S-train. I've only almost fallen off my bike while trying to get on about 20 times, but I feel like the real deal now that I have joined this biker culture with Madame Blueberry!  

Next week begins the Danish language course. I am excited to at least try to speak some competent Danish, but in the afternoons we go on cultural excursions around the city where I know I will learn more about the rich Danish history, alongside a group of internationals who I'm sure I will become fast friends with. Hej Hej!