I was catching up with my blog, but now I’m behind again. This time because instead of updating my blog I have been – what did you say? Researching for my paper? Hoorah, yay for me, even though the end still seems so far from sight…
It was an absolutely beautiful day, as so many of the days are turning out to be now. The perfect day for a bike ride! Ditka offered me her bike to borrow, but the seat was too low, so I decided to forgo bike riding this time as soon enough I would have my own bike.
Dori and I went to Amalienborg to view Crown Prince Frederik’s palace. It’s under renovations now, and for several months (until May), they’ve opened it up to the public so that you can see what the rooms will look like in which Frederik and his family will be living. It’s a curious set-up – the old rooms but with new art. A lot of the art actually looks very odd – they’re painted directly on to the walls rather than on a mat or anything. I decided there was not much about the palace that I envied the royal family…except, perhaps, the chandeliers. And Frederik’s study was nice. Some of the art was very strange, though, concurrent with the Danes seeming love for modern art. No photos were allowed, so I am afraid you will be unable to see how a modern royal family lives and will have to be content with all the other photos of palaces and how ancient royal families lived.
When we came out of Amalienborg, we walked along Strøget. It was completely different in the spring and the sun. There was a crepe cart on one corner, you could go on a little bike-carriage ride, there were more performers than usual. And the weirdest thing – it was crowded.
Cute coffee truck outside Amalienborg
Where'd everyone come from?
Dori and I found this and were aghast. Copenhagen is expensive, yes. But $50 for a pair of flip-flops? No. Just no.
We stopped to get some ice cream, even though the sun – still bright – had become less warm and simply bright. But there’s never a bad time for ice cream. We decided to try Paradis, a Danish ice cream chain (which, apparently, has one store in the U.S.). Very good, I approve.
Dori was going to study, so I tagged along and finally made it to the Black Diamond, Copenhagen/Denmark’s main research library. There’s a modern building that is attached to the old library, and both are amazing looking. I have to venture there myself for actual research purposes, once I figure out the whole reading room situation.
April 11
Field trip time again, this time with the Danish Culture Course. We took a short bus ride to Frederiksborg Slot, the absolute most gorgeous castle. It’s so unique, and definitely the best of the Danish-style architecture. The castle was amazing inside and out – it’s been turned into a national gallery, so there are paintings upon paintings inside. Luckily, we had someone giving us a tour, or else it might not have been so meaningful.
The chapel
Coats of arms of the royal family
I'm glad I love the Danish flag - because they do, too. A lot.
Then, there were the gardens as well. I prefer the more wild, overgrown-type gardens to the Enlightenment clean-cut, mathematical gardens, but I must say Frederiksborg looked quite impressive – and like a fairy tale – from across the gardens and the lake. Plus, I did like how they shaped the bushes into a crown.
There’s a forest behind the castle (the reason it was built was so the king could go hunting), and we took a nice walk there. It would be amazing to live in Hillerød, to have such a view of the castle and a nice woodlands to walk through.
Squirrel!
I have no idea what animal this is, but it's adorable.
April 12
First impressions on riding a bike in Copenhagen: mixed.
It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve ridden a real bike. I’ve ridden an exercise bike plenty of times, but that’s nailed to the ground and stays upright no matter what. The first time I hopped on my bike, I forgot you had to keep pedaling to keep it balanced, and the fact that it wobbled terrified me – but only for a short while. Riding a bike does indeed come back to you, and I was on a roll soon enough.
It was pretty exhilarating – I was a real Copenhagener! But my exhilaration was tested – first by the bike seat (I forgot how uncomfortable one could be) and then by the fact that the seat is a bit too short. My legs cramped up pretty quickly, and I may be out of shape, but not that out of shape! However, I will prevail (and Claudia, whose bike seat is also too low, says you get used to it). I am determined to be a Copenhagen bike rider! And despite my setbacks, it was fun. I feel that I am finally truly part of the Copenhagen experience.
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