Well, I feel like it's the last day of school, and I haven't turned in my final exam. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am delinquent in my last few posts for the trip and I am making a mad dash to the finish line. It is now 7:00 am, and in 20 minutes, we will board our flight from Copenhagen to Reykjavik, then to Boston and finally San Francisco. But, that's not so interesting as our time in Denmark.
As you might be able to guess from the photo above of Ivan opening the door to our airbnb, Copenhagen is a city that has some grit. Our train broke down on the way from the airport to the central station, and when we got off the train and walked to the apartment, we passed by strip clubs and several other dodgy looking establishments. This was not the pristine Scandinavia we had come to know over the past two weeks. But, as was the case with our airbnb, a bit rough around the edges on the outside, once we got to know it, Copenhagen was truly a gem of a city, in some ways reminding us of San Francisco.
Our first day was spent wandering around the Vesterbro neighborhood where we were staying, as well as checking out a recommended shawarma place (kebab is big in Copenhagen) near the train station. The kebab photos were less than flattering, so you will all be spared a food photo. I know. It was hard for me too.
The more time we spent in the city, the more it grew on us. In the evening, we checked out an area called Kodbyen, about ten minutes walking from our centrally located digs. Kodbyen is the Meatpacking District of the city, and, although not quite as fashionable as the one in New York, it was certainly filled with cool restaurants and bars, including the Mikkeller Bar, which has a sister location right in the heart of downtown San Francisco! If you haven't been (to either one), I recommend both. Numerous craft brews on tap, a cool vibe and friendly staff. Ivan thought it a good omen when he discovered this symbol in his blueberry mead.
At Mikkeller, we chatted with some locals, and they invited us to join them at another bar in the Norrebro district of the city, a short Uber ride away for us, and a medium short bike ride for them. By the way, everyone in Copenhagen bikes, and it is really common to bike from bar to bar. Seems dangerous, and I have no idea what the statistics are like on injuries, but the Danes assured us they were experts. While we waited for our new friends to arrive at the bar, Ivan took a moment to assume his Most Interesting Man in Scandinavia pose. He doesn't always drink mead, but when he does, it usually has a smiley face. Gathered round the table at this extremely local bar, we chatted with these Danes who had lived in Brooklyn before and were eager to talk about America as well as give us plenty of suggestions for things to do in Copenhagen. Our first day was a really good one, and shortly after that we headed home to rest up.
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