As we pulled up to the booth, just before we crossed the bridge into Denmark, we expected to be asked about all three of our passports. Traveling from country to country with your American dog can be tricky and we experience some anxiety as this is our first time adding Willow to our adventures. Instead, we paid the fee and were sent on our way with a hearty �thank you� and a big smile. I remember thinking as we climbed to the pinnacle of the bridge, �Wow! We�ve just rolled into Denmark!� It was a bit anticlimactic to be honest, much like crossing from Tennessee into Alabama without the huge sign saying, Welcome! �Sweet Home Alabama�
Other than the adventure of seeing Denmark for the first time, our other purpose was to meet our daughter�s host family and experience some of her favorites from her semester here. The time we had with them was so very special as they had quickly become family.
Fortunately for us, our �virtual� tour guide was an expert in all things Stick and Moose in Copenhagen. Our daughter knew just the right spots and gave us the perfect list! We hit the ground in Copenhagen with the Glass Market. There is something for everyone here. Vegan, vegetarian, wine connoisseur, craft beer lover, organic soap, organic ice cream, outdoor seating, even a raven feasted on a snap pea! We so enjoyed browsing the eclectic experience that was the Glass Market.
From here, we wandered over to Coffee Industry, a local coffee shop that epitomized �hygge�; the Danish way of life that embraces living in the present, togetherness, cozy, comfortable; almost serendipitous. We enjoyed a smooth iced coffee on a warm day, and a large, delicious cinnamon roll,or �kanelsnegle� and found ourselves feeling as Danish as one can in a few short minutes!
There is also a beautiful park right in the heart of that same area called Orstedparken. It was the �connective� spot for Moose. The water, beautiful, shade trees and flowers in full bloom made quite the backdrop for all the laughter and sharing she witnessed.
As we reflected on 17 km of walking the streets of Copenhagen and neighboring areas, our favorite was Reffen, a community of chefs and artists living their dreams! Food trucks (Yum!!) and art were varied and numerous. The talent and skill of the Reffen folk are worth the time and effort required to get there!
Getting around Copenhagen is a breeze with the trains, buses, taxis, bicycles, and walking of course. We found them quite easy to use and everyone extremely helpful. We even used the water taxi, as it was the quickest way to get to the Nyhavn, a 17th-century waterfront canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen. When you see photos of Copenhagen, this area is the colorful rows of buildings and picturesque viking schooners. It was quite picturesque!
And finally, if you�re up for a unique adventure, walk through Christiania. In the early 70�s a group of citizens created an anarchist community! Eclectic art, food, and people abound. We�ll let your experience be your own as it is quite an intriguing story...
Another little area with cobblestone streets, beautiful views of the water, small shops and a great bakery (Granny�s House), is Dragor. It is a fun place to walk around and there are cabins available there as well.
As we closed out our trip into Denmark, we drove up the coast, north to the small city of Helsingor, by the Baltic Ocean, to visit the iconic 16th century Kronborg castle, made famous by Shakespeare�s tragedy, Hamlet. While standing outside the moat, looking up at the castle I felt so small. Castles in person are way cooler than reading about them, watching videos of them, or talking to someone who has been to one. It�s better to stand beneath the walls and look up to take in the experience. Lavish for the day, the castle hosts tours in which snippets of Hamlet are presented with audience participation. In addition to the castle itself, the grounds have artists and studios to see and tour, and it's the perfect place for a picnic. Hands down, however, simply sitting by the water�s edge was the highlight for Moose. She and Willow, as well as her journal, had a sweet time there.
Our recommended favorite place was the coffee shop, Strandvejsristeriet https://www.strandvejsristeriet.dk/ The folks here are extraordinary coffee roasters. Not to mention, super friendly and make you feel right at home. The coffee was delicious. Ask Peter to make you a cup of his favorite pour over and be sure to grab a bag or two. Stick had the espresso with oak milk and Moose had a ginger shot; juiced ginger, poured into hot water with fresh mint leaves added. I call it a ginger toddy. This was a powerful drink for sure. Once we completed our fika with our new Swedish friends who were also enjoying the coffee shop, we drove onto the ferry and enjoyed the twenty minute ride across to Helsingborg, Sweden to begin our journey north into Norway!
