Back! The above picture was observed from my plane window on my flight into Denver. We had to fly around the weather, delaying our arrival. This is a panoramic of 5 pictures stitched together and edited. It was really ominous! Good to be back in the States.
To amend my observation on the traffic lights. When the light is red, it goes to red AND yellow, then green. So when it hits red/yellow, that means it’s time to go. The sequence from green, yellow, red to stop is the same as the US. Still. How confusing is that? No right turns on red in Copenhagen either.
More soon…
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Some toilets have TWO buttons on the top for flushing. I’m not really sure which button is for which, but one is for #1 and #2. Some toilets also have a plunger type handle on the top that you pull up to flush. A little strange.
Light switches are generally located on the outside of a room. Down is on, up is off. ?!?
My coke today cost $4.22 when converted from Kroner to Dollars. WTF? It’s not big either.
When you’re sitting at a red light in Copenhagen, yellow means start going, then it turns green.
When stepping off a bus, you have to walk across the bike lane (they’re everywhere, and wide). So you better look both ways, or risk getting into a pedestrian vs bike accident.
Danish are so awesome fresh from the bakeries here.
Roundabouts are VERY prevalent in Ireland. They’re pretty scary, and I never did totally figure out the protocol.
Irish have cool words for things. US jumping jacks are star jumps.
Treaty of Lisbon is coming up for ratification in Ireland. Will be interesting to watch. Lots of propaganda going on for that now.
Everyone in Ireland is informed and interested in the US Elections. A man in line asked Sean and I who we liked as a candidate. Ack!
We were charged $26 as a “Regional ATM” withdrawal fee for taking 200 Euro out of the ATM in Ireland. TWENTY SIX DOLLARS.
It didn’t rain while we were in Ireland, except for the morning we left.
Americans request too much sugar, for coffee etc.
More soon…
Sean and I are running around today. Tomorrow we’ll visit Kronborg Castle.
Here’s the Wiki on the castle.
Looks pretty cool. More soon!
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We’re back in Copenhagen, just a quick stop into Retro. I uploaded a bunch of pics, will blog soon when I can.
Limited net activity, so I’ll upload a load of pictures in a couple of days, and update my blog.
Laura
17 May
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Today was laundry day. We headed off to the “vascomat”. Clothes are a three step process. Washing, spinning, and drying. Three different machines. I can see how frustrating it would be to try and figure out the buttons and knobs not understanding the language.
After that, I basically slept all afternoon. It was cool and cloudy today, so we just chilled out, and then went to Sean’s gig tonight. Tomorrow we are off to Ireland.
I had an interesting run in, with what I’m assuming was a Dane. He was an asshole.
Classic AMERICAN cars had been roaming the streets all day, and when we arrived at the gig in the main center, all the cars were on display. I got pictures of a few. As I walked across the street, I took four quick shots of the whole area where all the cars were parked. This is a public area, with lots of people wandering around. After I snapped my shots. This mid forty’s man walked up to me and started babbling in what I’m assuming was Danish. I told him I didn’t understand. So he repeated himself in Danish. I again told him that I was sorry, but I didn’t understand what he was saying. Then in very clear English he says to me, “If you take one more picture of me, I’m going to take your fucking camera away from you. You’re not allowed to do that.”
Obviously I was stunned. As I didn’t know who this guy was, number 1, and number 2, I certainly wasn’t taking pictures of him specifically, and until he walked up to me, hadn’t noticed him.
I looked at him squarely and said, “Um, I don’t believe you’re in these shots.” I wanted to say a couple more things, like “I’d like to see you try and take my camera.” Or, “f**k you.” But I refrained. Since I am in another country, and really didn’t want to end up in a fist fight with some jerkoff who was probably drunk anyway, and I would never see again.
Needless to say, this really put a damper on my night. It shook me up and really upset me. Who was he? The fricking Britney Spears of Copenhagen? Certainly didn’t seem like it. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if he’d tried to take my camera. Since I really hadn’t done anything to invade his privacy, and hadn’t done anything malicious to him, I probably would’ve kicked him in the nads for my camera. You don’t randomly destroy people’s property.
Headed to Ireland tomorrow. About to leave the gig now. I’m going to take a picture of the destruction that the drunk Danes leave behind.
Hopefully I’ll get to keep my camera!
Cheers!
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When Danes get drunk, they get downright dirty. #1 noticeable thing after the super cool old buildings? The cigarette smoke fog that clouds every street. And what do all these smokes do on a friday or saturday night when they’re done with it? Cig container? Nope. Ground. At the end of the night, the ground is littered with thousands of cigarette butts. Also, out of utter complete respect for property, man will walk outside a pub, and pee on the wall, letting it run right out into the sidewalk. Drunk. Stuipd. Oblivious. All Universal traits for drunks I suppose. Just seems like it’s time 1000 here. Maybe because of all the people. Other than a few gross events like that the trip has been wonderful. I’ve walked late late hours a night alone while Sean was gigging, and didn’t feel scared or threatened at all, even while obviously lugging my camera gear. I would feel comfortable traveling the city alone, by bus, rail, or walking, almost anywhere. In general Copenhagen is a very clean city. Except after friday saturday nights, and big holidays. Then it gets a little crazy. I met a man from Iran tonight. We chatted a little, and that’s that. Very easy to strike up interesting conversations with people you normally wouldn’t. And you know why YOU wouldn’t? You don’t have a clue about their language.
Danes don’t have much of a personal space threshhold. In clubs, stores, lines etc, it can get pretty crowded! Crazy Crowded.
A few homeless on the street, but from my understanding of the socialist system here, they can get help if they need it. Still their store could be something of substance.
Dead tired, more later.
16 May
Sean and I are just hanging at Retro before his gig. There is a band playing that I’ll have to say is too loud for this small place, but they’re pretty good. I’m recording a little clip on justin.tv. This place is packed tonight.Cafe Retro Copenhagen
The band playing is Looter Beats Looter Beats Myspace
We didn’t do much today. I did get some pictures, but haven’t unloaded them yet. Probably later tonight. Tomorrow we’re going exploring again, then Sunday off to Ireland.
Today started with me waking up around 10:30am, and thinking it was 3pm. So I hop up, take a shower, and get ready for the day. Only to find out, it’s REALLY early. It all worked out. Sean woke up too, and we headed to the Round Tower.
Without getting too mooshy, let me just say that the entire city is sensory overload for a visual person. Every step I take, aligns me with a new set of buildings, architecture, people, lines, forms, colors…. and I just want to take 100000 pictures of it all. I’m in heaven.
On a funny note tonight, I’m outside Sean’s gig, walking around this walking area, minding my own business. I obviously have an agenda. With my camera in my hand. But still somehow get hit on twice, within a 15 minute time span! After I got rid of them, everyone else seemed to leave me a lone. Whew.
Long day! More tomorrow, then Sunday we’re off to Ireland. :) I can’t wait!
Weird note today, there is a guy playing a full size upright piano, outside in the middle of the walking street. He’s good, he has CD’s for sale. He has a sign. “Please ask for photos”. I totally respect that.
I ask. “No he says, today is not a good picture day”. And before I could stop myself I say…. “Well when is a good day?” Could’ve been taken a few ways, one…. ha ha ha, there are no GOOD picture days for any of us right? Or… when is a good day, I’ll come back, since I’ll be in Copenhagen. But I think the third way he took it was…. “Uhhh well, then when is a good day?” The bitchy way. I really didn’t mean for it to come out that way…. but it did. So, sorry piano guy!! Next time put a sign up that doesn’t invite people to ask you to take your picture. Post one very clearly that says. “Please do not ask for pictures, today is not a good day…. ”
I got a couple nice shots of Sean today, hopefully the final versions will be up soon. Retro, our cool coffee house is the bomb! A next little vibe, and great coffee. Hopefully we’ll go there tomorrow, and might be streaming justin. I also need to figure out a mutual time to skype my babies. I’m missing them!!!
Laura
I’ll ellaborate on these later. Today we’re planning on heading out and checking out some more stuff, maybe the crown jewels, who knows. It’s another gorgeous day here, sunny but not hot.
#1 i’m currently on a 3G Wireless internet connection. A little self contained internet connection, via USB. 7.2Mbps. YES 7.2. It’s around $40 a month here, and blazing fast. This technology is being surpressed in the US, and we’re about 10 years behind the curve.
#2 Everyone here speaks AT LEAST two languages. Usually English, Danish, Italian etc. And they speak English WELL. “More better” than some American’s I know! I’m actually quite surprised how fluently they speak English.
#3 The mass transit system here is outstanding. Outstanding. Busses run 24/7. The trains are fast and clean, no dirty underground, no seedy dark spots.
#4 Danish pay 40% in Taxes. For that 40%, they are taken care of for life. Free medical, dental. Retirement. Schooling, including upper education. They actually PAY YOU to go to school. So you can survive. Is it a perfect system? No. But it’s very interesting. I would say the Danes are the happiest people. If you can’t work, you can still get money. Temporarily out of a job? You can get help from the system, which will even cover your CHILD SUPPORT while you’re down on your luck. In America they file criminal non-support charges and throw you in jail. Where you can work off your child support for around $10 a day. Ok, i’m getting off topic sorry!
#5 Things are EXPENSIVE here. Compared to things in the U.S. For example, the current exchange rate is around $1US - 4.85Kroner. For simplicity, I just divide everything by 5, and it’s pretty close. Everything is twice as expensive here. A pint of beer, is around $12, a coke at a bar or restaurant $5, at 7/11 a coke, juice, anything is around $5. A Long Island Ice Tea, $30 (I almost passed out! 150Kroner!!!) So how can anyone afford anything here?? They make more. The bartender at one spot makes 130Kr an hour or $26. And if there is a private party, she makes in upwards of 300KR an hour. This isn’t including tips. So $26-100 an hour. Lets just subtract an even 50% just for fun…. $13-50 an hour, plus tips. And everything is covered. Pretty sweet. Still, it’s expensive.
#5 Similar in Longitude and Latitude as Juneau Alaska. It starts getting light pretty early here, and dark later at night, which i’m used too from Alaska. Pretty sweet.
#6 I’m amazed by the architecture. Everything is designed to be asthetically pleasing. They use all mediums, combined. Metals, woods, glass. Some designs have simple and elegant lines, while others are ornate and complex, like designs you would expect from old world Europe.
I haven’t run across anything that I don’t like yet. I’m sure I will. But at this point, everything has been really positive, and I’m enjoying it here. It’s a really safe city. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to travel to Europe, but maybe concerned about the language barrier. I’ve met people from everywhere, Italy, Chicago, Mexico… more soon.
L
14 May
I updated some pictures on Flickr more blog stuff later http://www.flickr.com/photos/nastymct