Copenhagen Day 1

I'm a damn good tipper in Copenhagen.

Well, at least a dumb tipper (is there really a difference?). After a day spent walking through the streets, I decided to return to the hostel to drop off my camera and take a quick shower. Happily, I noticed that the bar was open and behind it, a blue eyed, black dyed vision of a Dane. After getting a Carlsberg, I asked if tipping was customary and "of course", was the answer. What I thought was a dollar I later found out to be 20 Kroner - or five dollars.

Lucky for me, that so far has been the extent of my misinterpretations. Everything else has been even better than I had hoped, starting with the flight on SAS. Matronly, sharp dressed stewardesses and (my favorite) access to two cameras placed at the nose and on the belly of the Airbus. It was like being in the cockpit of the plane and I couldn't help but toss out Airplane! one liners as the plane taxied onto the runway (Timmy...do you like to watch Gladiator movies?). Sadly, I think my seatmates missed the humor.

Nine hours of flying time, nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard, the flight was as smooth as one could ask for. And what a welcome...real hardwood floors throughout the entire airport. They say that Scandinavia is the most expensive region of Europe - well, with touches like this at least they are putting the money to good use.

With trains to downtown running every ten minutes, it took me longer to figure out how to purchase a train ticket for a conductor that would never even appear than to actually get into town. 29 Kroners, which at the current exchange rate of 540, ended up costing me about $6.

Sitting on the train, I leafed through a discarded fashion magazine and was delighted to see some English throughout (Jean Paul Gautier!, Chanel!, Christian Dior!). Along the scenic route I was amused to spot an emmense factory with the word "DONG" prominently plastered on the side - its safe to say that it didn't mean that I had found the dildo capital of Europe. I was quickly deposited at the central train station and stepped out to greet Copenhagen.

Copenhagen is laid out like a Japanese fan, with the train station marking the point and the rest of the city spreading out before it. It didn't take me long to find my home for the next three nights, Danhostel. Located prominently near the city center, Danhostel is a converted hotel and easily nicer than many accomodations I've had in the states while on busines travel. My room was empty save a backpack in the corner, no doubt belonging to my absent roommate. I quickly emptited most of my belongings into a locker and made my way out to the city square.

It wasn't hard to find and I quickly saw that a demonstration was underway. Say what you will about freedom of speech in America, but I doubt anyone home would have the cojones to stage an anti-USA rally in downtown NY. While I doubt the little girl holding a sign that said "USA (and Israel) are the origins of organized terrorism" meant anything personally against me, I'm certain she knew she wasn't holding a "hooray USA!" sign.

I sat down for a few minutes, only partially aware that I was an unwelcome observer to their demonstration. I mean, I'm not going to stitch a maple leaf to my jacket or anything, but I wasn't about to get into a patriotic fervor right then and there. I looked across the square and saw a crowded shopping district and made my way across to something a bit more familiar to this suddenly unwelcome American.

Not that anyone really cared. The streets were filled with all ilks of people and I heard Japanese, french, and American English. It felt more and more like being in New York again, but a million times prettier. Crowds had formed over numerous 3 card monty tables, with saps throwing down 500 kroner in a feeble attempt to beat the game (this I was prepared for. Here's a tip - that guy you saw who just won big works with the dealer...).

I passed the afternoon drinking lattes and getting my bearings, locating the tourist office where tomorrow I'll redeem the museum pass my coworkers purchased for me. Along the way, I was continually astounded by the number of bikers in this city. They easily outnumber pedestrians and cars alike, and I've heard that in places like Amsterdam there are even more bikers. Just the same, it was a pleasant stroll back to the hostel watching streams of beautiful blondes ride past me.

Night in Copenhagen is just as nice - previously unnoticed lights turn the city into a type of Times Square, lighting the way for an early autumn night. Returning back to the square, I was amused to find that the anti-USA protesters had been replaced by what was supposed to be a couple of native american flute players, complete with tribal feathers. As they broke into a rendition of the Last of the Mohicans theme, I heard a very distinctly American "jesus christ..." muttered by the man walking by me. I couldn't have said it better myself.

After wandering about for a bit, I settled on a generically named "Cafe Europa". I should have known something was up the minute I saw three "World Barista Championship - Seattle" trophies sitting in the bar. The food was beautiful and I was idly flipping through a cookbook when the thought struck me - it probably isn't going to be cheap to eat food in a place that sells its own cookbooks. And it wasn't. My eyes popped seeing that 2 beers cost almost as much as the meal itself. Lesson learned.

I did get a chance to try out a few different beers, so the complaints are muted. Tired from the flight, I made my way back to the hostel only to find that my roommate had multiplied fourfold and gained English accents. I was going to bed, they were getting out - well, at least I have a wakeup call on its way.

Spent: $870 Kroner (including hostel for 3 nights), dinner, 1 lock, 2 meals, 1 train ticket, 4 beers or about $170.

Comments

[tleigh]

this should really be titled - day one of travel sans orange monstrousity. :)

glad you made it safely.

[Jessica]

Just wait till you see all the pretty blonde bicyclists in Amsterdam! Oh, and watch out for the buses. I almost lost Jayson on Day 1. I'm so glad to hear your grand adventure has begun successfully! Can't wait to read more.

[Jessica]

Just wait till you see all the pretty blonde bicyclists in Amsterdam! Oh, and watch out for the buses. I almost lost Jayson on Day 1. I'm so glad to hear your grand adventure has begun successfully! Can't wait to read more.