Blogs from Birkerød, Region Hovedstaden, Denmark, Europe - page 2

I'm sure it seems like all I do is travel outside of Denmark to exotic locations like Amsterdam, Brussels, and Kangerlussuaq - but that is not the case. This weekend I am staying in Denmark. Granted, I am traveling from Copenhagen to Jutland, the main peninsula, but at least I'm not leaving the country. And it's not all fun and games; I have research papers to do. I mean, I won't work on them this weekend because this is strictly family business, but hey, it's something hanging over my head. First, I will take a bus to Århus to visit some family, kind of. It's my grandfather's half-sister and her husband and daughter - I think, but don't quote me on that. After a couple of days there, I will take the train to Aalborg to ... read more

First I was busy, then I was unproductive, but now I'm back. But still fairly unproductive. Saturday, September 26, 2009: The climate is a hot issue in Denmark. Unlike the United States, their available resources and land have always been limited (read: no manifest destiny) so the Danes have developed an acute and sophisticated sense of awareness when it comes to reducing, reusing, and recycling, emphasis on the reduce part. There's an island called Samsø that is entirely self sufficient, as far as energy is concerned. Wind power produces nearly 20% of Denmark's energy. So it makes sense that climate and environmental activists here take themselves very seriously. SHUT IT DOWN (shutitdown.dk) is "a mass civil disobedient action which will close down a coal power plant in Copenhagen. SHUT IT DOWN claims: capitalism is the source ... read more

I would now like to introduce a new section of the blog called TINADAD - Things I've Noticed about Denmark and Danes. (You should pronounce the acronym like Trinidad but without the r.) TINADAD 1: Gas here costs about 9,71 kr/liter. After some simple arithmetic I've discovered that gas costs about 7.25 USD/gallon. Apparently though, the cars are much more fuel-efficient. The other day I read an article in one of the free Danish-language newspapers that I pick up every morning at the S-tog station (the train I take to school, tog meaning train in Danish) about how to maximize the fuel economy of your car, like keeping the windows up and shifting gears at the appropriate times. At least I'm pretty sure that's what it said. TINADAD 2: Many Danish women wear leggings/tight pants/tights under ... read more

Today was my aunt's **th birthday (fødslelsdag), so we celebrated - naturally. Birthday breakfast seems to be a tradition in Danish life (it certainly is in my family). So at 830 my uncle, cousins, and I had breakfast and gifts for my aunt ready on the table. Cute family togetherness ensued. Then I started some homework because - yikes - I'm in school (how I miss Cinci's schedule!). My aunt and I went for a midday run of (drumroll please) SEVEN KILOMETERS. Rolling hills, a glimmering blue lake, beautiful countryside, soft gravel trails...I didn't even notice how far we ran until it was over. After a lunch of dense, delicious rye bread with assorted topppings, the family piled in the car for a trip to Tivoli. Tivoli is an amusement park located in the heart of ... read more