april is here

It's time for planning, writing applications, searching for jobs, learning Danish, rearranging the furniture, impromptu trips, and life-changing decisions.

Come one, come all!

I wish there were more hours in the day.

the week that's in it

This week I passed my modul 1 Danish test at Studieskolen. I don't think anyone expected to fail, but I take everything school related really seriously so I stressed myself out the past two weeks studying.

We had drinks after the test and it was so nice to bond with those I've spent the past 6 weeks with. Some of them are moving on to do other things, but the majority of us are continuing onto module 2 next week.

I'm applying for a college course. A big one. I'll say no more because I don't expect to get it, but this is a huge step for me.

I've been catching up with some really distant blasts from the past, it feels weird but it's very nice.

The weather today is beautiful, warm and only a fraction of the breeze there usually is. I'm writing my application and getting ready to go play some Irish music at Kennedy's pub later.

Have a nice weekend :)

Dragør

Dragør is a little seaside village a mere 12 kilometers from Copenhagen, but is an entirely different municipality, and so far from Copenhagen in terms of surroundings and atmosphere. It has a beautiful old town ('town' is a gross exaggeration, it's so tiny and quaint) with cobbled streets, and a marina that we like to sit at and discuss the merits of each boat.

We cycled there a few Sundays ago and spent a while getting to know the place. Spring was in the air but it was still definitely on the chilly side so coats were needed. That being said there was a queue out the door at the local ice cream parlour, and has been every time I've been there.  That must be some tasty ice cream.

 Did I mention that we had to go past the airport to get to Dragør? 

Amazing views of incoming and outgoing planes.

 

We rounded off the day with homemade meatballs and a movie. Idyllic Sunday: target achieved.

Since We Moved

We've been in the apartment for quite a long time now, and there's been a lot of hyggelig stuff happening, naturally. Today it went as far as lavender lemonade.

I haven't posted in so long, I know. Honestly, I've been very busy. Danish classes every day of the week, painting, and last week I went to Aarhus, North Sealand AND England.

An update is coming, I assure you.

weekend breakfasting | decorating (later came numerous paper cranes!) | planting | homemade burgers | my first glass of sweet martini | a salad of organic leaves from the window | coriander which is coming alive | spring on the windowledge

Copenhagen in 48 Hours

So, you've got the weekend in Copenhagen. 48 hours to swoop in, enjoy the sights, sounds and smells this Danish capital has to offer, and then you're away again. What do you? Well, never fear, because I've written this little guide to the speedy version of enjoying this chilled out and slow-paced city.

I am hosting my very first Airbnb-ers this weekend, and they have asked me for some suggestions for fun things to do. So I figured, hey, why not write a blog post about it as well?!

DAY I

Breakfast

Let's pretend you arrive on the dot of 10am Saturday morning, or else emerge from your swanky hotel all bright eyed and ready for the days' delights. The last thing you want to do is laze about indoors for 2 hours eating and drinking coffee. I suggest you grab a to-go filter coffee or a latte and a couple of delicious pastries from Lagkagehuset and have a brisk walk through Copenhagen. Walk by the Rådhuspladsen just off H.C Andersen boulevard, walk down Strøget, the large, slightly tacky tourist street, and head towards Ny Havn.

Ny Havn 

(It's pronounced new hawn) and it is the delightful, postcard pretty district that sums up old Copenhagen in every sense. Sit on the waterside, imagine yourself living aboard one of the ships docked nearby, and take lots of pictures. This is the prettiest place in the city. 

The Little Mermaid/Den Lille Havfrue

Langelinie, 2100 København Ø

The Little Mermaid is probably the most over-rated tourist destination in Europe, but you're going to go anyway, so you may as well get it over with early in the day. I'm just kidding, she's sweet and I had a tear in my eye the first time I visited (I'm a sucker for fairy tales), but she is absolutely tiny, and there are usually hoardes of tourists there. 

A mere 20 minute walk from Ny Havn, you get to see the harbour, maybe a docked military vessel or two, and one of the most iconic statues in the world. Worth a visit. 

Design Museum

designmuseum.dk/ | Bredgade 68, 1260 København | Opening hours: 11:00-17:00 Tue-Sun, Wed until 21:00 (closed Mon)‎

The design museum is amazing, we went on a school trip last year and I really loved it. Great for a thoroughly systematic introduction to the world of 'Danish Design'. Trust me, you want to be in the know.   

Lunch

lele.dk | Vesterbrogade 40 1620 København V

After all that, and only a pastry in your tummy, you'll want lunch, so I suggest LêLê nhàhàng for delicious Vietnamese food. They offer fresh and tasty food, in a lovely atmosphere, and cool cocktails. A word of warning, it is pricey, but hey, you're on holidays, right?

biomio.dk/ | Halmtorvet 19, 1700 København V

If you don't mind walking/getting a taxi for your lunch, Biomio is a bio (organic) restaurant a little bit past the city centre in Vestebro. I lived in the same complex as one of the chefs last year. It's reviwed very well, although I've never been there. The food is wholesome and filling, but the prices are truly 'Copenhagen', so it's up to yourself, really.

 The Round Tower

http://www.rundetaarn.dk/en/the-tower/ | Købmagergade 52A

After all that food, a stroll through the centre of town once again to the Round Tower is a nice way to see the whole of the city, and maybe watch the sun set, depending on the time of year. It only costs 25 dk to get in and there's usually a nice exhibition inside, too. In spring/summer they're open until 20:00.

 Dinner, Drinks, and Whatever you Like

My advice to you after this is to head to Nørrebro. As evening approaches and you want a cool night out, stay far away from the tacky nightclubs and rip-off bars around Gothersgade. You will not leave there happy. Instead, walk across the bridge to Nørrebro and do like all the cool Copenhageners do.

For a cheap bite head to one of the many kebab restaurants. There's a place hilariously named Kebabistan that I have never tried, but it's supposed to be good. Really, I would recommend just strolling around until you find somewhere that takes your fancy.

The key to fitting in here is to look as if you've made absolutely no effort. Don't fret about 'dressing up' for a night out. Wear runners (New Balance will do the job), tie your hair in a top knot if you're a lady, skinny jeans, black tshirt, just keep it super casual.

Head to Jaegersborggade and find somewhere cool, dark and understated.  Alcohol is quite expensive, so it's best to either buy some cans of Tuborg like the locals do and drink them on the way, or head to a cheap Bodega. After, you'll probably want another falafel.

DAY II

Breakfast/Brunch 

There's only one place I suggest for a massive breakfast/brunch on a Sunday morning, and that is Paludan Bogcafe. It's so ridiculously reasonably priced, has massive portions, and the coffee is great. Get a smoothie too, go on, you've earned it.

Tivoli Gardens

Vesterbrogade 3 | Opening times vary

Tivoli only opens in late Spring, but if you do happen to be here when it's open, it's a must-see. It's a quintessentially Danish spectacle, with sweet fairground rides, arcades and music shows. A great place to while away an afternoon. Grab some food from a stall and keep the energy going with some candy floss or sugary treat.

Magasin

Kongens Nytorv 13, 1095 København | Open daily 10.00–20.00

I absolutely love this department store, from which you can hop straight onto the Metro at Kongens Nytorv. It honestly is everything you could ever want from a department store, high end fashion, cheap and modern designers, a homewares section to die for, a trendy cafe downstairs, a Myers Bageri (set up by one of the Noma founders), and even a supermarket for foreign delicacies or high end local produce. I browse there constantly, and I'm not a gal that is known to spend hours in shops (unless they're supermarkets, I inherited that habit from my dad).

The best part of it is, as a foreigner you get a 10% discount on absolutely everything! Just show a passport or drivers license! I would suggest sticking this at the end of your trip, spend an hour or so browsing, grab a delicious hot chocolate downstairs (and maybe a couple of Meyers pastries, for the trip, ya know) and then head off to the airport on the Metro, which will take all of 15 minutes.

Københavns Lufthavn

Copenhagen's airport is really nice. Wander around the fancy shops, get one of the most expensive Starbucks in the western world, and grab a cheeky hotdog and Coke before the flight. A delightful end to a lovely weekend in the most hyggelig city on earth.

Vi ses i København!

Pancake Tuesday

 

So we had a few friends over on tuesday night for pancakes and sweet potato chips and breakfast tea.

Then, on Wednesday morning I did it all over again, for one. I have 4 delicious pancakes with a variety of fillings, including homemade apple sauce and creme fraiche, and Nutella. And it was good. Very good. Maybe I'll make pancakes this weekend!

Life's Not a Walk in the Park

Except for when you live in a city with such a huge amount of parks, like Copenhagen. Then, it's kind of unavoidable. On Sunday Leo headed off on the Metro into the city, and I cycled in after him.

Assistens Kirkegaard is not strictly a park, it's a graveyard, but it's the most beautiful graveyard I've ever been in. In summer we hang out there and take naps in the secluded grass. It's such a peaceful spot.

Shortly after, because it was such a gloomy and foggy day, we went to a great Turkish place in Frederiksberg and had falafel and chicken pittas and this sweet tea. It was absolutely delish.

I caught Leo doing this thing cats do when they're thinking. Amazing.

Then we went to hang out at Borgen, but sadly Birgite was at home with her kids.

Then we went home and made a root vegetable gratin. Copenhagen is my favourite.

it's almost pancake tuesday

It's a long time since I called myself a Catholic (another story for another day), but Pancake Tuesday is one of the vestiges of my youth I'll be holding onto. Ireland in the 90s was a fairly simple place, and when we were kids it was a bottle of pre-made pancake mix from Super Valu and unholy quantities of sugar and lemon juice in this pre-Lenten ritual.

In school we'd make pancakes occasionally, and later on as a waitress in college, the chef would always make sure we got a feed of about 7 pancakes before our shift began. Simpler times. These days my tastes are a bit more refined, but for all intensive purposes Pancake Tuesday exists solely to make an absolute pig of oneself. We've invited a fellow Irish woman over for the festivities, and I'm drooling over Pinterest images in anticipation.

Hvor mange sprog kan du tale?

I (re)began Danish lessons yesterday at the Studieskolen. I started way back when but stopped going because it seemed like a huge commitment if I wasn't sure I would be staying. Well, I'm a bit surer now so I have started back. This time it's 4 days a week, during the day, and so far so good. Everyone in my class seems lovely, and my teacher forbids the asking of inane or derailing questions, which is my favourite thing about him so far.

We'll see how it goes, anyway. The pace is supposed to be quite fast so I should be caught up with Leo in no time at all. If I hear the phrase 'hvor mange sprog kan du tale?' one more time though I might cry, because it's completely redundant. No one in the real world will ever ask you how many languages you speak, will they?

I'm off to cycle the 8km into town now, wish me luck, because it's raining :)

'Selfie'

A packed lunch is a winning choice

Pretty notebooks