one very popular lady
Copenhagen, Denmark
copenhagen
outdoor antique market
copyright David Jade
the Royal Library
Nyhavn, Copenhagen
a bunch of Danes rocking out in Tivoli
22 May 2012
20 May 2012
tangled...
-I've been looking out of a window for eighteen years, dreaming about
what I might feel like when those lights rise in the sky. What if it's
not everything I dreamed it would be?
-It will be.
-And what if it is? What do I do then?
-Well,that's the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream.
I woke up this morning to my last morning in Hannabad, Sweden and I started to think about this quote from Tangled. As I wandered down the dirt road to Morfars stuga, and as I sat on his front porch listening to melodic birds and enjoying the sun on my face I suddenly realized I have dreamt of this moment for my entire life. Coming to Sweden and standing in places where my family members have stood for a hundred years has always been this elevated dream of mine, this goal placed up on a pedestal. Traveling to Sweden would be the ultimate trip, the once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.
And now here I am. And it is perfect.
And as I began to think, that because of this amazing adventure that I am able to experience, I was almost sad to consider what could possibly arise to fill the space where that nearly unattainable life goal had been. I don´t regret coming to Sweden. I will never regret that I am here. But what will I do when I come back to America? I wasn´t sure, but as I sat on his porch, I was again reminded of Tangled. I get to hold on to this trip, these people, and the memories that I will have for a lifetime. But more than that...I get to also go find a new dream. Life sometimes gives us beautiful moments, moments that could not be made any better. Living one dream and considering what new dreams I will get to create--all while sitting on the porch of morfars stuga--is one of a thousand beautiful moments I am soaking up here, along with the sunshine, in Sweden.
-It will be.
-And what if it is? What do I do then?
-Well,that's the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream.
I woke up this morning to my last morning in Hannabad, Sweden and I started to think about this quote from Tangled. As I wandered down the dirt road to Morfars stuga, and as I sat on his front porch listening to melodic birds and enjoying the sun on my face I suddenly realized I have dreamt of this moment for my entire life. Coming to Sweden and standing in places where my family members have stood for a hundred years has always been this elevated dream of mine, this goal placed up on a pedestal. Traveling to Sweden would be the ultimate trip, the once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.
And now here I am. And it is perfect.
And as I began to think, that because of this amazing adventure that I am able to experience, I was almost sad to consider what could possibly arise to fill the space where that nearly unattainable life goal had been. I don´t regret coming to Sweden. I will never regret that I am here. But what will I do when I come back to America? I wasn´t sure, but as I sat on his porch, I was again reminded of Tangled. I get to hold on to this trip, these people, and the memories that I will have for a lifetime. But more than that...I get to also go find a new dream. Life sometimes gives us beautiful moments, moments that could not be made any better. Living one dream and considering what new dreams I will get to create--all while sitting on the porch of morfars stuga--is one of a thousand beautiful moments I am soaking up here, along with the sunshine, in Sweden.
19 May 2012
let me be your travel guide...
If ever you go to Copenhagen, I would suggest going here....
Tivoli Gardens!!
Københavns Rådhus (Town Hall)
Strøget
The Round Tower!
Amagertorv
Lousiana Museum of Modern Art
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Slotsplads
Thorvaldsens Museum
Thorvaldsens Plads Antikmarked (outdoor antique market)
Christian IVS Bryghus
The Black Diamond / The Royal Library!
Christiania!!
Amager University area (new city buildings)
Copenhagen Metro
Central Station
Canal Tours Copenhagen
Nyhavn (definitely eat dinner outside in the evening here!)
Skuespilhuset
Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Slotsplads
Amaliehaven
The Little Mermaid
Langeliniepromenaden
The Kings Garden
Botalical Garden
Torvehallerne
Frederiksberg Gardens!
Ikea!
Københavns Rådhus (Town Hall)
Strøget
The Round Tower!
Amagertorv
Lousiana Museum of Modern Art
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Slotsplads
Thorvaldsens Museum
Thorvaldsens Plads Antikmarked (outdoor antique market)
Christian IVS Bryghus
The Black Diamond / The Royal Library!
Christiania!!
Amager University area (new city buildings)
Copenhagen Metro
Central Station
Canal Tours Copenhagen
Nyhavn (definitely eat dinner outside in the evening here!)
Skuespilhuset
Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Slotsplads
Amaliehaven
The Little Mermaid
Langeliniepromenaden
The Kings Garden
Botalical Garden
Torvehallerne
Frederiksberg Gardens!
Ikea!
random things...
Random things I am super glad I have done thus far on this trip...
1. crawled into and took a brief nap in an IKEA bed in Denmark
2. learned that there are Swedes who were avid Full House fans
3. ordered completely in Swedish in a cafe
4. ate a danish with coffee in Denmark
5. laughed so hard I cried
6. ...then got the hiccups repeatedly
7. saw a movie poster in Sweden for Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
8. learned that its the little things like white socks that can make you stick out like a sore thumb in Europe...people in Denmark and Sweden evidently do not wear white socks because they do not match one´s shoes
9. sat by the sea and listened to the waves
1. crawled into and took a brief nap in an IKEA bed in Denmark
2. learned that there are Swedes who were avid Full House fans
3. ordered completely in Swedish in a cafe
4. ate a danish with coffee in Denmark
5. laughed so hard I cried
6. ...then got the hiccups repeatedly
7. saw a movie poster in Sweden for Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
8. learned that its the little things like white socks that can make you stick out like a sore thumb in Europe...people in Denmark and Sweden evidently do not wear white socks because they do not match one´s shoes
9. sat by the sea and listened to the waves
Copenhagen...
What an amazing city is Copenhagen! Seriously...if you haven´t been here before, jump on a plane, any plane and find your way here. After two incredibly full days of biking around this city I can´t quite say that I was suprised by what I found here in Denmark because, to be honest, I think I instinctively try to refrain from forming too many preconceived assumptions about places I am going to visit, but I fell in love with all that I saw. Traveling has taught me that other cities and countries and cultures will always surprise me. And I like to be surprised.
I arrived in Copenhagen on thursday and right after dropping everything in the hostel, my new friend/cousin of slightly more distant relations, David, and I borrowed bikes and started riding all over the city. (If you´re going to visit this city, go around in the evening when the Danish wander the city rather than during the day when the tourists do!) I´ve got this to say for Copenhagen, and Denmark in general, they have a huge appreciation and respect for their bike riders! The entire city (of about 1.5 million people) is set up to encourage bike riding. Between the road and the sidewalk there is always a lane for bikes. There are separate street lights for bikes, and rules of the road for bikes. Riding around Copenhagen was faster than walking--I was able to see so much in just two short days--yet it´s slow enough that you can look around and see what is going on all around you. If I could I would transport Denmark´s bike system to Chicago!
Ok, now that I´ve spent way too many words raving just about bike riding, how can I possibly begin to sum up the rest of an amazing weekend trip? Here goes. I loved the surprise sunny weather we were blessed with, the creative way Danes can mix mediums and styles in their architecture that balances the extremely old with a futuristic new (Katherine, you would looove this city!), I loved the outdoor market where I bought strawberries and loaves of bread and cheese, and then I loved cycling over to the King´s Garden (one of countless, stunning parks scattered all throughout the city, surrounded by cobblestone streets and watched over by ancient castles) where I sat and drank a local beer, had a picnic, and discussed sociopolitical systems found around the world. I loved Tivoli, the world´s oldest theme park that hasn´t changed in the last hundred years, and, with its charm and amazing food, is still a great place for wandering, riding rollercoasters, and watching people from Denmark and all over the world. I loved seeing the city from the seat of a bicycle, from the top of a ferris wheel, from the tall ´Round Tower´ that provides a beautiful view of Copenhagen from above, and from the windows of local coffee shops found late at night while cycling down side streets. I loved watching the pride and joy in thousands of Danish faces as they sang along to ´Wings of Love´--an incredibly nationalistic song--at a rock concert one night. I loved walking through Christiania and considering how this part of the city, a freetown, has persisted despite official resistance, and what it can tell us about humanity.
I love how much my family laughs. Even if those bursts of laughter arise from long conversations of swedish not quite intelligible to my ear, I love being around these wonderful people who I know love having me here and by whom I adore being shown Sweden and Denmark.
I arrived in Copenhagen on thursday and right after dropping everything in the hostel, my new friend/cousin of slightly more distant relations, David, and I borrowed bikes and started riding all over the city. (If you´re going to visit this city, go around in the evening when the Danish wander the city rather than during the day when the tourists do!) I´ve got this to say for Copenhagen, and Denmark in general, they have a huge appreciation and respect for their bike riders! The entire city (of about 1.5 million people) is set up to encourage bike riding. Between the road and the sidewalk there is always a lane for bikes. There are separate street lights for bikes, and rules of the road for bikes. Riding around Copenhagen was faster than walking--I was able to see so much in just two short days--yet it´s slow enough that you can look around and see what is going on all around you. If I could I would transport Denmark´s bike system to Chicago!
Ok, now that I´ve spent way too many words raving just about bike riding, how can I possibly begin to sum up the rest of an amazing weekend trip? Here goes. I loved the surprise sunny weather we were blessed with, the creative way Danes can mix mediums and styles in their architecture that balances the extremely old with a futuristic new (Katherine, you would looove this city!), I loved the outdoor market where I bought strawberries and loaves of bread and cheese, and then I loved cycling over to the King´s Garden (one of countless, stunning parks scattered all throughout the city, surrounded by cobblestone streets and watched over by ancient castles) where I sat and drank a local beer, had a picnic, and discussed sociopolitical systems found around the world. I loved Tivoli, the world´s oldest theme park that hasn´t changed in the last hundred years, and, with its charm and amazing food, is still a great place for wandering, riding rollercoasters, and watching people from Denmark and all over the world. I loved seeing the city from the seat of a bicycle, from the top of a ferris wheel, from the tall ´Round Tower´ that provides a beautiful view of Copenhagen from above, and from the windows of local coffee shops found late at night while cycling down side streets. I loved watching the pride and joy in thousands of Danish faces as they sang along to ´Wings of Love´--an incredibly nationalistic song--at a rock concert one night. I loved walking through Christiania and considering how this part of the city, a freetown, has persisted despite official resistance, and what it can tell us about humanity.
I love how much my family laughs. Even if those bursts of laughter arise from long conversations of swedish not quite intelligible to my ear, I love being around these wonderful people who I know love having me here and by whom I adore being shown Sweden and Denmark.
16 May 2012
stream of consciousness...
May 16th. I keep having to count forward from saturday, May 12th to remind myself what day it is. Up until now today I have enjoyed a rather exciting day of normalcy. Large gray rainclouds bring gentle but constant rain. Driving over to Markaryd brought visits to the grocery store, bakery, bookstore, watch shop, and library in the town. Coffee has become one of my best friends as I continue to work through jet lag. Even after incredibly long days, evenings are always a little bit easier than waking up around 8 or 9, which I thought about today is basically like waking up at 2 a.m. eastern time every day. Slowly I am shifting over to Swedish time. Having a watch will hopefully also help. I can also tell that I am beginning to pick up little bits of Swedish here and there. Because so much of the swedish language seems to utilize the long ´a´ sound, more often than not this spills into my english and I simply start talking in english with a funny british-type accent. During lunch I got a little reminder of home while I ate cereal and ´christmas porridge´ when, while we listened to the radio, Fun.´s ´We Are Young´ started to play and I got really excited. I actually know that song! Wow, this might be the most random stream of unrelated thoughts ever typed together on one page. Well, if you were smart maybe you stopped reading long before the end of this blog post. Happy Wednesday! Off to Kopenhamn tomorrow.
15 May 2012
kyrka...
Markaryd Kyrka
I got to walk up above the sanctuary ceiling and the roof! Actually pitch black, couldn´t see a thing!
After many wooden ladders and small openings in ceilings I was treated with amazing views from up in the bell/clock tower of Markaryd Kyrka
I was able to see some amazing objects, all that remains from the original wooden Markaryd Kyrka that was built in the 12th century and burnt down when struck by lightening in the 1850s
Mig morfars morfars och mormors grave. My grandfather´s grandfather and grandmother´s grave. Family!
Peter Johan Svensson (mig morfars morfar)
Anna Ulrika Svensson (mig morfars mormor)
Day three. Today I visited Markaryd Kyrka where I climbed so many steep ladders up through small wooden openings up into the bell and clock tower and up to the top windows which provided amazing vistas of the surrounding church yard and area. I walked along rows upon rows of gravestones, many of them family members. I visited my grandfather´s grandfather and mother´s grave. I ate a soft-boiled egg, but wasn´t quite brave enough to try it with caviar. Overall it has been a lovely day. Skyping with my mother and considering going to sleep, I am excited to go visit more of Markaryd, the bookstore there, and other sights in the area tomorrow. (Sarah, I hope your first day of work went soo well!)
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