The art of the fork and knife.

Christmas was another great adventure this year. We planned for a quiet Christmas that grew into one of the busiest holidays ever! We had 3 Christmas dinners to go to, luckily they were all on separate days. Once again the myth that Danes are 'cold' people was proven wrong as we were taken in by several families and felt a very warm welcome all around. Highlights of the menu: duck, sugar potatoes, rice pudding, Tilla's homemade gravy, turkey, Kate's vegan lentil loaf and Chris's homemade apple pie (he even put a Canadian flag on it!!) :

Some more highlights:

And now to New Years! I like to stay ahead of the game, so I bought my gym membership last week. Why wait till January, I thought. I love my new little fitness centre. I decided against the big box gym mainly because it's far and I'd have to take a bus. And then I would never go. Instead, I opted for a more quaint establishment. One where the average age is 65 and where I am pretty much the only person using the free weights. This is also a place where they put out healthy snacks like fresh cut fruits sprinkled with cinnamon and jugs of fresh water with orange slices. Oh yeah, there is also tea and coffee if you fancy. The best part is the TVs on each machine, I can watch MTV, VH1 and all those alike. At that rate, I could spend the entire day there!

Anecdote: was out for lunch today. Ordered my sandwich and then proceed to look for my fork and knife. When we first got here I noticed people ate everything with a knife and fork. Burgers, sandwiches, buttered toast, all of it! We were always the only ones holding our sandwiches in our hands. Now, without even thinking about it, I comfortably take the 3 pronged fork and the serrated knife and wrestle with the crusty bread on my plate.

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Countdown to Christmas.

It still amazes me just how different each European country is. Somehow they have managed to keep their cultures completely separate from one another, even if their borders are so close together. Chris and I took a four hour train ride down to the little town of Lübeck to see some of Germany's most famous Christmas markets. There was no shortage of beautiful creative art, and it was all so affordable! I guess after living in Scandanavia for a while, everything outside of it feels cheap.

On the train ride there, Chris turned to me and said "All I want is some fried dough."I looked at him as if he was from Mars. After exploring several markets I quickly realized this was one of the most popular market snacks, deep fried dough sprinkled with sugar. The simplest of recipes but so delicious! There was really no shortage of fried food... and and here is our evidence:

Fried Dough.

Fried Calamari.

Fried Fish on a bun.

The highlight of the meals was trying pickled herring. Being one of northern Europe's delicacies it's a must on anyone's list... let me be the first to tell you that you need some serious liquor to wash it down.

Being a Canadian who is living in Denmark and clearly looks Latin American sometimes confuses me. First, the language. I don't speak German so I chose to communicate in Danish. This didn't work so I opted for English. That didn't work either because in all occasions people just smiled and went on to make up their own minds about what it is I had said, ordered or asked for. Then answering the question 'Where are you from?'. Do I say I am from Denmark? I live there... Do I say I am Canadian? I am, but most of the time people say I don't 'look' Canadian. Do I say I am Latin American? I look it. So I decided to just flip flop back and forth between them all and watch people's reactions to my response.

Some memorable highlights, tips and precautions:

• Alcohol really does keep you warm in minus 10 degree weather. And it is quite hard to get drunk even after 3 cups of glühwein.
• German Fair Cuisine is fattening! And vegetarians beware!
• Germany is filled with amazingly talented artisans that work with natural materials and create their visions brilliantly. Most of them, however, don't have websites.
• German restaurant washrooms are not heated. Nor do they have hot water.

Warm socks and a scarf

Let it snow! It has been snowing non stop for a few days now, gladly it's been light so things are still functioning. Last year's snow falls have taught the Danes a thing or two about winter weather. I am not making this up, I read it on the Danish rail system website. This kind of weather caused train cancellations, bus delays and all kind of other chaos. Since this is starting to become more 'normal' people are getting used to it. I gotta give it up to the Danes for being so practical, it's common to see grown ups wearing full snow suits as they walk around town and run their errands. What amazes me is the persistence of people using their bikes as transport. But if this keeps up, we are going to need sleighs!

Whistle while you work.

It's winter. Officially. And on my way home today in what felt like minus 5 degrees I started making a list of reasons why I should retire my bike for the season and invest in a train pass. Here's is my list (and it is not a complete one!):

1. It's cold.

2. Winter clothing is heavy. It feels like I am pulling an extra body when I bike with my winter coat on.

3. Visibility is poor. Scarf, hat, helmet, eye glasses - it takes a full 180 to check my blind spot.

4. Biking against the wind gusts takes twice as long. Train moves faster.

5. It's hard to change gears when the temp is below freezing.

But still I continued pedaling. Did not cut my route short or hop on a train. Braved the elements. Why? Because how else can I justify drinking hot chocolate with whipped cream several times a week... or having a danish pastry for dessert more often than I'd like to admit. And mainly, because I know it's good for me.

As I ride, I often see construction crews hard at work. And always, without failure, they are blasting the tunes on the radio and listening to some fun upbeat music. On machines that look like this:

The same goes for bus drivers, they get their selection of radio tunes as well, and often they are singing along or drumming their thumb to their tunes... sometimes classical music, sometimes heavy rock. Whatever they fancy! Even library staff wear iPods, and hum along as they sort books. I guess it's about enjoying what you are doing and putting your own rhythm to it. Some people ride their bikes with their iPods. I am not that brave, or dumb.

Week 42

Funny, I am really liking the way people refer to their schedules here, they count the weeks instead of the specific days. So in Canada I would say let's meet the week of October 18th, but here they say ' let's meet sometime week 42'.

Last week (week 41) was an eventful week. We saw the miners being rescued and just like the rest of the world, I was glued to the live broadcast for hours. It was amazing to witness. Chris amazed me by completing a 7-day fast in order to kick start our health kick. He is a superhero - seven whole days, no food just drink - healthy drinks of course. I lasted only 48 hours. Then, I had a very exciting meeting with an Danish company that needs me for my language skills. I had no idea speaking Spanish would help me as much as it has here... basically every job opportunity I get is due to this refined skill. I say refined because I have been studying it quite a bit since I started giving Spanish lessons. So, I start with this new company tomorrow, I will be working on their marketing initiatives targeting Spain. Chris has given me the low-down on what to expect - or not to expect:

-There is generally no small talk in the office, people are direct and efficient about their communication.

-Pleasantries like asking people how their day is going is weird, and should be avoided.

-Address everyone equally. There are no hierarchies here.

-Expect to be asked your thoughts on important issues - since everyone is equal, everyone has a voice.

On a whole other subject, we were out for Culture Night on Friday. It's an event like Doors Open Toronto and Nuit Blanche combined. There is usually an overwhelming amount of stuff to see on this night so you have to be strategic about where you go. Here are my highlights:

Candy apples in the viking city!

Night tour of the Danish Parliament and meeting the Social party leader!

Touring the Royal Stables and seeing the vintage horse carriages!

Clearly my health kick was put on hold when I enjoyed this hot chocolate with vanilla ice cream!

Amazing art exhibits and bossa nova concert at the National Art Gallery!

Back to school... yes, even me.

I've noticed since our return to Denmark (after a very enjoyable few weeks in Canada) that wardrobes here have changed. It seems that everyone around my neighbourhood is dressed to go to a funeral. Gray, dark gray, light gray and black seem to be the only colours on people's clothing now. Oh yeah, and scarves are mandatory and rubber boots (in any dark shade) are a must! I was also re-introduced that wonderful Copenhagen fall wind, that seems to almost knock me off my bike, now and then.

Where did summer go? Well, it did fly by, but I have lots of great memories and pictures to show for it... and a few dents & bruises from my interpreter job at the airport! (Note: Never work with tired homebound tourists.) Some highlights:

Picnics at the King's Garden...

Most common question: 'Chris, kan vi spiser is?'

Bonfire night...

Stay tuned for more pics of the fall... including my new & hip Danish school.

What was your song of the summer? Mine is this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E9Ed9DUQoQ&feature=related

Listen to it. You'll see why this song inspired us (once or twice) to stay out until the sun came up...

Paris.

It's a city I love going back to. We spent some fabulous days there, and it's a city that just never gets old. Each time I visit, I find new things to love about it. For starters, there are some fantastic hotels. And you don't have to blow your budget to enjoy a wonderful stay in the city. You just have to have an open mind. The place we stayed at was recommended by a friend who lives in the city. It's a little place with little rooms, see:

So what if you have to duck each time you go through a door! I love experiencing the old. And the wonderful service you get from the reception, where they know you by name. One of the things that shocked me was the americanization that has taken place over the years. A Starbucks at the Louvre. Really?? They also have a fancy new MAC store there too.

Trying to find the real Paris, we rode the subway like the real people do. I just don't know how they do it. The Paris subway system needs a revamp. You can barely breath down there because there are too many people, it's super hot & stuffy and there is no air circulation. And I thought the TTC needed work. It's luxury compared to the Paris Metro. The chocolate souvenirs we purchased didn't even make it back to the hotel because they melted instantly down there!

Did you know that to paint the Eiffel Tower it takes 60 tons of paint. There's a job for you Robert!! I also learned that when Hitler visited Paris and wanted to go up to the top of the tower, the elevators were broken so he had to walk up! ha! Oh, and I also learned that my mom LOVES shopping.

Next time we'll bring a compass

Small anecdote before I continue sharing the tales of our recent travels. I am officially a bike-queen. Today I rode my bike in the rain. With an umbrella. How's that for talent?? Clearly I was determined not to show up to my 'ladies lunch' soaking wet.

Anyways, back to the tales of our recent trip to mainland. We continued the journey and headed to Brussels. It was a pleasant journey, and we knew we had to change trains at one point. Since the train was delayed we rushed out of one and into another. Minutes into the journey we realized we were on the wrong train and heading to Antwerp. oh on. Luckily it was not an express train and we were able to get off in the middle of no-where to wait for the next train back. The station had a name, but it's a station that has barely been touched since 1935:

Hours later we finally made it to our hotel. Except it was not so much a hotel and more of a hostel. A crappy one for that matter. Our room faced some pipes that smelled like sewage. There seemed to be this same smell through out the city but we didn't let it stop us from enjoying some of the glorious food Belgium's got to offer.

Fresh mint tea and a belgian waffle:

Moules frites!

I had read on a blog written by locals that Brussels is an ugly city. I didn't quite recall from the last time I was there. But they were right. There is so much beauty in terms of architecture but there is so much dirt, pollution and garbage. It's certainly a city that's rough around the edges. It's evident someone is ignoring the basic needs of this city and it's people.

Who knew trains can float!

With my mom's arrival in Scandinavia, we decided to take a little tour down to mainland Europe. We boarded a really chic, modern train here in Copenhagen, it looked more like an office than a train. It was a great ride down to Germany - did you know that full trains can board a ferry?? Here is the train actually on board the ferry - how weird!

We also braced ourselves because we heard of the soaring temperatures down on the mainland... our first stop was Hamburg. As soon as we got off the train we were greeted by a soaring 30+ degrees and as you probably know, there is NO air conditioning in MOST of Europe. By the way, if you ever come across a popsicle with the laughable name of 'Bum Bum', don't buy it. It's gross.

This product is real, what was Nestle thinking??!@

The second train was not so pleasant. We were stuck in a 6 person compartment, full of sweaty men and a big dog! Poor Chris, with his severe allergies to four-legged people he had to go find another place to park - there were people everywhere, in the hallways, in the doorways, I had flashbacks of the scenes of I have seen of rural trains in India. It was like that. Except that they were giving out free water and at one point calling for a doctor because someone must have had heat stroke. The train trip was worth it though because we arrived in Cologne just in time to see Germany beat Argentina 4-0. The streets were full of parties and the parties lasted all night. And because you can drink anywhere, flip flops were strickly prohibited the next day due to the broken beer bottles, EVERYWHERE.

The party did not end there, we also got to celebrate Cologne Pride which was an even bigger, louder and longer party than the football win over Argentina.

Cologne is a great party city - and it also holds the biggest church I have ever seen!

Compared to southern Germany, the biggest difference was the size of the beer. We all love the 1 litre beers you order in a beer hall in Bavaria, but what's up with the tiny beers in Cologne that are more like shots than a drink?? They are called Kolsch and the servers just keep them coming until you tell them to stop! Notice the delicious fresh fish meal Chris is enjoying,

by far my favorite meal of the trip!

You know you're in Denmark when...

1. You go to the beach WITHOUT a sun umbrella and sit under the sun with no shade in sight.

2. You spend the first weekend of July at the Roskilde Festival (a big music festival that attracts huge bands but really it's just one big excuse to drink and party!!)

3. You close your shop/restaurant or whatever your trade is, for the ENTIRE month of July. (most stores on my street have a sign saying "Closed for summer holidays. See you in August."

4. You leave your city flat and live in a summer house near the coast line.

5. You have an ice cream cone in hand at all times.

It seems that my mom brought the gorgeous weather with her, 25 degrees and sunny every single day for over a week now. We have been busy seeing all the sights and I must say, I'm impressed with my mom's willingness to try it all. She loves smørrebrød and loves biking around town. When I ask what her favorite thing here has been she says she loves how no one is ever in a rush here. And yes, that is true. Power walking does not exist here!

The beaches of North Zealand...

The most delicious ice cream ever!!

The long days of summer!

By 4:30 in the morning the sun has been brightly shinning. So by 10:00 it feels like lunch time. Dinner is at 17:00, so what do I call my fourth meal at 21:00?? Today is the longest day of the year and so the sun will shine until at least 21:55. Day light remains until much later than that so days are long, efficient and it is very easy to get through my daily to-do-list! We have really been enjoying the Danish summer, especially sitting out back. Chris has been really lucky in that some of the world's best beers are sold here at Øl Butikken, a beer specialty store. Can you see how happy he is??

Being summer, it's also the time of year when every road seems to be under construction. The bike paths are under repair, the train rails are being re-done and some of the roads are right out closed for repaving. My commute has evolved into a combination of bike, bus and train. Teaching has been keeping me busy and working at the airport has been keeping me entertained. I love the chaos of people coming and going and my job is to help keep the chaos at a minimum!

The other day we went to watch the ballet in the park - it was really cute to see all the families with their picnic blankets and bottles of wine. Surprising to us, several ballerinas came from the National Ballet of Canada!

The Hills are Alive!

The title of this blog is dedicated to you Christine. As I know you haven't had enough of the theme :-)

I continue to share the tales of the lands of Norway. We saw so many beautiful sights but there is one in particular that I will remember always, which is the town of Vik. After about 22 hours of driving we reached were close to the location of the last ferry - the one that would take us to the cabin that we would call home for a few days. As we descended from a long mountain overpass that the guide book called bleak and improbable, we approached the magical town of Vik. It was everything you think of when you picture the northern fjords of Norway. Take a look:

This church you see in the distance is almost a thousand years old. One of the few remaining stave churches in Norway.

I think the fog helped set the scene for the mystical almost eery feeling. Once we crossed over to the north side of the fjord, we reached our cabin and were really glad to have survived all the tunnels, bridges and ferries. Thank you Robert for driving so carefully and getting us there in one piece!!!

Check out the view from our cabin:

Another one of the many highlights was the hike we did in the nearby town of Balestrand.

I was full of joy when as I was quietly hiking up the side of the mountain (not an easy feat!) hummingalong to the sounds of my all time favorite movie: The Sound of Music!!

With these views, how could one resist rejoicing about the hills!!

Bergen: How proud are they?

During the trip north, we spent a night in beautiful Bergen. It's not the capital of Norway but it might as well be since it seems to have all the history! On our morning there we woke up at 7:00 am to a very nice surprise of canons and marching bands. We couldn't believe our eyes, everyone in the town was out strutting their stuff and celebrating National Day in their traditional costumes. You could tell who was a visitor in the town since those dressed in modern clothing were the minority. I've also never been around so many tall people!