After the entire drama filled work summer, I’ve finally been free since the last 2 weeks of August, just at the right tail end of the Scandinavian’s summer. Technically, their summer ends mid August.
Day 1
15,500 Virgin award flight on SAS to CPH!
It’s a full service airline that provided a beer and 2 meals for free!
In just about 9hrs, I landed in Copenhagen!
It’s an overnight flight.
Day 2
After clearing immigration at CPH in about a bit over an hour or so (with only 3 counters for at least 3 massive international flights didn’t help.. with people who were about to miss their flights constantly jumped the queue), it was relatively easy to ride a 15min train to the city center.
I have to say I do like how european cities build their airports close to town that saves massive amount of time and money in getting in and out of the airport. Kudos!
First picture got to be the Dane’s lovely bikes!
Checking into my hostel was still 2-hour away, the capitalistic corporate hostel made me pay for luggage storage for $10 for 6hrs. Oh well.
(my colleague worried about me not going to have Chinese food in Europe – you know the typical American exceptionalism view. But turns out, there are a few quite non Europeanized Chinese restaurants right off the central station)
It’s a still bit time until my walking tour and my jet lag started to sink in, which means fasting and coffee.
And sunny walk helps
It’s always amazing to see playground in city core – not something you see in the america. No wonder why European cities feel safe.
Of course legit farmer’s / fresh food market. Another rarity in America
Time to start with the tour
The royal palace
Change of guard
Denmark was insanely expensive beers and food wise, so of course I had to cook
Day 3
Meander to town to see the national museum!
Danes used to leave their infant cards outside supermarket while parents shop. Again, a showcase of high trust society.
Found a happy hour i think for just $8 or so for a short pint.
Of course a beer tour in the afternoon
The tour ended next to a pub, so another beer then
Dinner was home made again
Day 4
Carlsberg tour.
I never understood how Denmark dominated the world with its beer exports not Germany. You see making good beers and making good beer business are different things.
Export to China/Japan was quite early, over a hundred years ago.
Of course, after the tour a beer was awarded
Found a very local and affordable place to eat lunch (it was still 20euros for the lunch alone, which was a steal)
Walking along the shore until my Christiania tour starts
Edge of Christiania
Kind of reminding me of the Capital hill’s Autonomous zone back in BLM days in Seattle. I wish we spent more time fighting for safety, equality and infrastructure than identity crisis. Once you have a good overall society those extreme “American” problems would likely go away. Americans either like to “hide” issues such as homelessness, drug abuses and lack of safety including gun control, or overcorrect with affirmative actions and righteous cause in generalizing certain incidents into racism.
What’s funny is, me dressing like a tourist and very unlikely to be a native Nordic and 90% of the time people in Europe would converse with me in their native tone first and only switch I politely apologize that I don’t speak Norwegian, Swedish etc. I consider this as equality not that you happen to have a best friend who’s Asian / Black or whichever that’s different than your own identity.
One more beer for the day
Sunset and golden hour
Day 5
I woke up just 15min before train departure and I managed to get on the train still
Finally riding long distance trains!
After a few hostel days, time for a private room to chill. This was still high season where dorms run up to $80 for a bed in the capitols. So I was lucky enough to use Hyatt points to stay in comfort in Goteborg, Sweden for a few days
Tram to the ferry
Swedish Archipelagos
I was a bit hungry but everything was closed by 4pm… which they claimed their water hours schedule started in Mid august.
Managed to secure some seafood to go. Phenomenally fresh right off the island
One more beer before heading back to the mainland
Sunset
Beer is always a must on a Friday
For some reasons, I saw a Burger King and ordered one…
Was terrible, and the lady forgot my order somehow
Day 6
Breakfast at my hotel was amazing. Scandinavians really prioritize their breakfast
Those ginger shots are so “digestive”
Walked around town a bit
Apparently the Orca is a symbol for swedish democracy?
Rain started to creep in, time for the Volvo Museum!
The buffet food was actually nice, for a bout $15 usd I think.
Volvo safety metals
Various exotic cars
Dinner was just salad with my left over smoked salmon
Day 7
Parkrun!
Probably the best course I have ran.
Later I went to town to “see” the free concert that was cancelled the night before due to thunder. I was not expecting this much wetness already.
I do have to say that the Gothenburg or the swedish government has done an amazing thing in getting its people going. Out of the all scandinavian countries, I do feel the swedish charm, or more so an Magnanimously rich nation.
Expenses
The points converting into dollars maybe throwing the expenses off, but I have budgeted $200 – $250 a day so it’s well within range.
| Week 69 | Currency: | USD | 1 | |||
| Day | Food&Drink | Lodging | Transportation | Other (tickets/tours etc) | Day total | Country |
| 1 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $362.60 | $0.00 | $362.60 | USA |
| 2 | $23.41 | $52.38 | $4.12 | $54.84 | $134.75 | Denmark |
| 3 | $21.79 | $52.38 | $6.05 | $32.30 | $112.52 | Denmark |
| 4 | $51.05 | $52.38 | $16.80 | $46.88 | $167.11 | Denmark |
| 5 | $78.51 | $131.75 | $75.72 | $0.00 | $285.98 | Sweden |
| 6 | $29.71 | $131.75 | $16.69 | $20.84 | $198.99 | Sweden |
| 7 | $91.80 | $131.75 | $18.83 | $0.00 | $242.38 | Sweden |
| $296.27 | $552.39 | $500.81 | $154.86 | |||
| Total | Grand Total: | $1,504.33 |