First visitor

We just had our first visitor from the US, Bill. He just happened to be on business in the UK. He came to see us for the weekend before catching the train, and ferry to Germany for more work. Bill just happened to be the last person we saw in Houston on a couple of weeks ago, but it does feel a bit longer than that.

I picked him up at the local train station, but was surprised he came on a South bound train. I had given him easy directions to get here from the airport, but at some point he got on the wrong train, and had to double back. After a quite stop at the apartment we headed off into town for lunch. We wandered by the Kastellet, through Amalienborg, but just missed the soldiers leaving after the changing of the guard, down to Nyhavn for lunch at Nyhavn’s Færgekro. For lunch they serve a herring buffet with 10 different types of herring. We ordered some beers to drink, but while Ems and Bill for off getting a 2nd helping I ordered some aquavit for everyone, since it goes really well with herring. I think we have all had our fill of herring for a long time now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To walk off some of lunch we talk a walk down Strøget, the longest pedestrian shopping area in Europe towards Rådhuspladsen. After a bit of wandering we happen to find a microbrewery to sample some different beer options. We sat inside, but there looks like there is a nice courtyard to sit outside once the warmer weather comes. We walked back towards the centre again, leaving Emily to cycle home to deal with Gretchen, while Bill and I went to Charlie’s Bar, and she would meet us up after. It was fairly early when we left Charlie’s and headed towards home, stopping for a quick Thai curry before bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day, Bill had arranged to meet an old Danish friend, Dorte, he knew when she used to live in Houston. She drove us into town, and we spent ages trying to find a parking spot. Hence another reason why we won’t be buying a car in Denmark. We went for a buffet lunch at Café Hovedtelegrafen, which is at the top of the Post and Tele Museum, and has some great views over the city rooftops.

2nd Weekend Adventures in Copenhagen

After a busy first week of getting the main things done such as getting a bank account, CPR number and an apartment, we felt the need to do a bit of exploring of our new city. We knew that there weren't dog parks like we had in Houston, but we did hear about Hundeskovene (Dog Forests), where you can let you dog run free. The nearest one to us was a couple of miles away, but even without a car, getting your dog around Denmark is pretty easy. You just buy a dog ticket and you can take your dog on the train.

The three of us got on the train at our local station and arrived at the station closest to Bernstorff Slotshave (Bernstorff Palace Garden) and after a quick walk, Gretchen was allowed to run free. For a dog born in South Texas near Mexico, she absolutely loves the snow and runs around like a lunatic.The cold weather suits her, and she seems to have a lot more energy than it humid Houston. There were plenty of other dog for her to chase and she certainly slept well that night.

On Sunday we took the bikes on a tour into the city. Cycling down by the harbour, along by the Amaliehaven (Amalie Garden) and Nyhavn.

From there we then cycled through the city and stopped of at Torvehallerne, a large indoor food market with over 80 vendors selling amazing looking breads, meats, cheeses, and a huge range of other goodies. We bough a couple of Fransk Gløgg (Vin Chaud) to warm us up while walking around.

Photo of the day

A great name for a kebab shop

Arrived in Denmark

It has been a week now since we arrived in Copenhagen from Houston. We were on different flights to Frankfurt (don’t ask), but all three of us (including Gretchen) flew on the last leg together. We picked Gretchen up in over-sized luggage and she didn’t look to un-happy with her experience. After a quick stop at customs to check that Gretchen’s paper’s were in order we were off to our temporary apartment in Østerbro, Copenhagen. A quick shop at the local shop for essentials and a takeaway Thai for dinner, it wasn’t long before we were all asleep on the sofa before 8pm.

The weather so far has been relatively dry (compared to Scotland), but hovering around 0c and some occasional snow, but very bearable, well maybe for me. However Gretchen has been loving the snow in Fælledparken, and has been dancing around like a puppy. Since she was born in South Texas, and then lived with us in Houston, I am sure that this is the first time she has ever seen snow.

Our walks have also taken us around the lakes, which are frozen at the moment. Gretchen keeps wanting to jump onto the ice and chase the ducks and swans, but again I don’t think she knows that ice is just frozen water and she would hate it if she fell in.

Both of us are now more like proper ‘Copenhageners’. I have a borrowed bicycle from one of Emily’s Houston colleague's father, who lives just around the corner from us, and Em has one from an ex-Houston colleague that now lives in Copenhagen too. We have also sorted out our bank account and more importantly our CPR number, which without you can’t do anything in Denmark.

Last, but not least, we went flat hunting yesterday. We saw a range of apartments from modern to old and large to small, and in the end we have settled on an apartment near Sankt Thomas Plads in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. We don’t get the keys until the beginning of March, which is just as well as our container won’t arrive from Houston until then at least.