Opa & Saskia Take Copenhagen

Two weeks ago, one of my favorite people, my grandfather, came to visit me in Copenhagen! After six weeks of adjusting to a new style of living and a new city, it was comforting to see a familiar and friendly place. We had a wonderful time together over 4 days, and below are some snapshots of our time together.

Trying traditional Danish pastries!

I don’t think you can come to Denmark without trying the pastries here. They are absolutely delicious and addictive. I feel myself being physically pulled toward Lakagehuset (translation: The Cake House; a bakery in Denmark) every time I walk by, and I know my favorites: direktorsnegl, pain au chocolat, and a delicious carrot cake topped with cream cheese frosting and pistachios I ate for my birthday. Pain au chocolat isn’t exactly native to Denmark, but there are some pastries that Denmark can claim: tebirkes (a buttery pastry filled with a poppy seed paste and kanelsnegls (a specific type of Danish cinnamon roll)

Walking around the city!

I am so grateful to be living in the center of the city where I am less than a 30 minute walk to some of the major tourist attractions in Copenhagen. Being in the center of the city also means that I get to walk by some of the nicest parts of the Copenhagen, including the courtyard (pictured below) that’s right across the street from me and actually looks like a movie set. But while Copenhagen is a very walkable city, it’s not very accessible. Though I occasionally take public transportation, I live on the fourth floor of my apartment and walk pretty much anywhere I go. That’s great for a relatively health person in their 20s, but a bit more difficult for someone who is 83. On active days, I walk close to about 3 miles, or 10,000 steps, on my own. On our two busiest days in Copenhagen, Opa and I walked about 16,000 steps per day, which is close to 7 miles! With that much walking, anyone would need a nap in the afternoon!

Visiting the Louisiana Museum of Art!

From my first week here, everyone has been encouraging me to visit the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. The museum is located about 25 miles outside of Copenhagen, just a quick train ride away. It was wonderful to eat lunch outside and see the coast of Sweden across the water. We also explored all the exhibits and then had coffee afterward, because art museums can be exhausting. The museum was a good mix of art types, from the outdoor statue garden to a photography exhibit featuring the work of Lauren Greenfield.

Visiting the Black Diamond!

The Black Diamond, the newest extension of the Danish Royal Library, is one of Copenhagen’s architectural masterpieces. It is one of the coolest buildings I have ever been in, and, if I ever work up the motivation, a fantastic study spot for the future. The building is surrounded by glass windows which allows natural light to light up the building (since this is Denmark, and there isn’t always an abundance of sunlight, fluorescent lights are used too).

Taking a canal tour!

After visiting the Black Diamond, we hopped on the nearest canal tour. The temperature had dropped and it was windy, but the boat was covered and the sun was shining enough for some relief. I finally got to see the famous Little Mermaid statue, which our tour guide deemed “one of the most disappointing tourist attractions in the world”. From the boat we saw the Danish Opera House, which people dive off in the summer, and CopenHill, ski slope built into the side of a building.

Overall, I had a wonderful time exploring the city together. I’m grateful for some great meals, new sights of the city, and some interesting discussions on Danish language and culture. Our time together left me with a greater appreciation for Copenhagen and all it has to offer. Thank you for everything and love you Opa!