August 18:
We ventured farther out into the neighborhood this week. We walked to our nearest beach, near Svanemøllen station, and into the neighborhoods north of us. I found plenty of houses to love.
My birthday was this week. We didn't do anything extraordinary for a number of logistical reasons... but what could you possibly do to top living in Europe? Todd gave me two back massages and I didn't have to cook dinner, so I was happy.
I also ate koldskål for every meal and didn't feel the least bit bad about it. Kodskål is a Danish summer dessert of mini cookies (kammerjunkere) in a drinkable yogurt (koldskål). The rough American equivalent would be vanilla wafers or graham crackers in thin yogurt. Trust me, it grows on you.
On Friday, our new friends the Kühlmanns took us out to see Bellevue Strandpark and Dyrehaven. The beach was beautiful! The sand is clean and soft, the water is clear, and it wasn't terribly cold! This tree is extremely old and a priest used to pray in it before there were any cathedrals... the sign was in Danish.
I expected to love Dyrehaven. It's a big park with lots of paths and trees and deer roam free. I didn't expect the number of deer or the size of deer! Biggest I've ever seen!
We were standing in this open area of grass and trees and deer, and I was thinking this place could not possibly be more beautiful. But what's behind you? Just the royal hunting lodge (Eremitage Palace).
Oh, and behind that is the Baltic Sea. Is this place for real?
We inadvertently witnessed a Danish rite of passage at Dyrehaven. School started this week, and the new high schoolers were doing initiation: go to the park, drink alcohol, and let the upperclassmen write all over you in marker. It is SO STRANGE to see teenagers walking around with beers like it ain't no thing. (16 is the legal drinking age here.)
On Saturday, we went downtown to try the antiques market at Kongens Nytorv. Not exciting. So we wandered around a few streets near Nyhavn. It just does not get old.
And walking along, we saw the Vor Frelsers Kirke spire, which Todd had wanted to climb. So we walked over to Christianshavn and climbed it.
On our way back to the metro, we passed this. I love Europe.
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