Risen but not shining

As I rise without shining
The dawn fog still clouds my mind
Despite the fact that dawn was many hours ago
On this the second shortest day of the year.

I take a walk to clear my head
Driving to my destination, of course,
A land of smashed avocado and faux marble surfaces
And florists, so much Christmas topiary.

My vision of the shoreline is monochrome
but not lacking in glitter
as the sun makes its wary appearance.
Perhaps the sea-breeze will blow me into technicolour?

The cappuccino wears a thick jumper of woolly foam
A hobnob plays companion to my caffeine pick me up
Will this coffee clear the clouds?
Distracted by this vision of avocado and chorizo, feta
and balsamic vinegar, the colour creeps in...
in the periphery of my vision.

Wandering between shoppers back whence I came
A brass band plays
A woman who sells wooden toys comments that today
The shoppers are 'merry'
Makes a change, I suppose.

Clutching a few choice purchases
I walk back to the car
Accompanied by so many dogs!
(and their owners) of every size,
shape and colour imaginable!

Restored to colour I return home.
Risen and not shining but perhaps
Vaguely rosy round the edges,
warmed by the sun, and chorizo, brass bands
and a fleet of shopping dogs!

Copenhagen - København

What: Seaport of the Danes, capital city since the 15th century, aiming to be carbon neutral by 2025.

(Copenhagen Harbour. Image: author's own)

Accommodation: Woodah Yoga Hostel. Amazing; novel space in an old veg. store. The decor was seriously stylish - perhaps the nicest I've seen in a hostel yet. Beds are contained in little pods - great for changing in private, and minimising the noise and light problems brought in with 24-hour hostels. The staff were consistently helpful, one even drew me a walking-route round Copenhagen! Location-wise: Vesterbro is sort-of trendy with slight overtones of dodgy, I'd compare to Bethnal Green in London.

(Woodah Dorm Pods: Image: Europalust)

What can I do on a national holiday? 

So many things! 

• Go to Tivoli and pretend you are a celeb (they all gather there for the Annual Opening of the park), 
• Go on a walking tour of the city (guides leave the tourist info office daily at 10am, for just 100 kroner see all of Copenhagen, learn so very much about Hans Christian Anderson, gaze at 'the Danish Big Ben' until you get run over by a hoard of cyclists. 
• Sample the local delicacies at the harbour - I surprised myself in that I actually enjoyed pickled herring and gravlax.
• So many churches to visit...
• Climb the Round Tower - wide enough to pull the King's wagon all the way to the top!
• Go see a show! I watched Evita, in Danish at Det Ny Teater! The service and surroundings were both stunning; and the staff all look like Buttons. 

(Kir Royale at the Det Ny Teater. Image: author's own)

Christiania - Freetown

One of the places I was encouraged to visit by my hostel host was Christiania. It is an interesting visit; in my head it was a lake-side walk with a nice vegan cafe half way round. What met me instead was this semi-rural anarchic community, the faint smell of cannabis persistently in the background. Christiania reminded me of Camden in that it is famous for being anarchic and controversial but the reality was fairly tame having been subjected to decades of tourism. Christiania houses about 1000 people in its various houses and squats, usually built by the inhabitants themselves. My experience was generally positive but I chose to leave after one circuit of the lake; you get the impression that if you hit a problem with a local, the police would be powerless to help you. Definitely would not recommend a visit alone or at night!

(Christiania. Image: author's own)

Crossing the Great Belt

I left Copenhagen by train to overnight on Fyn, and that involves crossing the Great Belt. To get an impression of how this feels, try entering 'Storebæltsbroen' into Street View; endless sea in nearly every direction. I did all my Danish travel by bus and train, this was neither the cheapest nor quickest way to travel but it did give me plenty of opportunities to check out the Danish countryside.