"Or did you get lost in Amsterdam?" -Guster

Well I made it to the lovely and incredible Amsterdam this weekend past. It was a beautiful city of canals and cannabis! I can't say that I took advantage of the latter but I had a great time in this city by the sea. It was spectacular when we arrived so we decided to make quick use of our I amsterdam Card. Which is a brillant idea if you haven't been. I think every city should do it. You can buy them in the tourist offices and hotels and it's packed with valuable museum entrances, a transport voucher, and lots of free goodies. It's available in 24, 48 and 72 hour increments and it paid for itself almost twice!

The first day we took advantage of a free canal tour prvoided with our cards and so I got a lot of cool photos on the canals of different historical buildings in Amsterdam. I wish I knew the names of all of them but I cannot remember. Probably because we took the night train and had to sit in second class for about 15 hours!!! I didn't get much sleep and what I did get was hunched over my knees as I got the middle seat yet again, Murphy's Law. LOL.

We did some walking around the city on Friday and got some free coffee and snacks thanks again to the card. One was a really cool sandwich called a croquette. It is a fried dumpling that is filled with beef and a pastry made of flour and butter. Definitely not healthy but we needed a good gut grenade to keep us from getting too hungry and spending that precious cash money!

Toured the Red Light District which was very interesting. It's definitely something you have to experience for yourself and a must-see for any tourist. In fact, there is really no way to describe it so you will have to make the trip and see for yourself=)

On Saturday we enjoyed our complimentary breakie and headed to the museums. Brandon had already seen the Van Gogh Museum so we decided to divide and conquer so neither of us would get too annoyed and waste time waiting. I spent at least two hours in Van Gogh. It was awesome. I have already seen some of the ones that aren't there and are most well known like Starry Night, Sunflowers (blue and yellow background), etc... But it was nice to see the progression of his work and the defiance of conventional thought that lead to his fame. It was a great experience. Afterwards I went to see the great Rembrandt across the way at Rijksmuseum. I was really surprised at how small the place was based on the appearance from outside. But I got to see the famous "The Militia of Captain Fran Banning Cocq" I was very happy to see that and the Vermeers.

Also checked out a cool photography museum called FOAM which had a great collection of a Dutch photographer spanning a period of ~40 years. It was really cool to see the evolution of his work and his family which seemed to be a major influence. However, I am not going to try and explain it because I will just sound silly because I don't have the slightest idea about fine culture! His name is Kors Keuze and you can try to find him if you're interested.

Both nights we started at Belgica which is a Belgian beer bar that has a plethora of great Belgian beers and high gravity so we definitely got a good bang for our buck. Unfortunately couldn't get together with some of the other CBS students because we didn't know how to reach them but we wandered the Red Light District sampling beers along the way and occastionally stopping for a coffee to keep us going. I think I was the only person going to the coffee shops for a coffee! It was a good times.

Not much else to say. I had a great time in Amsterdam and enjoyed it's cultural beauty as well as it's pop culture and diverse population. Hope you enjoy some of the photos below. Although the first is from our arrival back in CPH for the Polish goodbye party last night. They made us some bread and it was " Awe-somme" as Karol from the photo would say.

FCK (FC Købehavn)

So last week we got free tickets to see the FC København football game. We all hopped on a bike and made our way north to the stadium. It's a cool stadium that is a big square and has a retractable roof which I believe is the largest in Scandavia but don't quote me.

We watched the game, enjoyed some beer and the company of good friends. In the end the game was 1-0 FC København -Awesome! But the game was eclipsed by good times with friends.

More of Copenhagen

Yesterday after deciding that I had would make a more concerted effort to meet the Danes and have a good time no matter what I decided to go for a walk. Although I didn't meet any new Danes I did get to see a great deal of the city center including the palace and the changing of the guard too! It was pretty cool and totally by chance.

Additionally I am starting to make fast friends with people from class so it's made my recent woes seem distant and now I feel in a good place. Although I did feel a little homesick when I talked to my mom yesterday since we are often coffee buddies. I'll be back before I know it and I think the best is to come here in Copenhagen and Europe now. Looking forward to meeting people and experiencing Denmark, Scandanavia, and wherever else the wind blows! Headed to the city by the sea made famous by Shakespeare tomorrow, Helsingør. Then I will cross the ferry to Helsingborg since the ferry is free for Eurail pass holders. So I'll give that a try as well.

Two Belt Notches...

Well I knew it was going to happen but I didn't think it would be so quickly! Today I was getting ready for class and put on my jeans and tightened my belt. I didn't realize it at the time but it was the fifth belt loop this time instead of the fourth. So I guess that means I've lost about two inches since getting to Europe a month ago, yeah! Although it is partially because I haven't been able to eat enough because things are so expensive it may help me get to my mentally important goal of 200 lbs. and perhaps even 190 lbs. by the time I return to the States. I have been doing Pilates and Calistenics in my room and at the park coupled with some running and a great deal of walking. I truly wish I would have brought two things with me however. The first is my skates and the second is my laptop because they would have served me well. Anywho, I am very excited and thought I would share it with everyone. Feeling better today and decided to make an outgoing effort to meet more Danes, maybe my attitude that had developed about the Danes is also forcing the reality so it's time to change and get farther outside the comfort zone. Keep you all posted as to how it turns out!

"Da' Bears" of Berlin

The City of the Bear -Berlin

So this weekend a friend and I decided to get the heck out of Copenhagen in search of cheap food, drinks, and an all around vacation from Denmark. We set out to Berlin on the morning train from Copenhagen main station. About 2 hours in we hit the ferry from Rødby to Puttgarden. It was a very pleasant crossing on the top deck of the ferry enjoying the stiff breeze blowing as we cut through the water.

After another 4.5 hours we were in Berlin and took the S-Bahn to the Zoo Garden station and descended to try and find our hotel. Fortunately one of the program participants, Roman, is from Berlin and provided us with a very nice map to get us to our destination. The room was very spacious in European hotel terms and was very close to the S-Bahn and center Berlin. We took off for the Orienburger Strauss where there are loads upon loads of nice restaurants -at half of Copenhagen prices! We walked to gain our bearings and settled on a nice cafe near the tv tower where I snapped some pictures of course.

We headed back to the hotel for a change of clothes and to ask the bartender for a solid recommendation where to get some good beer and spirits. He pointed us in the direction of Irish Bar which was amazingly not filled with a lot of English speakers. We met a bartender from Australia who gave us some tips for the following night. However that night we got pretty well lit and had an interesting experience with a German girl who wanted some company for the night. It was definitely an interesting experience and a funny story but I am not going to waste my time with the details here. In the end I had to take her number and told her I would call the next day in order for her to let us leave without her following us to the hotel -never a dull moment I guess.

Saturday we woke up a little late and had some breakfest about noon and then hit the trail to see The Brandenburger Gate, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, East Side Gallery (where we got some film and photos of a peaceful demonstration against some commercial development taking place near the gallery that is a haven for the alternative and artistic of Berlin), also checked out a Holocaust Memorial, etc... After all that we headed to Orienburger Strauss a second time to actually have a little dinner at one of the many other restaurants. It was delicious and cheap and we were lamenting our misfortune in the uber-expensive Copenhagen all the while. Afterwards we headed back to the hotel to change for the evening's events. We got a message from Roman who decided to meet us and take us somewhere nice. We went to Hackescher Mkt in one of the patio bars/clubs named Dante to meet him. We arrived before midnight but because Roman was travelling from his parent's house it took him until 1:00 to arrive. So he recommended that we go to a place in East Berlin. We agreed. So we started walking because Roman said it was only 2 stops, bad idea. I got to see a cool part of Berlin but we walked almost an hour to find that it had closed after we had passed two other places that were hopping! So we walked another half hour to the student section and found a lot of cool bars and cafes where we had some beers and discussed a number of topics about Berlin.

We headed home and took the S-Bahn which was another 30 minute walk from the bar. At around 4:30 we got to the hotel, the sun was already getting ready to come up as the sky was very light by now. The next day we took Roman's advice, with trepidation, about an area that has good, cheap brunch buffets. This time Roman came through and we ate well one last time before the rationing begins again in Copenhagen, haha. Took the train home enjoying some cheap shopping aboard the ferry getting some Martini Bianco and a few cases of beer to split up. Arrived home at 11:30 Sunday evening and decided to have a couple of beers at Brandon's place with a great courtyard. Was joined by a lovely Norwegian and we talked and drank beers until I finally headed back to bed so that I could get get up Monday and start my Copenhagen life again. It was a great weekend and makes me anticipate the rest of my trip. I hate to say it but I think that Copenhagen is nice but not for me. I'm ready to see more places like Berlin.

Copenhagen is hospitable as are it's people, however I don't find it very friendly or warm.

One belt notch down...

As I may have already said this is a very expensive city. However, I guess that it has it's advantages because since arriving in Europe I have already lost one belt notch and I imagine that the second isn't far away. It stems from two different reasons, the first is that I am forced to eat less every day because the food is just too expensive to really overdo it. Second, I am walking at least an hour every day and I have been doing some Pilates. I am looking into the gym here on campus because I can get a membership during my time for about $50 so since I would like to keep up my good habits I think it's a worthy investment. Maybe if I am lucky I can get a discount since I have waited a week to join, keeping my fingers crossed but not holding my breath because I think that the CBS is a succesful business as well, haha!

I have had some cool stuff happen during the last week as well. One is to see my old exchange student Louise from about 17 years ago, geez I'm getting older... She is doing well and works in an architecture firm. Her background is in Anthropology so she works in design/urban planning and she helps to create spaces that are funcitional and provide the human element that the architects don't think about. On top of that is the sensational news that perhaps before I leave I will get to meet the newest edition to the Kielgast dynasty. Louise is pregnant and has about 7 weeks to term, so if the little girl decides to make a curtain call a little early I may get to meet her! Pretty cool.

Next, I worked my way into the Porcelænshaven 24/7 reading room to do some emailing. As I am sitting there a girl walked by and I thought that she was very familiar. She looked like a Danish girl that lived in the Cour des Muses building during my time in Lyon. My friend Richard had a big crush on her in fact. So I stopped her to say hello and inquire whether she had ever lived in Lyon. As the words came out the recognition came across her face. It was Maria, What a small world after all!!!

We took about 30 minutes to catch up on the current events and trade numbers to try and get some of the crew together from Lyon as most of them are still here in Copenhagen. She is currently writing her Master's thesis which apparently takes quite a long time her in Denmark. It was just serendipidous to see her by chance. I am very happy because I haven't had any luck finding anyone on Facebook because its just now becoming a phenomenon here in Denmark. So again my lovely Lyonnais séjour is coming back to me.

Yesterday one of my new friends from UNCC, Vaughan, and I went to the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek since the museum is free on Sundays. They have a very cool collection of sculpture that ranges from Danish to Egyptian to some really nice Rodins. I snapped many pictures, especially of the Rodins of course.

The weather has been very nice as Maria and Louise have told me that usually it's not this nice every day during the summer. But except for last night it has been sunny and warm every day since I have arrived. Maybe I am bringing that lovely French weather along with me :)

Next week the CBS program is going to Berlin and since it's about $250 to go along with the trip and it's mostly a tour guide event with a lot of free time so I decided to go as well using my rail pass. Instead of $250 I spent ten dollars making the reservations and I am travelling by train in lieu of the buses the others are taking. My friend Brandon may be going along with me and if so we are talking about staying in a hotel room. Do you know what I am looking forward to most? I want to veg out one night and just watch some television! What an American thing to look forward to isn't it? I have nothing in my room so I am hoping to do some reading and just got my library card so I can check out books now. I have no idea where I am going to start but I think it's going to be something that my high school English teacher would be proud of me for choosing. Even thought it may serve to give me something to fall asleep to at night.

This is me during a game and a rule was made that if you said drink you must put your forehead on the table. To my credit I was one of the last to do so. But it's still a very clever rule and you should use it the next time you party with 20 year olds!

Good Times...

Settling in to Copenhagen

Here I am in this beautiful city by the sea. The temperature reminds me of early Spring with warm days and cool nights. It´s amazing that it´s July and I have to carry a jacket in my bag or I may get too cold. However the most eery thing is the light when you are this high in latitude. The sun barely goes down for about 4 hours so at 11:30 you can still see light and at 3:30am the sun begins to come back over the horizon, it´s really bizarre but it makes you get more done because you get up earlier and stay up later.

The train from Paris wasn´t bad at all as I had a sleeper in 1st class and got a few hours rest. However the conducter stopped to give me my ticket because my stop was coming up soon so I got up and collected my things. I got the train at Hamburg HBF just as it said on my ticket. The station was a little smaller than I had imagined but no worries... WRONG!

I stopped by the information desk and the girl told me that I needed to go to the "main" station! Another girl and myself were both headed to Copenhagen and made the same mistake, and she has family there so she must usually go a different route. The girl told me to take the metro so we both hopped on and then got out and we weren´t even close. There was noone on the streets at 8:30 Sunday morning and we were both very surprised. We had about 30 minutes to get to the station and make our train so when I spotted a cab I took the opportunity. A 30€ cab ride and we made it with about 10 minutes to spare. The only thing that I had eated in about 16 hours was my last meal at Fred´s. Since I didn´t have time or money to get anything at the station I survived on a free Snickers bar and coffee from the first class car. Sometimes being older and not getting the reduced tickets has it´s privileges :) Next I was amazed by how the train crossed the sea between Germany and Denmark by ferry. I had no idea that we would do that so I was astonished when the conductor said that once we pulled into the ferry we would have to deboard for the ferry ride. It was pretty cool because the train just pulls into the ferry on tracks, then pulls out on the other side. I have some cool pictures of the train that I will post soon when I remember my adaptor.

So after arriving to Copenhagen the lovely Karina met me at the station to give me my key. I was very thankful because she took an hour or more to find me on a Sunday, Skøl to her! I decided to get some practice in for my trip so I walked to my apartment with the pack and all through walking boulevard, very cool. When I arrived I knew what was waiting because as always I was on the top floor of the building. I was surprised to learn that I had a roommate because I asked for a single room before I was thinking about couchsurfing it, and since they made me take a place I wanted a single room because sometimes you just want the comfort of your own place. I stopped by the office to see about my room and they said they would email me... I stopped by two days later and they hadn´t even looked but the lady was nice and took a some time to help me find a cheap, single room with a shared shower. No worries because I was sharing a shower with 8! But it is unfortunate because we had a nice kitchen and a French press for my coffee but I can manage something at my new place, there´s no oven but it has a fridge and two burners so that´s enough for 5 1/2 more weeks.

Classes are a little bit of a joke so far. An Italian woman whose English is very broken and one 15 page paper to grade, remind you of anywhere lovelies? The other is corporate finance but I don´t think that the exam will be difficult based on today´s class. All the better for your narrator since I am looking to enjoy myself.

On to the question of money. As everyone knows the dollar is no longer the currency of power and so it´s an exponential effect being in the fourth most expensive city on earth. A six-pack of beer in a little corner grocery is $12, granted the beer is excellent. The average dinner at a restaurant based on signs, not having eaten, is about $30-40 without beverages!!! I am only eating a breakfast of meusli and yogurt with a coffee press, a small snack and a piece of fruit for lunch and then a dinner. When you count in that I am walking so much I must have already lost a kilo since Sunday, lol. But I have to be very careful because it´s so expensive. One last example is a metro ride is $3.50 for one hour of travel, incredible! Sean is learning how to be frugal and humble at the same time.

The upside is that I am in a beautiful city and meeting heaps of great people at the same time. Last night there was a little backyard BBQ and I got sloshed with people in my flat and the the neighbors across the street, it was a heck of a good time and cheap too! Life is good, maybe tastes a little better when you have to make the ends meet. I appreciate everything a great deal right now...