Weekend Inspiration #51

On My Way to the Train Station

About a week ago I took the train to the island of Funen (Fyn) to visit my oldest friend Nina. We met each other when we lived in a refugee camp called Hestehaven (no, don't ask but I am smiling broadly while writing this..) during our university years - later on we both moved into a dormitory :-) The last time I saw Nina was before my Big Trip so I was really excited to see her again and to catch up. Spending time with someone who knows you well, where things don't have to be explained, where you start where you left off - that's just the best. 

When I left Copenhagen it was grey and rainy. I left early so I could take a few pictures on my way to the train station and I find it pretty cool that in today's busy world you can still walk around Copenhagen in the wee morning hours and have the city completely to yourself. I like walking through Christiansborg, the Danish parliament building, and when passing the riding tracks I ran into a horse! :-)

While enjoying brunch at Café Biografen in Odense it started to snow big fluffy snow flakes. From the outside you'd see two girls, laughing, talking, gesticulating and eating up a storm. We ended the day at Nelle's Coffee and Wine and it was actually nice to see my old town again - but best of all, of course, was seeing Nina.  

 

Today's Detail

Some days there's nothing better than snuggling up inside, eating freshly baked bread and sipping coffee while reading books and watching old Hollywood movies - and giving your mom a call:-) Today is such a day - I guess exploring art yesterday plus going to art class in the evening has made me a wee bit tired, ha ha!! :-) 

My Day with the Arts!

On my way to the art museum I ran into these guys.... only in Copenhagen :-)

As I've mentioned I've started taking Art Classes at Open University and I have to say it's really interesting. I'm familiar with the different periods but it helps a lot to look into what exactly made the artists tick and the cultural and political history at the time. I've discovered what kind of art and architecture I really like (I am crazy about Renaissance architecture) and what kind of art that doesn't speak to me at all. Now it doesn't feel so strange to talk about Caravaggio, Velazques, Goya or Kandinsky. And also, there is more to impressionism than Monet, just so you know ;-)

The fact that I am no expert was clearly illustrated today when I decided to visit two museums in Copenhagen: The Hirschsprung Collection (a beautiful private collection boasting Danish art by Krøyer, Eckersberg, Ancher etc.) and afterwards the Danish National Gallery (although at that time my mind circled around a Lemon Marenge from Petits Plats more than art...) 

While walking around the National Gallery I tried to make sense of the periods - which I couldn't, of course, and I thought it too bad that there were no Renaissance art around because I figured I was in the right area.... When I left the gallery the information on the wall started that the entire area was nothing but renaissance!!! :-) So I guess I can say that it all seems so easy when you have a professor telling you things than when you start doing the walks around alone, ha ha - or maybe it was that Lemon Marenge... it probably was ;-)

Anyway, my day was lovely and here's snippets of what I saw:

Hirschsprung's Collection

C.W. Eckersberg

Danish National Gallery

Frederik Vermehren: A Jutland Shepard on the Moors, 1855

Body and Art 

Friday I am off to get that Lemon Marenge! :-)

A Month of Fun and Malmø!

February has flown by and brought me surprises and many laughs and much "hygge" thanks to John who is visiting from Australia. Now, who's this gentleman you might ask? Well, he was our Australian exchange student and stayed with us during the summer of 1987 when he was 18 years old.* Back then he introduced my sister and I to 80ties music and thus we spent many days watching Sky Channel and of course, having water fights because it was summer and you can't play badminton all the time.

Birthday gifts from Australia

We don't have water fights anymore and Sky Channel doesn't exist but spending time with him is always a treat and we've toured Copenhagen and visited cool places and cafés - I finally tried matcha tea at Atelier September. I've realized that when you walk with a good looking guy who's very charismatic and speaks Danish, humorous and festive incidents are bound to happen - and so I caught many girls with fluttering eye lashes and curious smiles. 

John and his wife Sonia knows me well and for my birthday earlier this month they and their two daughters treated me to wonderful gifts that couldn't have been more on the mark. Especially moving was a friendship bird from their girls.

The next day the party continued as we, John, my sister and I ventured to Malmø, Sweden, on what must have been one of the coldest days. We had a great day and I'll close with pictures of what caught my eye in the Swedish city.

We started the day with brunch at the very charming and personal café Lille Kafferosteriet - which I highly recommend and which most regular visitors from Copenhagen knows about.

Fell in love with these facades. You'll find these on a tiny charming street close to Slottsparken which leads back to the city centre.

This little lady is called Solrosen and I was immediately drawn to her. To me, as she stands there, she could easily be a real person. 

There is too much bad grafitti on Christianshavn (and because our facade is plastered with ugly signs I was surprised that this made me stop up. I find this pretty.

I don't celebrate Valentine's Day but this flower shop had the greatest display and severalpeople posed in front of the flower heart. Great fun and a great souvenir :-)

Malmø has so many beautiful charming facades - like this Shoe Maker. The City Hall is also very beautiful. Overall the city is a great escape from Copenhagen and even more so in the summer. I already look forward to it.

Oh yes, the surprise?? I applied for a position as a project manager which I was offered. I gladly accepted and is more than ready to connect with the working people again.

*I was 10, wore huge glasses and often greasy hair (who's got time to shower anyway) totally hooked on Barbie (she was my best and truest friend.)

Copenhagen Street Food

I have the pleasure of passing this sign on my weekly visits to the grocery store and if you ever decide to visit Copenhagen this is a must! 

The food stalls are located in an old warehouse on Papirøen - the Paper Island in Copenhagen's harbour. Not as polished as Torvehallerne on Nørrebro, the ambiance is very much a "everybody's welcome" and the atmosphere is super friendly and nice. There is a sense of genuine happiness and love of food. When you're there the sun (when it shines) is on from 11 am till sunset and that is pretty nice, if you ask me. During summer there are garden chairs in front of the warehouse where you can chill out with a meal in one hand and a superb view of the harbour in the other. This summer the bridge from Christianshavn to Nyhavn should be finished (oh, will it ever, sigh!!!) and that'll get you to the Paper Island from the inner city in no time. 

If you're into Danish Design (fashion) you will also find a little café owned by designer Henrik Vibskov called The Spotted Pig. I will do a post on it later as it's quite charming and different. 

To read more about Copenhagen Street Food click here.

Velbekomme!

Weekend Inspiration #50

Hello February!!!

Today I woke up to this view and it made me super happy because after so many months of darkness we need something to brighten up our days. We did get snow right after Christmas but since then... nada, really!  

I still don't know if I have any readers so you probably haven't noticed my lack of posts (instead I've added Weekend Inspirations) but I still want to apologize as a blog tends to get boring when there are no updates. The truth is that the darkness makes me stay inside much more than I usually would and I read loads of books - I also started taking art classes so I'm also reading about art and visiting museums trying to put my new skills into motion (and I don't know how well that's going, to be honest, haha) I still apply for jobs and then I watch all the re-runs of Downton Abbey and basically cry over every episode - but in a good way :-) 

I'm thinking about doing a little tour of my apartment as I love getting a peek into how other people decorate theirs so stay tuned. Otherwise, check out my Instagram account because I do manage to get outside although it may sound like I've turned into a couch potato.  

In the afternoon the snow was almost gone but I did walk rather briskly while running my errands. I do actually enjoy this kind of weather - but maybe it's because I know Spring is getting closer by the day. It was pretty by the canal as usual and the swans seemed happy to see me. Too bad I didn't carry any bread.

Later the sun came out and it's hard to see what's up and down. The reflections are near as perfect when the water is totally still.