Copenhagen

We spent a quick weekend in Copenhagen - and it was the first trip where before going I felt a bit tired of traveling and had mixed feelings about leaving London and not having a weekend at home. But once we got to the airport, spent a bit of time in the lounge and then landed - I was so very glad we did it.

We started the trip with an amazing dinner at Herman to start the weekend. TJ made the reservation, and I didn't really know anything about where we were going.

Barely an hour after we landed, we were seated in a stunningly elegant restaurant where Thomas Herman's staff brought us dish after dish of delights. I loved this description from their website, "At Herman, the chef is writing an ongoing love letter to the Danish classics."

All thoughts of having a weekend at home were banished!


The next day after a fantastic run along the canals, we had a traditional Smorrebrod lunch and spent the afternoon discovering Copenhagen.

We learned about hygge and saw why Copenhagen is repeatedly voted one of the top cities to live in.

"The Danes have a special word for a lighthearted concept that they take very seriously: hygge. It is hard to pronounce and impossible to define precisely. Roughly translated, the word means cozy, but it's far more nuanced than that. Incorporating all things warm, fuzzy, and comforting, hygge is a distinctly Danish thing that embodies the highest aspirations of the culture."

Hygge suggests something easygoing and familiar, but it's also a kind of yearning—a longing to feel cozy and contented without violating that other all-important Danish tenet of never showing off, never standing apart from your neighbor. Somewhere between satisfaction and feeling self-satisfied is the hygge ideal. Think of it as the good vibe of an intimate holiday cocktail party—where the drinks and the friends are well mixed—elevated to the status of a national credo: Liberté, Égalité, Crudités."


A longing to feel cozy and contented.....seeking to create Hygge reguarly is a nice aspiration and a state of being we found in Copenhagen. We popped into a funky little wine bar and I dreamed about recreating it back in Bernal Heights.


Dinner was at Cofoco....YUM!



The next day we had a full Sunday afternoon to continue exploring. We finally hired bikes (as we keep wanting to do in Paris.) It was a comical ride around town.


A quick lunch and we were back at the airport and home Sunday night to create Hygge in London.

One of the fundamental aspects of Danish culture is "hygge", which, although translated as "coziness" is more akin to "tranquility". Hygge is a complete absence of anything annoying, irritating, or emotionally overwhelming, and the presence of and pleasure from comforting, gentle, and soothing things. Hygge is often associated with family and close friends. Christmas time when loved ones sit close together with candles lit on a cold rainy night is "hygge", as is grilling a pølse (Danish sausage) on a long summer evening. These examples, although they do not precisely define "hygge", can give an English speaker an idea of a deeply valued traditional concept of Danish culture.

All of the pictures from copenhagen are here!

Copenhagen