No, I didn't take that picture. Unfortunately my camera was DEAD at the time. I am planning on going back again and taking many pictures, however. I have wanted to go see the Elephant Gate for quite some time now but I never went because for some reason I thought it was really far away. And I guess it sort of was, when I lived on Amager. But now that I'm in Frederiksberg it's mere minutes away on a bike. And it's awesome. I was probably a bit too excited about being there. :) Well, you know me...
1. Day/Night World Map. http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/sunearth.html I reload this thing every time I want to "check and see if it's dark outside." Because, you know, it's sooooo difficult to get up and go look out the window. Note that during this time of year, Denmark never passes into the actual night. We only go into the 3rd level of twilight. If you were not aware, the three levels of twilight are: 1. Civil Twilight 2. Nautical Twilight 3. Astronomical Twilight I learned this from my favorite aunt when we were living in a campground in Oregon one summer, studying those slackwater flood deposits on the river bank. It was awesome.
2. Pizza with egg. I'm pretty much always obsessed with this.
3. Bike lanes. LOVE them. The bike lanes in this utopia they call the country of Denmark are so wide you could drive a car on them. And they're all for bikes!! 3 bikes could ride abreast on a bike lane easily. They are so amazing. Raised above street level, but lower than sidewalk level. People don't walk on them, nor do they park cars on them or mistake them for a right turning lane. In fact, in a lot of places you have a nice row of parked cars between you and the road, protecting you from traffic. It's so wonderful!!!
In June I spent a week and a half in Utah to attend not one, but two weddings (that's a whole 'nother blog post right there)! While there, it rained every day except one. (Luckily for my brother, the one day it didn't rain was the day of his outdoor wedding reception!) I was excited to get back to Boston where the sun would shine. Unfortunately, when I returned to Boston, the rain came with me. I spent just under two weeks in Boston before leaving for Denmark. It rained almost every day of those 2 weeks. Yay. I bragged to my friends that I was excited to move to a country where they actually had sunshine. Then, I came to Denmark. The first couple of days were nice. Those were also the days I spent trying to recover from jet lag, and sleeping almost all day. Then I checked the extended forecast to see what Copenhagen had in store for me, weather-wise. Here is what I saw:
I Danmark er jeg født, der har jeg hjemme, der har jeg rod, derfra min verden går; du danske sprog, du er min moders stemme, så sødt velsignet du mit hjerte når. Du danske, friske strand, hvor oldtids kæmpegrave stå mellem æblegård og humlehave. Dig elsker jeg! - Danmark, mit fædreland!
Hvor reder sommeren vel blomstersengen mer rigt end her ned til den åbne strand? Hvor står fuldmånen over kløverengen så dejligt som i bøgens fædreland? Du danske, friske strand, hvor Dannebrogen vajer - Gud gav os den - Gud giv den bedste sejer! - Dig elsker jeg! - Danmark, mit fædreland!
Engang du herre var i hele Norden, bød over England - nu du kaldes svag; et lille land, og dog så vidt om jorden end høres danskens sang og mejselslag. Du danske, friske strand, plovjernet guldhorn finder - Gud giv dig fremtid, som han gav dig minder! Dig elsker jeg! - Danmark, mit fædreland!
Du land, hvor jeg blev født, hvor jeg har hjemme, hvor jeg har rod, hvorfra min verden går, hvor sproget er min moders bløde stemme og som en sød musik mit hjerte når. Du danske, friske strand med vilde svaners rede, I grønne øer, mit hjertes hjem hernede! Dig elsker jeg! - Danmark, mit fædreland.
H.C. Andersen, 1850.
(crappy) English Translation ((c) JM and Chris):
In Denmark I am Born. Poem by H. C. Andersen.
I am born in Denmark, this is my home where I am rooted, from whence my world springs forth. Oh Danish language: You are my mothers voice. So sweetly blessed, you reach into my heart. Oh refreshing Danish beach, by where the ancient giant mounds rise between appled trees and hop gardens I love you, Denmark, my father land!
Where does summer make a bed of flowers more richly than down towards this open beach? Where stands the full moon above the clover meadow as lovely as above the fatherland of the bough? Oh refreshing Danish beach, where Danebrog [the Danish flag] waves, - God gave it to us - God grant victory to the greatest! I love you! Denmark my father land.
Once you were master of the whole North ruled England, - Now you are said to be weak, a tiny country, but still so wide around the earth the Danish's song and hammerblasts is heard. Oh refreshing danish beach, where the plow finds golden horns, God give you future as he gave you memories! I love you! Denmark my father land.
I am born in Denmark, this is my home where I am rooted, from whence my world springs forth. Oh Danish language: You are my mothers voice. So sweetly blessed, you reach into my heart. Oh refreshing Danish beach, with the nests of wild swans, In green islands, my heart's home lies here! I love you! Denmark, my father land.
I looked all over the internet for a decent English translation of this song, and when I couldn't find one, I just decided to make my own. Then I bugged Chris about some of the words I didn't know. Feel free to use this translation if you give us credit and money. kthanxbye.
We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. --T. S. Eliot
