OFF I GO: Arrived at JFK airport for my solo Scandinavia soiree. It’s been a full moon week already at work. Everybody who could be… Shall we say… affected by a full moon came into my office. I wish I could say I left it behind, but Terminal 7 at JFK, WAS LOONEY TUNES: 2 old guys chasing each other through the terminal, everyone on line had like 1000 pieces of luggage, and everyone was arguing with the poor attendants. The young lady ahead of me on line was visibly shaken by the bizarre nature of the evening. She just wanted to get out of there. The bag drop was a 40 minute wait, but security was 5 minutes. Not sure how I feel about that! But I’m now having a blue moon beer waiting for my plane to Denmark. Beer you ask? Yes, my preflight ritual is a glass of white wine. But the bar ran out of white wine, such is this week. I do hope that this nonsense ends at the continental shelf! My flight is delayed, but this is JFK so that is to be expected. Thankfully “Lady Lumps” is blasting at the bar. Such a classy song. I guess it is appropriate to hear Fergie singing as I wait to get on British Airways. Ah the Dutchess. I hope I can get some sleep on the plane. Have an Advil PM for assistance.
JET LAG BEHIND ME: I woke up this morning feeling like myself. Yesterday I had big plans, but it was rainy and I was just too tired. So I just wandered around the old town of Copenhagen, trying to absorb some energy. That first full day after the flight is always the toughest. Last year I scheduled a boat and train trip through the Alps, the year before just wandering around Venice. Got to keep it easy. So today being sunny I think I’ll do the tourist attractions. Last night I got adopted by some Danes close to my age. I love being adopted, especially when I travel alone. I’m a sociable person and I love to interact with people. It is very entertaining to see how people in a different country act and converse. Moreover drinking makes everyone friendly. I also realize that I have so much to learn beyond the guidebooks. I feel like such a virgin in these engagements. I might know the history and the facts about a culture, but I don’t know the language, the intimacy and the social nuances. It’s great losing one’s virginity every trip!
I discovered the Danish have their own cider. I had a delicious pear one. They put lime in it which was interesting. Much sweeter than I prefer but the lime cuts through that. A couple of observations so far: Danish might be the official language, but English is everywhere. The locals seem to speak Danish amongst themselves but English to everyone else, great for sadly monolingual American tourists; Everyone in Copenhagen bikes, I mean EVERYONE. More so than in Amsterdam from what I can tell. So different from the USA. Their bikes have all sorts of attachments too- big baskets, baby buggies, wagons, etc. Very practical. Bicyclists are given priority here. I would totally be up for using a bike with a wagon if the infrastructure back home was in place; Also didn’t anticipate such a cafe culture. Coffee is everywhere here. The cafes in Copenhagen are not like the grand Viennese variety, definitely more bohemian. I must admit to liking the atmosphere in these cafes, but the coffee in Vienna was better. Of course!