Has It Really Been A Week?

It's hard to believe that a week has already gone by since I've arrived in Copenhagen. There's so much to share I don't even know where to begin! All I can say is that it's been an incredibly fun, exciting and eventful trip so far. Here's my attempt at summarizing these past several days: 

The Sights: I took the train into central Copenhagen with absolutely no plans or destinations in mind - I just wanted to walk around and explore. As soon as I stepped out of the station I was in awe - cobblestone streets, moss and flower lined buildings, and a number of hole-in-the-wall shops selling everything from antique maps to designer shoes. After a couple hours of window shopping and people watching I made my way up the road to what happened to be the University's Botanical Garden, or Botanisk Have. It was a very beautiful and serene property that seemed to be a popular spot for locals and tourists alike to spend an afternoon.

Botanical Garden

One of the many Greek sculptures in the garden

Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden

The next day I followed the same approach and continued my walk around the city. With no direction planned I made my way down one of the crosswalks and stumbled upon Rosenborg Slot - a castle built in the Renaissance and former "summerhouse" to the Danish monarchy. Similar to the Botanical Gardens, touring the Rosenborg grounds was a great way to take advantage of the rain-free forecast and spend an afternoon.

Rosenborg Castle

Danish Renaissance style

Rosenborg Castle

Walkway to the castle 

The Food: Though the sights of Copenhagen have more than exceeded my expectations, I'm sad to report that the food hasn't been so outstanding at this point. Perhaps I'm spoiled being from California and having easy access to fresh and seasonal produce or maybe I just haven't been eating at the right places, but so far my diet has consisted mainly of bread, cheeses, and meat. This was by no means a bad thing during the first few days but now I'm starting to really miss all the fruits, vegetables, and variety of cuisines that are so readily available back home. I think once class starts we'll be given some good recommendations about cafes and restaurants to check out, though. Here's hoping!

Trip to the market = lots of carbs

My first real meal in Copenhagen at a local sandwich shop

Afternoon snack - I had to substitute my fruits and veggies with something

The People: Whether it's fellow international students or locals, everyone here has been extremely outgoing and friendly. It was a concern of mine, naturally, that arriving in a foreign country and not knowing anyone would make it difficult to settle in and familiarize myself with the area. Copenhagen, though, has really struck me as an accommodating and generous city. The few locals I've been lucky enough to meet here in my apartment have gone out of their way to show me around and introduce me to little known spots that I would never find in a tour book. The students, similarly, have all been very eager to organize socials and explore the city together. Concerts, bbqs, dinner parties, and pub visits have just been a few ways we've gotten to know both each other and the town - a pretty good start I'd say!

Local band, spoke in Danish but sang in English. Everyone loves their American music here

Tomorrow marks the first day of class and I don't think I've ever been more excited for school to start. It's been an unforgettable week so far and I have a feeling it's only going to get better once this course goes underway. Thanks for reading -more stories/photos to come!