If you walked by her you’d think she was just a lady heading to pick up groceries. She’s a soccer mom in the U.S. wearing yoga pants, boots, and a puffy coat. In Copenhagen, the sex workers look like you and me, but me especially. They are all black women, mostly from Gambia. I hear there are many women from Eastern Europe, too, but mostly I saw brown-skinned ladies wearing athletic clothes, which is pretty much my personal uniform these days. In Denmark prostitution was decriminalized in 1999 with the idea that sex workers would be … [Read more...]
Travel Porn: Copenhagen
What Devon discovered after a too-short sojourn in Copenhagen. Copenhagen's waterways are clean enough for a swim. Whether you dip in the local canal or take a 15-minute train trip to the beach, the beauty of urban living by the sea can't be beat. Any tour that includes two beers is worth its weight, but the Carlsberg campus has the added bonus of being beautiful. The end of the visit even includes an introduction with its giant equine ambassadors. Pet a pony, drink a beer, feel lucky. Nyhavn is the quintessential tourist trap with … [Read more...]
Which Hostel in Copenhagen is Right for You?
In my previous post about saving money in Copenhagen, I highly recommended staying in hostels, even if it's not your usual style of accommodation. I also mentioned that booking well in advance can result in huge savings. While visiting, I stayed in three of the most popular hostels in town. Here is a breakdown of how they compare to help you chose which is best for you. Generator This place is huge, modern and well organized. On the other hand it lacks the warmth and comraderie of the other places. The nature of the hostel is very … [Read more...]
Sometimes You Just Have to Say Yes
I was lugging my 43 pound pack through the city, when this young man offered me a ride in his rickshaw. "It's for free," he said. I was immediately suspicious, but accepted anyway. Today I discovered that when a guy gets married in Denmark, his friends put him up to a series of tasks before his bachelor party. Tasks like offering a strange woman a free ride. Lucky me! What's even better is that he proposed to his fiancee on the Brooklyn Bridge. Discovery #1: Sometimes you just have to say yes. … [Read more...]
A Pear Grows in Denmark
While signing up for a quick gym membership in Copenhagen, I found this tiny pear sold as a snack at the front desk. Two thoughts struck me, and I think I now understand why Danish people think our produce is massive. In other parts of the world, food is cultivated for taste. In the U.S, it's all about durability and size. Also, what a great idea to sell fruit in gyms! Has anyone seen this in the U.S.? … [Read more...]
5 Weird Things Danish People Do
Culture is relative and I try to understand a country on its own terms, but there were a few things that tripped me up as an American in Copenhagen. Balls on Walls What a shock I got when I saw a man's balls on display in a public print ad for a sitcom. And this wasn't some alternative neighborhood either - it was right in front of City Hall and larger than life to boot! Stop Complaining About Taxes My Danish friend told me that the highest tax bracket here is 68%. That makes our 30% look like pocket change. Bikes Come First, … [Read more...]