Scandanavian Wannabe

Life has been busy!! I just got back from my first international business trip! It was quite the experience. Two coworkers and myself spent 5 days in Denmark learning, attending meetings, and (gulp!) presenting! Presenting in front of 50 Danish engineers like a boss. And while work was productive, the sight-seeing was the best part! So here are a few pictures and stories from Denmark:

 Why hello first time flying business class! The leg room! The champagne! The seat that turns into a bed because it reclines so far! The caviar! The hot towel! 

Welcome to Denmark! Before getting to baggage claim we had to walk through this odd unclaimed baggage hallway, where carts and carts of luggage lined both sides of the hallway. Talk about being a little concerned our bags weren't going to make it! (Spoiler: All of our bags made it!) 

Poor photography here, but yes we were immediately welcomed to the world's happiest nation! This billboard was sponsored by Carlsberg, one of Denmark's biggest beers. I'd recommend trying the pilsner. It was great! 

The pictures above and below show the inside and outside of a basement bar. Although the basement has only been functioning as a bar for a short time, the building existed in 1550! And it was great to be short! I'm not sure the doorways were taller than 5'7"! It was great having the option to try local beers. If only we could have stayed longer. A few hours later and the bar was having drinking song-singing time! Next time I'll have to learn a Danish drinking song to bring back!

The view of the Baltic from our restaurant. You can't tell in the photograph, but we were just able to see Sweden. Talk about having some fresh seafood! Really enjoyed having dinner here in Koge (small town) and getting to experience more of the Danish culture, outside of Copenhagen. 

My absolute favorite picture from my trip. This is Nyhavn (New Haven, in English), which is a little harbor. On the first floor of each building is a bar or cafe where you can eat outside, pick up a beer and keep walking, or stay awhile and people watch. The history here is rich too, as Hans Christian Andersen stayed in the attic bedroom of one of the houses when he had no money. Hands down, on a nice summer night this is where I would be spending my time! 

Either in New Haven, or on this royal yacht! Oldest still functioning royal yacht in the world.  

And this is Tivoli gardens. It's hard to explain, because we really don't have anything like it here in the US. Basically it's a really pretty garden, with restaurants and shops and games and rides. So sort of like an amusement park, but you pay for the rides indvidually. It's interesting to walk around and there are plenty of stages for live music. Great place to spend the last night in Denmark.

I couldn't help but to feel at home. There were so many blondes walking around, I fit right in. I fit in so much that when boarding the flight back to the US I bypassed a form for American citizens because the airline employee assumed I was Swedish! One week in Scandanavia and I blend right in!!