Travel Series: Copenhagen, Denmark

As most of you know, I spent 5 months living in Copenhagen and studying at Kobenhavn Universitet (University of Copenhagen).   If you are traveling there anytime soon, here are the spots you need to hit! 

Folketinget (Danish Parliament) passes all laws and serves the people as supervisors of all government work in the Kingdom of Denmark.  Folketinget is located in Christiansborg Slot (Christians Palace) which until 1794 was the primary home for Denmark's King (Kong).  The building below was built in 1914 but in 1167 the first Castle was built in this same location.  Since then many Castles have resided in this same spot.  

Nyhavn (pronounced Nu-Hown) means New Harbor and was built in the 17th Century.  It served as a gateway from the sea to the old city center, Kongens Nytorv (King's Square) and was dug out by Swedish prisoners of War that the Danes had captured during the Dano-Swedish War (1658-1660).

I'm not a big burger or hot dog kinda gal, but the hot dog stands in Copenhagen really know how to make a damn good hotdog.  Just trust me & #treatyoself. 

Rosenborg Slot (located in Kongens Have - the King's Garden) was built in 1624 as a summer home for Kong Christian IV.  Currently, the Danish crown jewels are kept here as well as many other artifacts of the Danish monarchy and culture.

Saint Alban's Church is an Anglican Church in Denmark.  There was a large British population that moved to Denmark in the early 16th century and they brought "The English Church" with them.  

Right next to St. Alban's you will find The Gefion Fountain (Gefionspringvandet).  According to Norse (Scandinavian) Mythology, Gefion plowed away what is now lake Mälaren, Sweden, and with this land formed the island of Zealand, Denmark, where Copenhagen is located. The Swedish King Gylfi promised Gefion the territory she could plow in a night. She turned her four sons into oxen, and the territory they plowed out of the earth was then thrown into the Danish sea between Sweden and Denmark.  

The fountain is the largest monument in Denmark! 

Den lille havfrue (The Little Mermaid) by Hans Christian Anderson is a classic (and a Disney favorite).  She's a lot tinier than you'd think and is the most visited tourist attraction in Copenhagen.  

Bought by Kong Frederick V in 1794 for the Royal Family, Amalienborg Slot was originally built for 4 different royal families in Copenhagen.  It currently is used as the Monarchy's winter home.  Anyone may drive a car through the square, however if you drive around more than 1 time, the guards will chase you out.  During Queen Margarethe II's birthday, Danes gather in the square to sing her Happy Birthday (tillykke med fødselsdagen)!

The Danes aren't particularly religious or spiritual, however about 78% of the population are members of Folkekirken (The Church of Denmark).  It is supported by the state, ruled by the monarchy, but is voluntary to join.  Their religion is described as Evangelical Lutheran.  

Above is Frederik's Kirke (Frederick's Church) or more popularly known as Marmorkirken (The Marble Church).  Inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the church dome is the largest in all of Scandinavia.  

Stay tuned for a post on my favorite places to coffee, brunch, and hang in Copenhagen.  

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Travel Series: Stevns, Denmark

I have had travel fever since I've moved to Chestertown.  

I cannot stop looking up flights to Iceland, Copenhagen, London, France... you name it, I've probably checked.  I just wanna jet off and go!  Since I've been thinking about it so much I realized that I never really showed you photos of my travels while I was abroad... SO, boom. Travel Series. 

I'm kicking it off with a few photos of one of my favorite weekend trips, Stevns, Denmark, a small coastal town in South Zealand on the Baltic sea.  Within the Stevns region, we spent time in the town of Store Heddinge, which came into existence around the 13th century.  Stevns is about an hour from Copenhagen, making it an easy day trip and has just been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  You have to change trains at the Køje station, but the switches are easy and the views are incredible.  Stevns Klint consists of chalk and limestone formed 65 million years ago when a deep sea still covered Denmark.  The chalk has been used throughout the village, having built the churches (kirke) and various buildings and homes in the region.  The chalk cliffs are rare for Denmark and aren't found anywhere else in the Kingdom. 

The cliffs at Højerup have views of the Øresund Bridge and Sweden on clear days.

The Højerup Kirke (church) was built in 1250 and practiced services here until 1910 when parts of the building began to crumble.  In 1928 they lost the back end of the Church into the sea below as well as members of the choir.

Take a seat, these cliffs are 65 million years old.  Around this area, scientists made a #lifechanging discovery.  A layer of the Stevns cliffs called Fish Clay indicated that a giant meterorite had hit the Earth and had been the leading cause of mass extinction across the world.  Bye bye Dinos.   You know what I'm talking about.  We learned this in school, right? Hint: Land Before Time.  Right. And it was discovered right here, so.  Hey, science.  

 Stevns Klint (Stevns' Cliffs)

Gjorslev Castle

St. Catherine's Church  (Sct. Katharina kirke) from the 13th century.

Heading to Denmark soon? Of course you are.  Who ISN'T?!  

While you are there, be sure to check out Stevns.  You'll be glad you did.  Check back soon for my post on Copenhagen.

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Copenhagen Thanksgiving - A Year in Review

[a late post from Thanksgiving]

I was reminded today as I helped Grandma make the stuffing that I was not here for last year's Thanksgiving feast!  I was in wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen.  

I can remember the Thanksgiving feast that my immediate group of friends had the actual night of Thanksgiving that mostly consisted of Americans and Australians.  Instead of an expensive turkey, we opted for chicken wings, boxed mashed potatoes, and boxed stuffing.. not our classiest moment.

But later that weekend we had our very own huge Thanksgiving spread.  

I found my blog post from my study abroad blog, The Anchor Drops and felt a pang of nostalgia as I remembered skyping in for dinner last year while my parents and grandparents celebrated without me.  

Also, just found this from the movie Hans Christian Anderson (1952)

Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen from Danny Kaye.  

Singing it forever more.

Happy Turkey day

Gobble Gobble! 

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Finals Survival Guide

Finals survival guide 2 by hilarybadger featuring a pom pom blanket


Happy Finals Week!
Not much has changed since last year's final survival guide, just the geographic location.

How do you cope with this extremely stressful week?

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Royal Babe

With all the talk of the royal baby I thought I'd recap a few photos of my week in London last fall. 

During my semester abroad I spent my Fall Break with new pals & old in the best city I've ever been to.  

Check out some of my favorite moments.

My two sorority sisters that I hung out with in London!  

Ello from Westminster Abbey!

Rods Darling!

The only statue of George Washington in the UK!  

That week in London was one of the best of my life.  I will never forget the feeling of taking the Tube for the first time or walking on the South Bank by the Thames River at night.  I didn't even explore any of the famous museums while I was there; I simply wanted to soak up every inch of the city I could.   I definitely left a little piece of my heart in London for that short time.  I've never felt so comfortable or at home in a city.   I am counting down the days till I can go back.  

So welcome little Prince!  Can't wait to learn your name! 

Any guesses as to what the name will be?!

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