Thank goodness for Europe’s amazing network of transportation, because I have been on the move. I have finally figured out how to navigate around parts of Denmark and Sweden, using several modes of transportation. Upon arriving in Scandinavia, I neglected to make a full proof plan, which has led to spontaneous trips in all different directions.
August 30th ~Starting Saturday, I jumped on a train and headed to Lund, Sweden. My friend that visited the day before, Kathleen, offered to let me sleep on her apartment floor, so it was easy to pick the next stop on my trip. Lund is a college town with over 70,000 students living there.
The cozy cobbled streets of Lund.
Kathleen was in the midst of her orientation so we started the day by attending “field games” where we watched many international students run in relay races and other competitions. Next, we explored the town, walking through the cute botanical gardens and then, hiding from the rain, we ate at a small café. The rain continued all evening, but nonetheless we decided to go out for dinner, then headed to a friend’s apartment. There, I met two lovely Swedish students. Our last stop of the evening was called a “nation” and was a place where only college students gather to socialize. It was an interesting glimpse into what the nightlife is like in a Swedish college town.
August 31st ~Sunday, we met up with one friend from DU and two locals for brunch. The café was darling and the Swedish students said it was the best bakery in town.
Swedish pastry: Kanelbullar
It felt like the true European experience, sitting around in a cozy bakery for two hours sipping lattes and eating a unique cardamom version of an American cinnamon roll. I spent most of the afternoon planning out the rest of my stay and went for a run through the town. The rest of my relaxing, rainy Sunday included Kathleen and I attempting to cook Swedish meatballs and eating with her floor-mates, then watching Pretty Woman.
Aboard the ferry headed to Ven.
September 1st~ Ventures to Ven: Copenhagen and Lund were both busy towns with lots of energy and activity, so I wanted to escape to a place with a little less hustle and bustle.Ven is an island off the coast of Sweden and is located slightly north of Lund. I planned to spend the day there, so I packed a lunch and started my adventure via train to Lanskrona. After arriving, I boarded a bus, and went to the ferry station. The boat ride took 30 minutes and docked in a quaint harbor.
The maze of yellow bicycles.
Taking the road less traveled through the winding hillsides.
The island was slow paced and the day was perfect with lots of sunshine. I’d heard that the trend for tourists was to rent bikes, so I found the shop and received my 3-gear bicycle with a map.The day was picture perfect as I rode along gravel pathways through the coasts and fields. I took a nap on a private beach and ate my lunch.
My attempt at a jumping photo!
My private napping beach.
After riding the perimeter of the island, I found a café and ordered a cinnamon roll and homemade apple juice and read my book.
Later, I returned my bike, boarded the ferry and returned back to Lund. Here, I gathered my luggage and said my goodbyes to Kathleen, then booked it to train station to head back into Copenhagen. I reserved a different hostel, but this time realized that I accidentally booked a co-ed room and walked into a room full of all middle aged men. I was completely taken aback, so I returned to the lobby and they managed to move me to an all girls room. Oh, the joys of staying in a hostel.
The National Danish Museum.
September 2nd~ I moved back to my original hostel, feeling a little more at home this time. I dropped off my luggage and headed out for the day. A block away was the Danish National Museum, so I toured around there for over an hour. It was fascinating to learn about the Danish culture and lifestyles throughout the centuries.
After talking with several locals, I learned that there was one thing that I had forgotten to see during my time in Copenhagen, it’s called Christiania. It’s unlike any other landmark that I visited on Friday and can easily be compared with the Red Light District in Amsterdam. I managed to find my way to this rare place, referred to as the green light district. No photos were allowed but I was able to sneak in a few before getting yelled at by a large, intimidating man.
The smells of weed wafted through the air, and I knew I’d never been to any place like it. There was a specified strip of street that vendors were allowed to sell there “goodies”. There were shops like the sunshine bakery and several other uniquely named places. I only spent ten minutes wandering this street, but the area was filled with several tourists and locals. Compared to all the other historical sites I’d seen during my travels, this alternative scene left quite the impression. The rest of the day, I came back to the Rosenborg Palace and relaxed in the park with the other 100+ people that wanted to enjoy the beautiful 80 degree weather. 
That night, a friend who was a foreign exchange student in Grand Junction during my junior year, and who happened to be from a small town outside of Copenhagen, came into the city to join me for dinner. We met up and wandered the busy streets until we found a cozy plaza. Dinner was lovely and it was wonderful to enjoy some Danish company on my last night in Denmark.
So now, I leave Scandinavia with a few things:
1. 16 krones ($)
2. Three thoughts on the Danish people:
*Every girl is blonde.
** Every new mom, is not only dressed perfectly, but has the nicest, most sophisticated baby carriage I’ve ever seen.
*** If you don’t ride a bike, you’re not Danish.
3. And finally, I have a new found appreciation for the the people and the countries in the northern part of Europe, but am ready to head to a little warmer climate.
Off to find my home for the next 4 months, ¡Hola España!
4. We managed to get lost in the Copenhagen Botanical Gardens
5. We found the place where the iconic Copenhagen picture is taken, Nyhavn.
living unbound. 