Hi Fra København

So many thoughts and now way to connect them! Hello friends, I'm sitting in my dorm (kollegium) here in Denmark enjoying the random spurts of sun and then rain that seem to define the midsummer climate. Did I fly 10 hours only to find myself in a European Seattle of sorts? In some ways yes, but mostly no! Some non-food related things I love about Copenhagen, Denmark, and the Danes:

• baller architecture- its either super old or super modern
• they all speak english REALLY well but choose to speak in Danish to each other even when a non-Dane is around- protect that culture!
• everyone is beautiful
• everyone dresses really well
• people are quite nice but not overly polite like in the US. I have been told to stop apologizing for nothing several times now
• bomb public transportation
  
• the history here rocks, ancient burial sights, Viking ship excavations etc!
• Roskilde Music Festival aka the second largest festival in the world. It's 8 days long, picture Bonaroo or Sasquatch except with even prettier hippies and more drinking. This year's line up includes Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Coldplay, The Mars Volta, Oasis, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Mew and bajillions of bands that you may or may not have heard of depending on your hipster status. This was also the location of the Pearl Jam concert in the 90s that ended with 9 people being trampled to death. Unfortunately, it starts the day before I leave so I can't go...very upsetting.
• Christiania. everything about it.
  
• the Danes like to party, and there's nothing wrong with that

Like Seattlites, Danes really like their bikes. Unlike vegan friendly Seattle, Danes also really like their pork. Denmark is the highest exporter of pork in the world, followed by Canada and then the U.S. This is not a criticism, and I'm certainly not saying the Northwest doesn't enjoy its meat. My childhood was spent under the tables of the Met Grill and Elliott's Oyster House and as the daughter of someone in the restaurant business I enjoyed my fair share of steak, salmon, etc. Furthermore, the latest foodie craze seems to be very meat oriented with restaurants such as Portland's Beast. At the same time, Seattle and perhaps all of the USA to some extent has several food cultures, some based on fast food, others conciousness, some obesity, others anorexia. All of these are extremes and I can't deny that veganism is somewhat of an extreme in comparison to normal food culture in the majority of societies. Seattle is a pretty new city, even for US standards and Seattleites have thus created a very hip and modern food culture often rooted in politics or what is fashionable.

In Denmark, meat and cheese is not a fad or a statement but a culture firmly rooted in history. My Danish familien (school program hooked me up with a Danish family) recomended La Glace, a Danish bakery/ pastrie shop created in 1870. The Danes are also famous for their smørrebrod, or open faced sandwich and a little shop called Ida Davidsen seems to be the most recommended. What I'm trying to say here is: When in Rome, motherfuckers!! I typically try to have 2 vegan meals a day but the rest is open game. I have found a great schwarma stand close to school that has vegan falafells for 27 kr- that's about 5.50 USD, a true steal in one of the most expensive cities I've ever visited. However, I have also enjoyed my share of pastries and even had yogurt for the first time in several months.

My familien lives in Roskilde, about a half hour by train from central Copenhagen. The change in scenery is a bit like going from Seattle to somewhere a little further up north like Camano Island where farms, open fields, and tons of nature reigns supreme. Once in Roskilde, my familen showed me the local sights including burial sights built before the time of Christ, excavated Viking ships, and the camping grounds for Roskilde music festival, all mentioned earlier. My familien also introduced me to traditional Danish cuisine. This involved pickled herring, pork patte, and smoked cheese, all served over 4 different types of bread. DELICIOUS. They were also gracious enough to bake an incredibly cute cake for my birthday complete with 3 Danish flags and an American flag on top of the strawberries. I've noticed a pattern here where everything from their cakes to their juices taste healthier over here-and have less calories- presumably because there's less additives.

I do want to mention a few great vegan friendly places I have found here. Riz Raz has an all vegetarian buffet and I hear there are a few others around the city I have yet to visit (cut me some slack, a normal lunch here costs 20 USD). For anyone looking to be full time vegan, Morgenstedet in Christiania is a shining beacon of hope, and perhaps one of the best vegetarian restaurants I've ever visited. For those who don't know, Chrisitiania is sort of a city within a city inhabited by squatters, decorated by endless walls of beautifully spray painted art, and perfumed by the all too familiar aroma of cannabis and hash. When I walked into Morgenstedet (about 6 hours after getting off the plane) I asked the woman behind the counter what was vegan. Instead of telling me the menu, she began to explain what a vegan is- so incredibly adorable! I immediately felt at home considering abroad but even in the states I often have to explain what it means. Anyways the meal was fabulous and although not extremely cheap it wasn't exactly a bank breaker either = )
Next week, more Denmark, then...AMSTERDAM!
Hi Hi fra V Girl