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Adventures in Copenhagen: New Friends, New Food & Secret Neighborhoods

By The Girl Next Door is BlackPosted on 12/22/201401/29/201510 Comments2min read156 views
"Little Amsterdam" in Christianshavn, Copenhagen Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
"Little Amsterdam" in Christianshavn, Copenhagen

2 min read

Standing in rainy Copenhagen  | The Girl Next Door is Black
Brrrr! It is chilly and rainy this time of year in Copenhagen. It’s been on average low- to mid-40s, with a bit of a wind and rain everyday.

The Danish guide from the walking tour we took earlier in the day, Magnus, also led that evening’s four-bar pub crawl. The group of about 15 included a few familiar faces from the earlier tour and represented several nations including England, Australia, Columbia, Trinidad, Peru and, of course, Denmark.

Also in our group: two progressively drunker American dudebros. Later in the night, one of the dudebros stumbled in front of a politi (police) car and started to give them lip, which they didn’t find amusing; neither did I and neither did Magnus as he warned, “They don’t like that.” Sigh.

 

Whiskey Shots Ad Saloon Bar Copenhagen, Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
50DKK is a little over US $8.00
Bartenders Saloon Bar | The Girl Next Door is Blaack
The Saloon Bar has free popcorn – one of my favorite bar treats!
Me & Z with (l to r): L from Peru & A & S from England. My fellow afro-haired new friend A made my night when he told me he thought I (and my friend) looked no older than 25. When 22-year olds think you're in their peer group, it makes you feel good.
Me & Z with (l to r): L from Peru & A & S from England. My fellow afro-haired new friend A made my night when he told me he thought I (and my friend) looked no older than 25. When 22-year olds think you’re in their peer group, it makes you feel good.
New Group of Friends at Saloon Bar Copenhagen, Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
Most of the group at Saloon Bar in Copenhagen. We blended quite well and I think everyone had a good time given the smiles and laughter surrounding me.
New International Friends | The Girl Next Door is Black
With the sisters from Australia and _ from Trinidad. We had a fun-spirited debate over who was more talented between Iggy Azalea and Nicki Minaj. You can guess who the Aussies and the Trinidadian chose. I broke the tie with a vote for Nicki.
New Columbian Friends | The Girl Next Door is Black
With two Columbians who told us they are over the jokes about cocaine which I can imagine is even more tiresome for the one woman who is from Medellin.
Friends at the Saloon Bar Copengahen, Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
Fun Times!

The next morning jet lag hit me hard. We gave in to the Danish spirit of “hygge” and slept in before starting the day. On the agenda for our afternoon: a free walking tour of the neighborhood Christianshavn and the very unique “freetown” Christiania.

Before the walking tour, we stopped for lunch at a fantastic indoor market, Torvehollerne, the largest food market in Copenhagen, where vendors sell food and goods from around the world.

Open-faced sandwiches, or Smørrebrød, are popular in Danish cuisine. It’s not just the taste that’s important with these buttered, rye-bread based sandwiches; presentation matters, as well.

Torvehollerne Market Copenhagen, Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
One of the two buildings that make up Torvehollerne in Copenhagen
Inside Torvehollerne | The Girl Next Door is Black
Inside Torvehollerne
Tapes & French in Torvehollerne
A Spanish tapas place next to a French gastronomy mini-restaurant.
Smørrebrød with salmon Torvehollerne | The Girl Next Door is Black
Smørrebrød with smoked salmon with a tart cream sauce. Tasty.
Smørrebrød with pickled herring and eggs
I didn’t catch the name of this sandwich, but from what I gathered, it’s an egg salad on rye bread topped with pickled herring (I think). I liked the egg salad, the pickled meat on the other hand made my cheeks concave.
Fish for sale in Torvehollerne | The Girl Next Door is Black
So much fish for sale in Torvehollerne

When we met up with the tour group, we noticed the Columbian girls from the previous night’s pub crawl and greeted them. Magnus, the wonder guide, led this tour too.

Scenes from Christianshavn

Børsen Stock Exchange Building Copenhagen, Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
Børsen, the oldest stock exchange in Denmark
"Little Amsterdam" in Christianshavn, Copenhagen Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
“Little Amsterdam” in Christianshavn, Copenhagen
Cop
Hello Copenhagen!
Church of Our Saviour, Copenhagen Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
Church of Our Saviour with it’s beautiful spiral has a carillon that plays songs each hour.

On our way to Christiania, a freetown within Christianshavn, Magnus explained some of its history. Christiania is like a hippie commune; the less than 900 residents live a bohemian lifestyle with few rules. One notable rule: no cars allowed.  Magnus warned us that by appearance you’d think it’s the kind of place one might avoid: dilapidated buildings; people wearing disheveled, stained clothing; graffiti-covered facades; overgrown flora and an overall sketchy vibe. There are also shops, restaurants and an annual Christmas market within Christiania. Magnus assured us “it’s safe”; probably one of the safest areas in the city.

Within Christiania you’ll find the “Green Light District,” also known as “pusher street,” a small area where dealers openly sell marijuana and hash; no questions asked and no harassment or involvement from law enforcement. As long as no hard drugs are involved, everything is copacetic. Anyone caught with hard drugs has the option of either  going to rehab or permanent banishment from the town.

I didn’t take very many photos in Christiania, partly out of respect for the culture and partly out of fear of being kicked out embarrassingly. Photos aren’t allowed within the Green Light District at all.

Christiania Copenhagen, Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
One of the entrances to Christiania
#PusheroftheDay Christiania Copenhagen Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
Seen in Christiania

We were still in Christiania by nightfall when we got caught up in sudden rainstorm that sent everyone scurrying for cover. Once the rain ended, we carefully found our way out of the sparsely-lit, creepy-in-the-dark, maze of Christiania.

Our evening concluded with a French-influenced dinner at Grill Royal.

Mussels / Moules at Grill Royal Copenhagen Denmark | The Girl Next Door is Black
My big pot of mussels

 

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10 Comments
  • Seana Smith
    January 29, 2015

    Hello, I would so love to visit Copenhagen, have never been anywhere in Scandanavia except a quick visit to Finland years ago for work. Would love to be a tourist there and have a good look around like you – love it.

    Reply
    • The Girl Next Door is Black
      January 30, 2015

      Ooh, Finland. I want to visit! I’ve heard it’s different from the rest of the Scandinavian countries. Copenhagen is a wonderful place to visit; hope you get to go one day!

      Reply
  • Sally@Toddlers on Tour
    January 29, 2015

    Looking at your photos reminded me of my backpacking days around Europe. I wish I could have blogged about it back then.

    Reply
    • The Girl Next Door is Black
      January 29, 2015

      I know what you mean; I think that about trips I’ve taken before I had my blog!

      Reply
  • Malinda (@MBPaperPackages)
    January 29, 2015

    That open sandwich sounds great! I think I would spend a lot of time in those markets, just eating.
    Thanks for joining in my #wednesdaywanderlust travel link party!

    Reply
    • The Girl Next Door is Black
      January 29, 2015

      We did go back to the market a few times during our trip. Got to try a couple more places. Good stuff!

      Reply
  • aparentinglife
    January 28, 2015

    Wow looks like lots of fun was had. Thanks for sharing. Swinging as part of #wednesdaywanderlust

    Reply
    • The Girl Next Door is Black
      January 29, 2015

      It was. Will have some fond memories from this trip! 🙂

      Reply
  • BritishMumUSA
    December 28, 2014

    Awesome, and as for the embarrassing American tourists, I am a Brit and the Hubs is American and when we toured the world, he hid his accent sometimes for fear of another loud American recognizing it and then thinking that that was a free for all and to be his other loud buddy. Most Yanks are OK travelers but there are some out there…… Ugh !

    Reply
    • The Girl Next Door is Black
      January 29, 2015

      Yeah, it’s the loud Americans that stand out. I’m always ready to pretend I’m Canadian if need be. :p

      Reply

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I'm Keisha ("Kee-shuh", not to be confused with Ke$ha). I am a (later) thirty-something, non-mommy, non-wife, who lives in San Francisco, California New York and has lots of opinions on lots of things.

On The Girl Next Door is Black you'll find content on everything from race, culture, gender, and other socio-cultural issues, to travel, pop culture, and tales from my daily life.

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