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Denmark, Nov. 2003 - Sept. 2006
I lived about three years in Copenhagen, Denmark. I appreciate this time as a great enrichment of my life and I'm looking forward to visit my friends in Denmark once in a while.
København
Copenhagen is probably my most documented place in Denmark since I resided in the Danish capital for several years. However, I didn't cut my ties to Switzerland completely. I was still allowed to vote on political affairs back home in Switzerland. Moreover, I got the thrilling quarterly journal 'Swiss Revue' describing Swiss affairs how the government looks upon it. So don't believe everything they say in there...
Copenhagen counts about half a million people, about 1.7 million live in the greater city. That means that almost a third of Denmark's 5.2 million citizens live in the capital. Nevertheless, life in the Scandinavian city is more relaxed than in the banking city Zurich. In contrast to central Europe Scandinavia at the northern edge of civilization offers a lot of space to everybody leading to a relaxing atmosphere. You see a lot of smiling people in the streets!
I enjoyed several short visits from friends!
Louisiana - Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk
The well-known Museum has one of the largest collections of Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti's work outside Switzerland. Giacometti features the backside of the 100 Swiss Francs bill (presently about 80 US Dollars). Maybe this reveals his importance to Swiss society... The exhibition hall in the museum was arranged according to the master's own wishes.
The small city north of Copenhagen is famous for the Kronborg Castle, also called the Elsinor Castle. This castle served as the setup for William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet". Throughout history, the little city took advantage of it's geographic position. At Helsingør, Denmark and Sweden, separated by the Øresund strait, come closest to each other. In fact, right there the Øresund creates a narrow funnel of only 4 km (2.5 mi.) width. In earlier times, all the merchant ships trading between Western Europe and the Baltic had to sneak through that gap - a perfect place to introduce toll! That's exactly what the knights in Hamlet's time did - of course - making Elsinor Castle a rich and strategic very important place in northern Europe. Today Helsingør makes money with alcohol sales. Two ferry lines connect the thirsty Swedes with the cheap beer and wine in Denmark. Taxation on alcohol is horrendously high in Sweden, so high that Swedes carry the cheap Danish stuff container-wise over the strait back home...
Roskilde is famous for its annual rock festival and its medieval cathedral. Since the 15th century all Danish regents have been entombed here. Like Kronborg the cathedral is recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage.
Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød northwest of Copenhagen is one of Denmark's most beautiful Renaissance castles.
The Fredensborg Castle is used today as spring and summer residence of the Danish royal family. Life at this castle was most vibrant during the time of Christian IX, king in the late 19th century. He had family ties to almost all European dynasties such as in Greece, England, Russia and Norway. This adds up to a lot of friends for partying...
At the coast of the Kattegat strait northwest of Copenhagen you find long sandy beaches and lots of pretty cottages. This coast is very popular among Copenhageners for a weekend get-away.
Bornholm is a very picturesque Danish island in the Baltic Sea off the Swedish coast. I spend some relaxing days there together with Claudia in July 2004.
Fyn is a rural island between Copenhagen and Denmark's mainland. Its capital is Odense, a nice little city. It's the place where Møller-Mærsk, the giant Danish shipping company, builds the biggest containerships of the world. Moreover, Odense is the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish poet most famous for his fairy tails such as "The Little Mermaid", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and "The Ugly Duckling". Fyn Island is also known for its many small and beautiful Renaissance castles like Egeskov Castle.
The island of Møn south of Copenhagen features the most famous and most beautiful natural sight in Denmark: the white chalk cliffs and the green sea of Møns Klint.
Malmö (Sweden): Louis Vuitton Acts 6 & 7
Swedish Malmö opposite Copenhagen on the other side of the Øresund strait was host to the Louis Vuitton Acts 6 & 7 regatta in August 2005. The regatta is a selection for the 32. America's Cup in Valencia in 2007. The defender of the 2007 Cup is the Swiss Alinghi team which won the 2003 Cup in New Zealand for the first time. The teams and their yachts were presented in the harbor of Malmö prior to the races. Unfortunately, I haven't met too many other Swiss which could cheer the Alinghi team...
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