Copenhagen or BUST

It's over. 10 days with Keith went by so very fast. In some ways I feel like we were just getting started. But all good things must come to an end, right? No, this is just the beginning. How to manifest all I've learned into my everyday life? I'm not sure, but that is the key. Baby steps, as Bob says, will help to integrate the wisdom of Keith into my work, all my relationships and my future.

After heartfelt goodbyes, some tears and a lot of hugs we all started going our separate ways. I am sad to leave this place of peace.

Mia, Bill, Gabrielle, Pita, Caro and myself boarded the bus back to the train station. The first leg of the trip, a 1 hour bus ride was hot and slow. I spent most of that time trying not to get bus sick. The ride was beautiful nonetheless. It was slowly sinking in that everything was over. The commute just extended the reality. From the bus to the first train, then on to the second train and finally our arrival into the city. Mia and I bid farewell to our friends and left for her apartment; about a 15 minute cab ride.

Like my arrival in Copenhagen, I was struck by the beauty of this bicycle city. Everywhere I turned there were people on bikes. Each street hosting two lanes of bike paths. Old, young, families, and pedicabs. You were more likely to get struck by a bicycle than a car. It was amazing. Outside of the train station there must have been 500 bikes parked waiting for their owners to return from work. I found such pleasure in the idea of that type of commute on a community level. Pittsburgh has its share of bikers, but nothing at all like this. We can learn a few things from this progressive city.

Mia's apartment is cozy and the bathroom, like most bathrooms in the region, has a interesting take on the shower. While in there I noticed a drain on the floor and I thought "what a great idea, how easy it must be to mop the floor with so handy a drain." Then I looked up and saw the fixtures for the shower. "How does the toilet paper not get wet?" Mia's response was simple, "you just move it." How American of me.

We were exhausted. All I wanted to do was take a nap, but how could I nap when I'm in a new city? I knew Mia would have probably preferred to just rest, but being the wonderful person that she is napping was not part of the plan. We showered (I very much enjoyed my bathroom experience, though I did forget to move the paper) and off we want to have dinner at one of Mia's favorite restaurants.

We boarded a bus (great public transportation in this city too, aside form bikes) and headed to Central Station. We got off in front of Tivoli, the famous amusement park in Denmark that is reminiscent of Kennywood, and walked through the city to our destination. So many people converged on the streets. It was like East Carson Street time 10,000, I am not even exaggerating. I was a bit overwhelmed, I must say. Coming from the quiet of the country I was not prepared to see so many people.

The restaurant Mia was taking me to was one of her favorites, a place she used to go all the time when she lived in that neighborhood. Indian food. I was happy; although the food at the workshop was wonderful, I was looking for a little more spice. She was hoping we would be able to get a table. Interestingly, we arrived to an empty restaurant. "How strange" she commented. It was a Friday night after all. I didn't mind as the crush of the crowded street sent me into a bit of a shell.

We ordered and waited, and waited and waited. This was not the restaurant she remembered. We laughed and laughed and imagined this was an improv exercise and that Keith would pop out of the kitchen at any moment and say "what comes next?" We could just hear him, "You're in an empty restaurant, you order and the food never comes." Mia ordered a glass of wine and the waiter literally left for the liquor store in order to get a bottle. Hilarious. My food was terrible, unfortunately, Mia's was fine. Regardless, it was a memorable experience.

After the "meal" we walked to meet some workshop friends for a beer. On the way Mia ran into a friend, Johann. We decided to have a beer together and hang out. In Copenhagen they have these things called Kiosks. It's like a 7-11 (which apparently have invaded Denmark) but unlike in America, or at least Pittsburgh, they sell beer. Outside these Kiosks are tables, almost like a cafe. Each table was marked with a no beer drinking sign. The alternative for everyone was to move to the grassy median in the middle of the street and cop a squat. Strange. The other strange thing is that 16 is the legal drinking age in Denmark. I found it a little icky to drink alongside teenagers. My American PC values are so ingrained I felt like someones mother at a frat party. We finished our beer and said goodbye to Johann and headed off to meet the workshop boys.

On the way Mia took me through Copenhagen's red light district. Pot and prostitution are legal and Mia talked about the highs and lows of that freedom. Lots of young women from Russia and Africa being pimped out for the trade. Legalized drugs and prostitution might seem progressive but it comes with its dark side for sure.

We arrived, had a beer in a wonderful beer garden that made their own beer. I had been drinking pilsner for the last few weeks and longed for an IPA. They had one infused with flowers, not my style. I ordered a regular and after the first sip was immediately wiped out. Try as we might I could not extend this goodbye any longer. It was evident, this was it. Goodbye Stef, Zig, Erik and Sergio.

We decided to walk back to Mia's and about 2 hours later we made it. Crash!!!

The next morning we dragged ourselves out of bed and went to meet Stef and Norbert for brunch. We decided to go to Christiania. The "Hippie Commune" where hash and weed is sold openly on the street. No pictures allowed by rule of the council of the community. This was a squatters town, full of vegans, children, oddly shaped houses and little nooks for hanging out and hitting the pipe. On some corners they had places where you could drop off and take clothes that people no longer wanted. Dogs ran amok and art covered just about every surface. I could definitely live here.

After an awesome meal, I would say the best meal I've had since leaving the states, it was time to get to the airport. Olso was calling and I had to answer.