Copenhagen, Denmark

(Öresund Strait wind farm) I like bikes. I really do, I promise you. So when I emerged from the underground, freshly excited from the high speed trip over the longest combined road/rail bridge in Europe (Öresund Bridge), I walked into the light of a bicycling paradise that makes Amsterdam look like the Austin of cycling communities (sorry, us Austinites just isn't there yet). The buzz of cyclists, the smell of rubber and thousands of bikes in sight aroused my senses and excitement to an imaginary level. Bike racks were filled to capacity and cars stuck out like ugly heaps of metal. Everyone, of every type, was on a bike and I felt naked without one. Copenhagen is beautiful. The Danes got it right with their bike dominance, blend of old Spire-dominated archictecture, wind generator farms peppering the Öresund Strait and sleek, sexy, simple design identified in buildings, furniture and public spaces. This city is alive and moving -literally, by bike - in all directions with a extremely multicultural and metropolitain look. Oh and don't even get me started on how awesome Christiana is... After sitting in awe and snapping pictures of bikes with my iphone for an hour and a half, I hooked up with my Couchsurfing host at a booze filled skatepark a few steps away from his house. The city was a bit crazy that day because of the May 1st celebrations which observe and support the Working Party around the world and are so Red that they would make McCarthy's head explode. But communism aside, it is mostly just one massive party. I may have had a late night, but I was no where near this guy, when I woke up the next day: The trip was way too quick as I only spend 2 nights and 2 days hanging out with my couchsurfing host, his temporary roommate (a Canadian who had recently migrated on a ferry to Copenhagen after living in Iceland for 4 years) and the most wonderful Danish family known to man, who kept me very happy with games, jokes, wonderful food and warm smiles for my entire stay. Thank you, those pancakes were incredible! So, sorry I forgot to charge my camera and there are so few pictures of Copenhagen, but hey - it may be better off that way! TP