Copenhagen Dreaming

"To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give,

To roam the roads of lands remote,

To travel is to live"

- Hans Christian Anderson

I adore Copenhagen. A city that feels more like a large town. So how exactly, do I put an abundance of feelings into words, knowing that it will never be enough? It was as if I woke up from the quietest dream remembering every single detail yet not being able to tell you what it was about. I woke up in the morning on my first day looking out at the sea from my balcony realizing that everything taking place over the next few days will be mine to keep, with no one else but me. And I thought I would want to recount the adventures of traveling alone, and write a detailed solo travel Copenhagen guide but this idea quickly diminished as I fell so deeply for every little thing I saw and every extra mile I walked. My heart was blooming for it all, and it hit me that I was never going to be able to put these emotions into words. Hence it did take a full year for me to finally do something with these memories and feelings. And I did consider doing this post entirely with photos, but then again this beautiful place deserved to be celebrated with both visuals, and with words.

I realized when alone, I am a slow traveler. I love being able to take my time with everything, without having to bother about the next thing on my list. But I was not always like this. Maybe it's the city. Everything moves at a slower pace, everyone looks happy. Or maybe I really just wanted to leave out some of the spots so I can return someday. There were few signs of spring in early May, in fact I was under-dressed for the freezing weather.

I walked the oldest street in the city, Magstræde twice just so I could admire all the colorful facades. I thought all these places on my list were going to be crowded and I would struggle taking photos, but they weren't at all. There was always the perfect amount of pedestrians on the streets, enough to feel safe but never too many that it became alerting. It began to rain when I started making my way up the spiral ramp of Rundetaarn (The Round Tower), which gave me an excuse to linger and attempt a few self-timer shots. Hopping onto a train to visit The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art was the best spontaneous decision I made when I woke up on my last day (though if I were to be completely honest everything I did in this trip was "scheduled" in favor of spontaneity). The landscape and architecture of this museum built by the shore of the dividing sea between Denmark and Sweden blew me away. Together with the sculpture park, It sat perfectly still by the waters, tranquil and undisturbed. Getting to experience Yayoi Kusama's permanent installation without having to stand in line made the museum trip even more special. Included are two self-timer shots attempted in this trip.

I surprised myself, because I did not eat at a ton of places like I normally would during this trip. Like I wouldn't go to Noma alone (saving this for the future). But I certainly had my moments with food. The most memorable bite happened at Anderson & Maillard where I had their signature chocolate-swirled croissant. It was life changing. Thinking about the chocolate-filling still gets me emotional, and I can no longer eat other chocolate croissants the same way. It made me question why we only get 2-3 bites of chocolate in every other bakery selling chocolate croissant (what a scam)?! I also spent the loveliest, sun-soaked morning on my last day at the famous Atelier September people watching over coffee & a granola bowl. I learned that eating granola with grapefruit slices was probably one of the most hipster things ever but also absolutely delicious (goodbye yogurt / milk), and I got to chat with the kindest barista who shared with me some key ingredients so I could attempt to recreate their house granola. Torvehallerne was a lively and vibrant marketplace to walk around, offering a ton of food stalls and fresh produce. GRØD (meaning porridge / oatmeal) has amazing breakfast oatmeals, and also savory bowls like their chicken porridge (100% asian approved). Jægersborggade was one of my favorite streets explored. I spent a good few hours checking out the cute shops selling locally-made products. Coffee Collective located on the same street was also a memorable one. I skipped ordering their coffee soft serve because it was freezing and still regret when thinking about it.

Lastly, a series of photos taken from a dreamy late afternoon stroll at Nyhavn, admiring the colorful facades while waiting for the sun to go down. Although an iconic spot, there weren't many tourists, and the patios were left mostly empty due to the cold. I felt like I was watching one of those many fairy tales, unfold before my eyes. I made my way to the canals in Christianshavn, a neighborhood next to Nyhavn. The atmosphere was so serene, I just stood there watching the skies turn pink, until the sun went down. It was all so beautiful it honestly hurt a little to take this all in. I took one of my favorite shots there (second last photo), not a fancy shot but a magical moment to me. This is where I'll end my post - with a series of photos taken at the canals. Copenhagen, you are so dreamy and I'm lucky to have experienced your charm xx.

That evening, sweet.

Cold breeze gentle on my skin.

The waters slow danced, and my heart sang. Nature is poetry. All the golden, scattered lights. mesmerizing. My soul filled with gratitude, I sighed in bliss.

This quiet affair with Copenhagen remains loud in my heart.