11.05.2012

bon iver in københavn


Friday afternoon we headed north for a weekend in Copenhagen. After our flight, quick train ride from the airport to the center, and walk to the hotel, we set out to explore the Danish capital under the street lights and light drizzle. We passed the Tivoli amusement park, wandered around the pedestrian shopping streets near Strøget, and ate a fantastic vegan dinner at 42 Degrees Raw. Saturday, we were ready to cover more of the city. The rain stopped early in the morning, and we had a good 12 hours of walking with stops for vegan banana muffins and brownies, lattes, and sandwiches in Nørrebro - everything on the go.    


We stopped in some of the art shops, bookstores, and handmade boutiques on Jægersborggade street in Nørrebro, a block lined on either side with hip and creative spaces.


We strolled through Assistens cemetery, to the graves of Hans Christian Anderson, Søren Kierkegaard, Niels Bohr. We wandered by Rosenborg Castle and it's gardens, back into the center, past the round tower, and finally found a place to warm up.


Sunday morning was unexpectedly sunny, perfect for visiting colorful Nyhavn. We passed another day on foot, continuing our walking tour to see Amalienborg Palace, the opera, St. Alban's, the Little Mermaid statue, and the Kastellet citadel...all before searching for a place for lunch (which ended up being a chocolate shop with sandwiches, savory cacao spreads, drinking cocoa, and somewhere cozy to rest our feet.


While admiring a huge fountain near St. Albin's, I looked down and was super excited to notice a Leo & Pipo application to a street sign, only about six inches tall, the Parisian street artist duo made my day in Copenhagen...along with the sunshine, cacao, and sea breeze... up until the main event anyway - Bon Iver at the Forum.


 In the evening we filed into the huge concert venue, and after a visit close to the stage, we made our way up to the balcony to enjoy the concert from further back, overlooking the sea of blond fans. The Staves, the opening trio, were great. Bon Iver = awesome.