Author Archives: raf5218

Museums in Copenhagen

I have had my fair share of museum tours around the city of Copenhagen, so I have decided to give you my thoughts on the ones I have been to. I have ranked the top five from least to most favorite. I hope this is helpful for any of you who find them as interesting as I do. 

5. The Denmark Design Museum
This museum has an interesting history attached to the lavish rococo style building. It started off as a King Frederik’s Hospital,but was then turned into a design museum years later in 1926. Danes are known for their unique and modern chair designs around the world and have dedicated this space to just that. The museum does have current exhibitions that change so look into that before you arrive in case there is something you would like to see. While I was visiting they had a albums cover – Vinyl Revival on display. 
4. Museum of Danish Resistance
The Museum of Danish Resistance is dedicated to showing the resistance movement that was happening during World War II. There are a lot of great artifacts and stories of the people of Denmark living through this terrible war. There you can see how the people sabotaged the Nazis with circulation of illegal newspapers and radio stations, upset factories and railways transporting goods, and hear some of the stories firsthand from interviews of the people that witnessed it. Also, this museum is free admission.
3. National Museum
I have actually visited this Museum three different time during my stay here in Copenhagen. This is a pretty large museum that has three main exhibits; the Ancient, Middle Ages, and New Age of Denmark. It is full of artifacts ranging from the Vikings to the Modern Day. The gift shop also has some great gift ideas for yourself or others. It is free admission as well. 
2. NY Carlsberg Glyptotek
This is a really great place to see. It has art from Greece, Rome, Egypt, French Impressionism, Danish artists, and has rooms of marble statues. When I was visiting they happened to have my favorite artist Degas on display and had his bronze sculptures. This museum is located next to Tivoli, but if you are visiting on a colder day the museum has a winter garden inside. In the center of the building is a garden that is absolutely beautiful and the gift shop and cafe overlook it. It is worth the trip. It is also free admission on Sundays!
1. Rosenborg Museum
Rosenborg is actually a castle that now houses the crown jewels of Denmark. The castle was originally King Christian IV’s castle and was his summer home for outside the city. It is not technically outside the city center and is not a far walk there. The castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens called the King’s Garden that are admired by the Danes and tourists alike. It is just as beautiful on the inside as the outside. I would encourage you to make a stop here because it was by far my favorite museum to visit. 
Just a side note. ALL MUSEUMS ARE CLOSED ON MONDAYS! I know it is a random day from them to close, but make sure you make your travel plans around that. 

Location: Copenhagen

Sweet Treat

One thing that Denmark, and most of Europe for that matter, do absolutely perfect is pastries. I have made it my personal mission to try as many as I can while I am here studying abroad. Now this might not turn out very well for my waistline, but it is worth it. Every Sunday I go out to a little bakery and try something new. It has become a great ritual to look forward to every week. 

Copenhagen is dotted with hundreds of small bakeries that bake their delightful cakes and pastries fresh every day. It is my advice that anyone visiting here has to try the pastries. Most might say the French have them beat here, but I’m not so sure. 
One common pastry here is called wienerbr�d or Viennese bread. This is what we call a Danish. (on the right)
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Another amazing pastry I have tried is a puffed pastry filled with cream. I don’t remember the exact name of it, but I will find out. The one I had was filled with raspberry and it was absolutely delicious! 
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Denmark has a bunch of pastries that are similar to cinnamon roles as well called Kanelsnegle. Do not be mistaken though. These are no cinnamon rolls from the refrigerator section of the grocery store! It is like nothing Pillsbury has ever come up with. 
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And one of the most amazing things I have tasted so far is…. the giant snail or k�mpe snegl. This is basically one of the largest cinnamon roll you have ever seen. I know I don’t have a picture of it, but I was spending my time eating it rather than documenting it. 
One last piece of advice. As far as bakeries go, there is one famous bakery in the City Center called Konditori La Glace. It is the oldest bakery in the country and has been around since the 19th century! This bakery is on the more expensive side, but once inside you will not be disappointed! Now there is usually a line that goes out the door so be prepared to wait a little bit. You know it has to be good whenever people are lined up for it. 
I hope this blog does not make you too hungry! 

Location: Copenhagen

Culture Shock May Be Killing Me

If you are studying abroad you have probably heard that you will get something called culture shock. Basically, you are told you will go through a few stages that most people feel when they travel and live in a different country. I completely believe they are happening to me. The first stage is called the honeymoon stage. This means you will be entirely delighted about studying and living in a new country. Everything around you is interesting and new! Believe me, there is definitely a lot to look forward to in a semester studying in Europe. “The city is beautiful, the people are beautiful, and I can’t believe I am going to live in Europe for six months!”

The stage after this is not as pleasant however. After falling in love with the new place you are in for about a week, then comes the realization that you are in a very different place, very far from home. My advice to give you when you realize this; STAY CALM! Take a deep breath, rant about it a little bit if you must, and then realize that this is only for a few months. You just have to get used to it. Symptoms of this stage include: a new fierce sense of nationality (“AMERICA! Oh you mean the best thing that ever happened to the world”), followed by a new found hatred for all things different in your new country (“What do you mean you can’t buy groceries in bulk?!?”), which eventually turns into a new hatred for everything around you (“My roommates suck, I hate not having any friends, I am always hungry, it feels as cold as Alaska and the school I’m going to is the worst run organization I have ever been to in my life”). Sound familiar? Because it is probably happening to you too… 
Yes, it is going to suck for a while, but I am told it will all pass. I have faith. And it helps that I bought myself a very large American size chocolate bar and had a very large American Style pizza for dinner (literally that was the title of the pizza box). I have said and felt everyone of the quotes I have stated, but looking back on them I realize how incredibly stupid they sound. So my advice to you is stop stressing out and keep yourself busy so you don’t have time to think about how much you miss home. Hang in there because things will change for you too. 
Until next time,
Rachel 

Location: Copenhagen