copenhagen (part 1)

After being in so much beautiful countryside, the city was a weird but welcome change. Copenhagen was the first place where "wow, I'm in Scandinavia!" really hit me.

I couldn't get over the colorful buildings-- they stood out especially bright against the overcast sky. This was a new side of Europe I hadn't really experienced before. Copenhagen's buildings reminded me of Amsterdam but everything else felt so cool and modern (and everyone dressed that way!)

This was my only day in Denmark where I explored by myself and it was a really wonderful way to see the city. Thanks to Luciano, Søstrene Grene is my new favorite store. Thanks to the antique market, I found the prettiest ceramic tiles to bring home. And thanks to Copenhagen, well.. just, thank you, Copenhagen.

the danish countryside

These big blue skies made me feel so small (in the best kind of way).



Horses, sheep, ponies and birds were sprinkled about the big green fields. Luciano even joked that Windows took their desktop photo in Denmark.


My host parents are the sweetest. They would pull over on the side of the road so I could get out and take photos.


Or, we'd take lots of stops on our bike rides home. (Sometimes to take photos, sometimes to say "hi" to the horses).

As beautiful as a dream.

first-thing-in-the-morning photos

A few weeks ago I was thinking about creative photo series. Like celebrity confessions, dear photograph, and tons of others that aren't coming to my brain right now. Somehow, Lady Gaga's "all-natural" photoshoot came to mind and I thought--

"hmm... instead of just leaving off make up, wouldn't it be cool to do a celebrity photoshoot of people first thing in the morning?"

Well, my friends, as it often goes in life-- someone beat me to it. In fact, this was their idea more than three years ago! But I couldn't resist sharing because it's so funny and random and genuine. Click here to see the rest of Meredith Andrews' morning photos.

Maybe, for Halloween, all of us bloggers could post morning photos of ourselves. Any takers?

Just kidding. Sorta.

holbæk

Holbæk was the biggest "city" near Maibritt and Luciano's home in Denmark. At first glance, it might seem like the sleepy little town doesn't have a lot to offer. But then you find out that spending time at the library is as common as going out for coffee. Or you find a tiny little second-hand shop (and an almost translucent tea cup to bring home for your mom's collection). And then you find mugs with "common" Danish names and giggle to yourself because you haven't met a single "Kasper" in your life.

They're really simple things, but they add a lot of charm to this simple town.

tartine

I'm starting to think that my favorite French food lives in San Francisco and not France.






I'd heard a lot of good things about Tartine before visiting, so of course I lowered my expectations to avoid any disappointment (it's just something I do). Nevermind that there was already a line out the door when Chelsey and I got there, or that it smelled like I'd died and gone to pastry heaven. It didn't matter that everyone seemed content while being in an over-crowded cafe or that everything in their display case looked amazing. It was just food, right?







Nope.

I loved that they had four different croque monsieur options (ham, cheese, turkey and mushroom), and that Chelsey and I decided to split the mushroom. I loved that their tables were European style, where you share one big table with a ton of strangers, but that we had our own little corner of the table to ourselves. I loved that we didn't make ourselves decide between something sweet and something savory, and that we indulged in both. And finally, I loved that I found a new place to love, with a friend that I love, on a lovely Saturday.