I'm so so excited for my Mama and Michael to visit me in Copenhagen. I love this city so much, and now know it well, and am glad for the chance to share it with more people that I love.
FRIDAY //
M and M were very tired after getting home from the airport, so after helping them settle into their AirBnb I left to do some homework. Once they were feeling better and properly dressed for the cold, we walked around the city. Their apartment was in Nørrebro, just a block from The Lakes-- a really great location, close to the metro, cool cafes and bars, and Torvehallerne, a fresh market open daily. We stopped there for lunch. They really liked the pizza from Gorm's, agreeing with me that it was likely the best in Copenhagen.
After that, we walked to Rosenberg Castle, the closest park to my apartment on Skindergade. Mama really loves the birds here in Denmark, especially the little black and white ones wearing feather tuxedos. She looked them up first chance she got. "Magpies!" They thought the castle and the flowers were really beautiful, but we mostly just goofed around.
M & M were still pretty jet lagged, so we had a quiet evening. I showed Mama the wonders that are Netto while Michael napped, and I cooked chicken curry for them in our kitchen. I could tell they felt a little bit uncomfortable in the apartment, so I tried to take advantage of the times it was empty.
SATURDAY //
The next morning we were up early-ish to get a spot at Kalaset before it filled up. Seriously, by 10:05, there were only 2 tables left and the line to order snaking around the entire space. As usual, we ordered to share, save for the hot chocolates we ordered individually. The food was great, the atmosphere cozy despite the rainy drizzle outside, and I was really glad I got to show my family what "hygge" meant in Copenhagen.
After brunch we went to the aquarium. I had never been, and had never considered a visit, but Michael really wanted to go. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, it was pouring rain and the wind was blowing hard, and of course everyone had the same idea to visit the aquarium on a stormy day. The line to enter the building stretched beyond the covered entrance, and we huddled like little penguins, waddling closer to the doors as the line moved.
I felt really bad, but there were no complaints, and the aquarium was really cool once we got inside. I took more photos of Michael against the bright, shifting backgrounds of sea creatures. He looks “dope,” as always.
SUNDAY //
We skipped Easter mass (no surprise there) and went to the botanical gardens instead. Stepping into the greenhouse was like stepping out of Ft. Lauderdale airport-- you're immediately assaulted with a dense fog of heat and humidity. The tropical plants also heightened the comparison. Funny that my family visit Copenhagen to see more of what we have at home. It's times like these that I am reminded of how unique South Florida is to the rest of the world. While we were wandering in the gardens, we crossed paths with a tiny woman who definitely could have passed as my abuelita. We laughed about that for way too long, and ended up sending a picture to my cousin Charlie. Later, we sat down at a picnic table for a snack-- for Michael, this was chorizo and jamón straight from the package.
We celebrated Easter by going out to dinner. I had originally wanted to take them to a traditional- inspired Danish restaurant, until we talked and realized none of us were particularly interested in Danish food, so we changed strategies and started looking for Spanish restaurants instead, the highest rated actually being the restaurant next door to their AirBnb. We ordered plenty of tapas to share (seriously, best way to eat) and had a great time. My mom chatted with the owner at the end of meal, and he brought us some complimentary limoncello shots-- apparently he was Italian, not Spanish. Great meal, with great company, and we went to bed full and happy.
MONDAY //
Monday was a nice day, so we walked along Nyhavn to Papirøen (Paper Island) where the Copenhagen Contemporary satallite museum sits along the canal. Next door is Copenhagen Street Food, a gutted warehouse now crowded with food stalls of every type and ethnicity. It was Michael's favorite activity of the entire trip I think-- he would eat that pulled pork sandwich every day if he could. The art was cool too, a small museum that can be explored fully in about an hours time. Apparently the entire area is soon to be torn down and developed into high-end housing. I hope it gets stopped; even though I don't live in Copenhagen anymore, I'll be sad for such a great place to be lost.
On the walk home, we visited a church and Ameliasborg Square, and stopped in a blown glass shop on the way. Mama found a piece that she really liked, and ended up going back another day to buy it. I'm glad she did-- I've realized now that I have very little from Copenhagen but photos and memories.
As people started returning from trips, my apartment grew full again, and I spent more time at the Airbnb. We didn't do much in the evenings, but it was nice to just snuggle and share our inside jokes and feel comfortable around people I know love me. It was really just what I needed.
TUESDAY //
Tuesday I had classes again, but Mama came to visit me in studio, and ended up coming along for a field trip to the Cisterne. I loved the first exhibit I had seen there, but hadn't yet been to the new one, so I was glad to go and even more excited that Mama was able to join us. Tina and BB were super sweet, and told her all about the history of the Cisterne and the surrounding park. It was really cool to show her what an above-average day at school was like for me.
WEDNESDAY //
That evening we went to Tivoli since I didn't have class on Wednesday. Michael and I went on all the rollercoasters and had a blast-- I'm usually not a fan of theme parks, but I couldn't say no to Mikey, and ended up having a lot more fun than I expected I would. Mama only wanted to ride the ferris wheel, but she was really happy to just explore the gardens and lakes throughout the park. It's crazy to me that a place like that can exist in the middle of a major city, but it's well-laid out and constructed so that you nearly forget you're in a city at all. Copenhagen doesn't have sky scrapers, so there is nothing crowding the background, just rollercoaster tracks against the sky.
THURSDAY //
On Thursday I had class again, but in the evening Mama came with my LLC group to a modern dance performance. It was interactive and super weird, but we had a fun time.
I'm so glad they came to visit. It was difficult at times-- for them, with jet lag, and for me, balancing my own responsibilities with playing host, but it felt familiar and comfortable in a time when I really needed that. It made the end of my time in Copenhagen a bit harder as well-- I did not expect their visit to result in homesickness-- but it gave me something to look forward to when I got home. I love them so so much and could not be more thankful that I got to share these experiences in this place with them. I'm so fortunate.