My OperaThe Streets of Copenhagen - 1 : First Impressions
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 8:28:01 AM
Greetings Jadies and Lentilmen 
This post is the first of a series, in which I will give my impressions of Copenhagen as a foreign resident, and some pics taken as I mooch around.
So - setting the scene :
It's a weird feeling, arriving in a new country to live. Not the first time I've done it of course - in 1995 I moved from UK to New Zealand, to live and work. But that's another story - perhaps later. Now I'm living permanently with my partner and best friend, in Copenhagen - Capital city of Danmark. Incidentally and as a heads-up, only non-Danes call it Denmark. If the country was *really* called Denmark, the population would be collectively known as Denes. And the language is not really 'Danish', it is Dansk
I actually live in a City within a City - Frederiksberg. The streets are generally pleasantly clean, tree-lined and not hugely busy, most of the time.
Many, many people (maybe a 3rd of the population) travel around by bike (Cykel in Dansk, pronounced "sookal"). Buses and the Metro are also exceedingly popular means of transport, not least because cars are so friggin' expensive here
Frederiksberg is, to my eyes, a quite attractive place, the residential buildings generally well maintained externally, and easy on the eyes...
...and the evening brings a different visual dimension, as the apartment lights come on and you realise that the city is lived in, and this makes the whole place seem rather cosy, more intimate...
...this is after all, one of the best cities in the world for quality of life. Forbes.com said... 'Highly rated for its good looks, perfect proportions and sunny disposition, Copenhagen can claim the title of city with the Best Quality of Life; it also wins Best Design City, and has a firm grasp of environmental issues and a great food culture...'. That was in 2008....it doesn't look so far as if much has changed
A very large proportion of the population here speak English to quite a high level, which is very useful because although I can speak a little Dansk and am pretty much able to negotiate a shopping trip quite well, there are quite a number of occasions when I just *can't* do it in Dansk, and the person to whom I'm speaking usually slips into English easily and quite happily with a smile, making me feel very much at ease in this comfortable and cool-attitude town.
I've already discovered (with some local assistance, admittedly) a couple of very good 2nd hand CD and DVD shops, of which I shall become a regular customer...this is my favourite so far, and the shop in which I bought my first ever CD in Danmark The staff are exceedingly helpful
Anyway - as a new resident, there is officialdom to deal with - soon after I arrived, I went to the nearby local govt. outpost, passport and documentation in hand, and registered as a new resident, then went to the local bank, (where I had already opened an account earlier this year) and ordered credit and cash cards.
Also as a new resident (and now with a social security number) I am entitled to free Danish language and cultural lessons, to help integrate me into society and aid my job search - I have an appointment on 31st October with a counselor to determine at which level I should start my language course (absolute bottom line beginner is my preference, although I was studying for the last couple of years once a week for an hour after work, back in NZ).
I shall report on my experiences and progress in these matters too
As I become more familiar with my new home, I shall be able to give more in-depth impressions and reports on how it is to live here - despite the 'quality of life' thumbs up, I'm sure there are downsides and rough areas - so take my hand and we shall stroll the streets of what is not only one of the best, but must also be one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in....and of course I look forward to comments and questions, other points of view and experiences as we proceed along the way...
This post is the first of a series, in which I will give my impressions of Copenhagen as a foreign resident, and some pics taken as I mooch around. So - setting the scene :
It's a weird feeling, arriving in a new country to live. Not the first time I've done it of course - in 1995 I moved from UK to New Zealand, to live and work. But that's another story - perhaps later. Now I'm living permanently with my partner and best friend, in Copenhagen - Capital city of Danmark. Incidentally and as a heads-up, only non-Danes call it Denmark. If the country was *really* called Denmark, the population would be collectively known as Denes. And the language is not really 'Danish', it is Dansk
I actually live in a City within a City - Frederiksberg. The streets are generally pleasantly clean, tree-lined and not hugely busy, most of the time.
Many, many people (maybe a 3rd of the population) travel around by bike (Cykel in Dansk, pronounced "sookal"). Buses and the Metro are also exceedingly popular means of transport, not least because cars are so friggin' expensive here
Frederiksberg is, to my eyes, a quite attractive place, the residential buildings generally well maintained externally, and easy on the eyes...
...and the evening brings a different visual dimension, as the apartment lights come on and you realise that the city is lived in, and this makes the whole place seem rather cosy, more intimate...
...this is after all, one of the best cities in the world for quality of life. Forbes.com said... 'Highly rated for its good looks, perfect proportions and sunny disposition, Copenhagen can claim the title of city with the Best Quality of Life; it also wins Best Design City, and has a firm grasp of environmental issues and a great food culture...'. That was in 2008....it doesn't look so far as if much has changed
A very large proportion of the population here speak English to quite a high level, which is very useful because although I can speak a little Dansk and am pretty much able to negotiate a shopping trip quite well, there are quite a number of occasions when I just *can't* do it in Dansk, and the person to whom I'm speaking usually slips into English easily and quite happily with a smile, making me feel very much at ease in this comfortable and cool-attitude town.
I've already discovered (with some local assistance, admittedly
) a couple of very good 2nd hand CD and DVD shops, of which I shall become a regular customer...this is my favourite so far, and the shop in which I bought my first ever CD in Danmark The staff are exceedingly helpful Anyway - as a new resident, there is officialdom to deal with - soon after I arrived, I went to the nearby local govt. outpost, passport and documentation in hand, and registered as a new resident, then went to the local bank, (where I had already opened an account earlier this year) and ordered credit and cash cards.
Also as a new resident (and now with a social security number) I am entitled to free Danish language and cultural lessons, to help integrate me into society and aid my job search - I have an appointment on 31st October with a counselor to determine at which level I should start my language course (absolute bottom line beginner is my preference, although I was studying for the last couple of years once a week for an hour after work, back in NZ).
I shall report on my experiences and progress in these matters too
As I become more familiar with my new home, I shall be able to give more in-depth impressions and reports on how it is to live here - despite the 'quality of life' thumbs up, I'm sure there are downsides and rough areas - so take my hand and we shall stroll the streets of what is not only one of the best, but must also be one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in....and of course I look forward to comments and questions, other points of view and experiences as we proceed along the way...
