If there is a country, other than the US, that I could most see myself living in, it is Denmark.  It is not necessarily the most naturally beautiful country I have been to, although it is pretty beautiful, and some might say it Is a little boring. But at least based on my now two visits to the country, I love the quality of life there.  I love the sense of community that seems to exist everywhere. I love how it is more common to bike or walk to wherever you want to go rather than driving a car. I love how clean it is. And Copenhagen is one of my favorite cities.

Switzerland, Norway, and Finland would all be close runners-up. But the cost of living is high in both Switzerland and Norway, and I am not sure I could handle the long nights of the Finnish winters.

For my second visit to Denmark, I once again had two Danes to show me around – Julius and Christian. I hosted Julius during the 2019-2020 school year; and Christian, although I did not host him, was also an exchange student in Phoenix that same year.  And it was great to have Roland from Estonia join us too.  I once again stayed at the home of Julius’ parents and family in the delightful town of Roskilde, about 26 miles from Copenhagen. Roskilde is like that idyllic town you see in the movies, with a happy and lively town center and a beautiful park overlooking the fjord which hosts community gatherings. 

The highlight of this visit to Denmark was attending the summer solstice celebration in Roskilde in that same park.  The Danes call this celebration Sankt Hans Aften,  a festive event which occurs all over Denmark on the evening of June 23^rd and includes bonfires, singing, speeches, and the occasional burning of witches.  It was so great seeing the community gather in this park and enjoy a beautiful evening and sunset together.

Another great stop while in Denmark was the CopenHill. The CopenHill sits on the edge of Copenhagen and is a waste-energy plant turned into a community destination featuring a ski slope down its 85-meter sloping roof, a rock-climbing feature up the side, and outdoor steps that you can climb to the roof where you will find a restaurant and great views of Copenhagen.  We chose to climb the outdoor steps to the roof, and even though it started pouring rain as soon as we started the climb, and I got to the roof soaked and out-of-breath, it was worth it.  The facility is really a tribute to Copenhagen’s goal to become the world’s first carbon-neutral capital and to the whole country’s commitment to the environment.

Ok, I have gushed enough about Denmark and should maybe offer a criticism – their “hotdogs.”  I have heard a few times by others who have visited Copenhagen about how their hotdogs are the best in the world.  I respectfully disagree. They put mayonnaise on them. Enough said.

My time in Denmark went by quickly. After two days, Roland, Christian and I said goodbye to Julius and we caught an airplane for Norway, the last leg of my journey.  While this visit to Denmark was short, it will not be my last.