viking country
A trip to Denmark could hardly be called a "journey". Rather, it was an experience. The experience of personal relationships, the experience of living in Europe, the experience of communicating with a huge number of immigrants. The path that I traveled to get to this "strange" country was given to me with difficulty. I don't want anyone to go through the same thing as me. As much as the Danish government says it's happy to welcome tourists, in fact Denmark shuts itself off from outsiders. To get the Danish Schengen you need to try STRONGLY. Just come and submit documents - will not work. Tourist visas are issued only through companies that have passed a kind of "casting" and received a "go-ahead" from the Danish immigration service. Personally, I went the other way, which took 5 months of my life, long clarification of relationships with the Danish immigration service, a loan from a Danish bank and a huge bail. I was a risk factor for them. And I understand this country. I understand that they protect.
The Kingdom of Denmark is a small Scandinavian country that is developing in various directions, mostly in agriculture. Incomes in the country are high, wages are the same. Social security of the population allows not to work and at the same time to exist comfortably. At one time, Denmark accepted into its "arms" a huge number of refugees, which is why it is now suffering. The number of immigrants is simply incredible. Dacians (Danes), distinguished by their "northern" appearance, were lost among the crowds of various nationalities. Never in my life have I seen so many Thais, Indians, Negroes, Arabs, Filipinos… The Danes often sat at home or on the outskirts of cities. Many Danes, realizing that it is possible to live well on the allowance of single mothers, refused to get married, study, work. And the frustrated Danish men, wishing not to appease the blood of the conquerors in themselves and become fathers of families, decided to look for brides in other countries. International families have become the norm in Danish society. But as you can see, the state is not happy about this, and therefore they are tightening the rules for entry into the country for unmarried ladies.
As soon as I landed in the capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, I was surprised at the general order. Coordination at the airport, buses / trains run on schedule almost without delay, roads are not loaded, parking lots are clearly demarcated and those who just want to stand on the side of the road will be fined a large amount (I personally watched how the police appeared out of nowhere and fined everyone in a row), sterile cleanliness at streets, drawing images in my head of poor immigrants scrubbing the pavement with their toothbrushes at night. And greenery. Lots of greenery and small houses. It seemed to me that I came to the village. Royal Village.
Copenhagen, although it has high-rise buildings, but still, most of the buildings keep a medieval style. The city center (old town) is simply crammed with various types of architectural values, which are located in different nooks and crannies of the canal. What is the Amalienborg Palace complex worth, on the territory of which you can safely enter and watch the changing of the guard. Many monuments to kings, cathedrals. The embankment, on which ships stand, as if they had come out of the Scarlet Sails fairy tale. A mermaid mourning her lost love. The embankment evoked incredible awe in me. With all her romance, she beckoned to her every time. Walking there, I envied the employees of one of the large companies, whose office was located right next to the royal residence on the waterfront. Every day they could watch the fabulous ships and yachts sail by, walk in the incredibly beautiful small park hidden on the embankment, feed snow-white swans. . . And sit in the cozy cafes of Newhavn.
Oh Nyhavn! The brightest canal in Copenhagen. It is his photo that you can see most often. Dozens of houses decorated in bright colors, small restaurants in which the Danes spend all weekend, yachts recreating the atmosphere of the Middle Ages... A very romantic place filled with tourists from different parts of Europe.
You could walk around the old city for hours. The main promenade Stroget, which originates from the royal square, stretches along a variety of shops and boutiques, enters small squares where musicians from all over the world play, and then dives between houses again, involving you in a new journey and new discoveries. The main discovery will be, without dispute, the city hall, on the steps of which young people constantly gather, and the Tivoli amusement park.
The whole of Copenhagen is one attraction, it is not possible to describe everything. Copenhagen is a huge concentration of palaces, castles, temples, parks. The city seems to be recreating pictures from Andersen's fairy tales.
When talking about life in Denmark, one should not forget to mention the rhythm. The rhythm of life dictated by the economy. Shops in Denmark are open from Monday to Friday, from 9-00 to 18-00. Nobody works on weekends. Nearly. And this is due to the fact that for overtime you need to pay extra. That is why, if you find a grocery store that is open at 21-00 or on weekends, do not be surprised that the prices are too high. Only a few huge malls are open on weekends, and this is often once a month. And it is because of the high taxes that Danes use bicycles. A bicycle is not just a cheap means of transportation, it is part of life for the Danes. In each area you will find bicycle stands, specialized shops selling fittings. Bicycle designs shocked me every day, most of all I liked bicycles-carriages, where nannies put (like in a cage) several blond babies.
Weekends were spent on the beach, trying to sunbathe and barbecue. Denmark is a rather cold country. In order not to freeze and not to catch a cold in the pouring rain, you should go there in July or August. True, I personally did not manage to swim in the sea. Still COLD =)
One of the significant days for me was the day of the trip to Hamlet's castle, described in the story of the same name. Kronborg Castle, located near the town of Helsingø r, gave me a surge of romantic feelings. I love Shakespeare (and who doesn't? ), and visiting such an iconic place is definitely worth it. To my regret, we did not manage to enter the castle itself. it was closed, but we walked around it for a very long time, climbed the sheer walls, waved our hands to the Swedes on the other side of the strait, looked for secret passages to the dungeons and simply enjoyed the cry of seagulls and the view of huge ships. I really liked Helsingø r himself. Quiet Danish town with typical provincial restaurants. You can walk for hours along stone-paved roads, between houses with wooden windows, stumble upon cozy little churches, meet smiling Danes and wish them a good day. . .
Denmark left in me the idea of a quiet corner where you definitely need to come in old age and enjoy the measured movement of life. A country of wind farms, straits, islands, bicycles…
