Category Archives: Scandinavia

City trip, Denmark, Europe, Our Most Favorites, Scandinavia, Special occasion, Weekend getaway

Smørebrød in Copenhagen with Phønix

8 September, 2015 jpcorp Leave a comment

We wanted to spend our fourth anniversary (which is a very special day to us but more on that another time) in some nice place and since we both had been to CPH separately and had occasionally talked about it, it seemed fitting to come visiting this very fashionable city together on our day. It turned out to be one of the nicest city trip we’ve made. The weather could not have been any nicer for between seasons, lots of sunshine but the air was already fresh and crisp from the autumn breeze making it the perfect weather to bike around. One funny thing did happen, a guy took a photo of us together on the bike and posted it on his facebook page. As it turned out, he was some kind of a Danish rockstar so lots of his followers started commenting and liking that picture, which, through a few or more connections, came back to our being aware of it. Bycyklen (the company of the bike we rent) even asked us if they could use that photo for their advertising purpose. Yes, we became kinda famous for a day ;-). So if you happened to see a couple (almost) dressing in white riding a white bike on any Danish website, it’s one of our special moments of this trip. Needless to say, we enjoyed every second of it.

Besides, I got to see my beloved friend Nete again after 8 long years. Yes, 8 years seem like forever at this stage of our lives but we never lost touch. Nete spent one semester abroad in Frankfurt at my university way back in 2007-2008 and lived in the same dorm as me, just a few doors from my room. We became best friends right after our first met. You know that feeling, things just “clicked” and you just knew. So we spent every single (free) minute of every day hanging out with each other, for us taking totally different classes at school (Finance for me and Literature for her). It still is one of the best summers of my undergrad years. I still have memories of us walking back from a party on our bare feet, heels in hands, then searching for left-over in our kitchen to have kind of a late supper / early breakfast at almost before going to bed at 5 am. Yes, we had tons of fun back then, we got lots of attentions too wherever we went. Me being a cute (& tiny) Asian girl and her being the hottest, most attractive (Danish) blonde in every guy’s dream. Looking back I might have just got all those attentions just because I was with her ;-).

Enough talking, here are a few snapshots J took of our trip. This for sure won’t be our last time in this super chic city.

Enjoy.

P in front of the greenhouse on a windy and chilly day — That sky…

The "Rundetaarn" (round tower) — The “Rundetaarn” (round tower)

There are no stars cases in Rundetaarn (except in the uppermost part) — There are no stairs cases in Rundetaarn (except in the uppermost part)

On a staircase inside Copenhagen city hall — Inside Copenhagen city hall

The big hall inside city hall — Inside city hall

Famous clockwork in city hall, very impressive mechanical work

A cozy side road with an interesting vintage shop

In our apartment near the city center — In our (airbnb) apartment in the city center

The Glyptothek, an art museum close to Tivoli — The Glyptothek, a very nice art museum close to Tivoli, sadly they don’t let you take photo inside, only the in foyer

Inside Frederik's church, a breathtaking dome — Inside Frederik’s church, a breathtaking dome

Behind the opera, looking towards Frederik's church — Behind the opera, looking towards Frederik’s church from the other side of the river

In front of the opera — Copenhagen Opera at sunset, this view is worth the >30min to get here on the taxi cause we missed the last boat out.

Having a spectacular dinner at Kiin Kiin restaurant - strongly recommendable!! — Spectacular dinner at Kiin Kiin restaurant – 15 nicely decorated & yummy courses over almost 4 hours. The perfect way to celebrate our day 😉

At the Royal Smushi Café, famous for their Smore Brod - unfortunately we were too early for Smore Brod :-( — At the Royal Smushi Café, famous for their Smore Brod – unfortunately we were too early for Smore Brod 🙁

Funny menu of Royal Smushi Café — The Royal Smushi Café (yes, I like to repeat their name several times in my head too 😉 )

Can't remember the name of that church - there are too many in Copenhagen — Can’t remember the name of that church – there are too many in Copenhagen

cph25 — Having a short break at the Baltic Sea on the way back to the airport

This sky doesn’t seem real, but it is. Magnificent!

Europe, Scandinavia, Sweden, Vacation

Sweden ’14, Part 4: Last day in Gothenburg

26 July, 2014 jpcorp Leave a comment

Europe, Scandinavia, Sweden, Vacation

Sweden ’14, Part 3: Torpa Stenhus

24 July, 2014 jpcorp Leave a comment

Some cultural education needed: one day we went to the nearby Torpa stenhus (Torpa stone house), a well-preserved medieval castle. The first stone house was built around 1470 as a fortress against the Danes – Denmark used to be pretty big these days. Nothing extraordinary but certainly worthwhile visiting.

torpa02 — A side entrance into the building

torpa04 — The main entrance with a lady dressed in traditional Swedish clothes

torpa05 — Very thick walls show that the building used to be a fortress rather than a residency

torpa06 — A small chapel within the stone house and another lady in traditional Swedish clothes 😉

Europe, Our Most Favorites, Scandinavia, Sweden, Vacation

Sweden ’14, Part 2: Nabben – our most relaxing vacation ever!

20 July, 2014 jpcorp Leave a comment

With fish in our belly and even more in our shopping bags we drove to Ulricehamn to the summer cottage of our friend Henrik’s family. It’s nothing luxurious, but offers the most magnificent view over the water and the exclusivity of being all alone without neighbors and having your own “beach” for skinny dipping ;-). That alone was luxury. They’re currently toring it down and rebuild the whole place so we can hardly wait to see how it becomes.

Needless to say, it was THE most relaxing vacation we’ve ever had. Somehow the water, the trees and wood around had an instant calming effect on us that we immediately felt relaxed upon arriving. We barbecued in the garden and enjoyed our dinner outside while the sun was setting every night (usually around 9 or 10pm). We jumped into the refreshing water first thing in the morning and last thing at the end of the day. We spent the day lounging around, reading books on the hammock, hiking a little, and eating a tons ;-). Since the cottage was on the other side of the river, going groceries shopping meant hopping on the motor boat and headed to town. Sweden is a very beautiful country, one of the most beautiful in fact, but they are doomed with very long winters and hence very short summers. Even in the middle of summer time, it could still get cold and rainy occasionally so you can’t really depend on it. Fortunately, we were blessed with 28-30°C every single day with very pleasant breezes in the evening. We couldn’t ask for anything more.