The Danish word hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) translates roughly as cosiness but it is much more than that. In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people in nice surroundings. You can hear the happy sounds people make congregating in the street after working hours and as they gather in cafes and bars. And you seldom hear the cry of a child. Perhaps hygge explains why the Danes are, according to the 2018 UN published Happiness Index, some of the happiest people in the world.
The Town Hall.
The Stock Exchange building.
The entrance to the Tivoli Gardens. Dating from 1843, Tivoli attracts visitors with its whirl of amusement rides, twinkling pavilions, carnival games and open-air shows. These are by all accounts not tacky like many amusement parks around the world are, but tasteful like most things in Denmark. But Tivoli is much more than that. It has lovely gardens and concerts are held in its precinct. We can't judge as we did not venture inside. Andrew took this photo in the half-light of the early morning in his meanderings along the streets after he gets up early each day.
North Atlantic Contemporary Art Gallery.
A cyclist and pedestrian bridge across Inderhavnen harbour.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek - an art museum.
The statue of one of Denmark's most famous sons - Hans Christian Andersen. He was apparently made fun of and sneered at during his life. He only became appreciated and famous after he died. Echoes of Van Gogh the Dutch painter who did not sell a single work of art during his lifetime.
But this Danish invention, Lego, is and has been appreciated and valued ever since its invention. The Lego Group began in the workshop of Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter from Billund who began making wooden toys in 1932. His company came to be called Lego, derived from the Danish phrase leg godt meaning play well.
The sign at the Danish Centre for Architecture which has room devoted to Lego designs and which has a pit full of Lego pieces for children to play with and build reads: "Lego is not a toy, it is a tool".
Further upstairs at the Centre is an exhibition titled An Architectural Future History from Big Bang to Singularity which is both colourful and interesting.
This is an apartment building somewhere in the US (I can't remember which city) which has an internal courtyard garden which all day captures the sun and where the apartment dwellers can enjoy the outdoors.
It is a beautiful design and sadly I did not take notes and therefore can't recall if the building is still in the conceptual stage or has been built. Some of the design on display exist and others are at the design stage.
This building is being built here in Copenhagen although we did not see it close up. It is a power plant which has an artificial ski field on the roof of the building and incorporates the worlds highest indoor climbing area. This building is ingenious in its conception and execution of the marvelous idea of linking functional and recreational activities.
This a building is a baseball stadium which is available for other public activities when games are not being played. The notion is like the concept of the agora which in ancient Greece was a place used for assemblies and markets.
We went to the vastly over-rated and over-priced Reffen or street food which was one of the stops on the Hop-on Hop-off itinerary. It was crassly commercial and I would not recommend it to anyone.
We did however find something that appealed to us. Danish smorrebrod or open sandwich which contains goodies piled high on a foundation of dark rye bread or pumpernickle bread. At 3 for the price of 100 kroner it was the most appealing food on offer. In fact, it was delicious. I am planning to make it a part of my repertoire when I get back home
A large carrying bag or basket attached to a tricycle in which children or goods are transported. They are not as numerous as the bicycles but they are very popular in this city and there are many on the roads.
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