So, this weekend my old roommate from college came to visit me from Aberdeen, Scotland. She, too is living over seas with her kids. I was fortunate to have her come to visit with her youngest daughter, Cassidy. Cassidy is about 8months old and a total doll. Needless to say, Salli & I had a great time catching up and I got to show her a little Copenhagen.
They got in Friday and true to CPH weather, it was drizzly, cold & a little windy. That is pretty much the weather pattern from about now to about April. Now I see why weather is always the topic of conversation. I really do.. at first, I was a little annoyed at how excited the Copenhagenites were so excited at a beautiful sunny day. I mean, coming from Texas, really that is most days for us. Sometimes, so much so, that we pray for a rainy day. Alas, being here for about a month of the fall time, I really do crave the sun. Oh, and I started taking Vitamin D pills, since I quite obviously am not getting it from the sun. Anyways, I digress... So, Salli, Cassidy & I enjoyed a nice lunch at Den Fransk Cafe on the lakes.
After a nice, filling lunch we headed downtown to the shopping area called the Stroget. It is mainly our downtown area with all kinds of shops from Gucci to Burberry to H&M to Message. We went to the top of the observation tower (built in 1649) to see all of Copenhagen, but with the haze of mist covering the city, we didn't get to view a lot. Another reason why, is because the sun goes down at 4-4:30pm! I am still not used to that and it totally messes with your mind. Next, we headed over to Kongens Nytorv area with the beautiful docks, the opera house and such. I was able to show her where HC Andersen spent his years writing, as his apartment still stands. We then headed over to the King and Queen's palace. I just learned this past week, on my LINK bike tour, that the guards that are there (think of the ones that look like toy soldiers) have the right to shoot you! They issue you 2 warnings and on the third, they will or can shoot! So, fair warning.... don't mess around the the palace! 
After a long day of sightseeing in Copenhagen, we were hungry! So, time to eat! There is this GREAT Thai restaurant on Osterbrogade called Shilom. Salli, Cassidy & I grabbed a great meal there and had some time to relax. I had my favorite... Paneeg Curry with Chicken. Imagine perfectly cooked chicken in a coconut sauce with the perfect amount of heat and kaffir lime. Served up with some sticky rice, it makes for a great meal on a cold day. They also have a GREAT Tom Yum soup. It has just the right heat... you know the kind... it makes your nose run and it is spicy, but then you just keep eating it and wanting more. You just have to keep a napkin nearby... perfect for a nice, cold night! We finished the night at the wine bar, Figaro. It is always super cozy (hygge.. VERY important in the Danish vocabulary), great service, great food (although, we didn't eat that night) and most importantly, great wine!
Saturday was a day of shopping in Sweden! We took the train to Malmo, Sweden; it is about a 45min train ride with lots to look at! The taxes are lower in Sweden & things are cheaper, so it is a great place to shop! We all did some shopping and loaded Cassidy's stroller with lots of bags & goodies. We got lucky, it was a gorgeous day. We had lunch at this little cafe called Moonlit Cafe. It is off the beaten path and just super cute. Salli had salmon ravioli and asparagus with a little cream sauce. I ate the white fish with spinach & squid ink tagliatelle and a nice big red. As we headed back to the train station, we stopped off at Harry's bar (no relation to the one in Florence) and had a beer and glass of wine. Oh.. and, learned what the Swedes think nachos are.... (OK you Texans, don't laugh) think cheese Doritos with a side of Pace Picante and a side of French Onion Dip. Salli and I were ferociously disappointed. We headed back to Kobenhavn and went straight to Dag H for some dinner. I went with the vegetable pasta with lots of spinach & mushrooms... yum! We headed back to the apartment and watched Nottinghill and crashed. Even Cassidy crashed, she was so good all day! 
Sunday we went to brunch at Norreboro Bryhus translated to Norreboro Beerhouse. They brew right there and brew many different kinds of beer and have a great menu. We had a great brunch to include "American Pancakes". And, yes, they were... I haven't had pancakes in forever and really forgot how good they were. And, I have to say, these pancakes were cooked perfectly. You know the ones with a little crunch on the outside, yet slightly doughy on the inside. And, not too sweet so that you could taste the Maple syrup without it overpowering all the other flavors. Delightful!
It was time to send Salli & Cassidy home to Scotland. It was so great seeing Salli and meeting Cassidy. I can't believe we haven't really seen each other in about 10 years. It was so great to catch up and I look forward to seeing them again! As for me, I have a big week ahead of me with Mike gone to the US for the week. My goal is to get caught up on some stuff I have been dragging my feet on (ie. this blog!). And, to catch up on my girlie movies! After the Swedish Nacho incident, I felt compelled to thaw some of my beloved, HEB corn tortillas and make my own baked chips topped with refried beans, pico, cheese, jalapenos and avocado. Hmmm.. tasty, nachos and Penelope (the girly movie), I had a great night.
They got in Friday and true to CPH weather, it was drizzly, cold & a little windy. That is pretty much the weather pattern from about now to about April. Now I see why weather is always the topic of conversation. I really do.. at first, I was a little annoyed at how excited the Copenhagenites were so excited at a beautiful sunny day. I mean, coming from Texas, really that is most days for us. Sometimes, so much so, that we pray for a rainy day. Alas, being here for about a month of the fall time, I really do crave the sun. Oh, and I started taking Vitamin D pills, since I quite obviously am not getting it from the sun. Anyways, I digress... So, Salli, Cassidy & I enjoyed a nice lunch at Den Fransk Cafe on the lakes.
After a nice, filling lunch we headed downtown to the shopping area called the Stroget. It is mainly our downtown area with all kinds of shops from Gucci to Burberry to H&M to Message. We went to the top of the observation tower (built in 1649) to see all of Copenhagen, but with the haze of mist covering the city, we didn't get to view a lot. Another reason why, is because the sun goes down at 4-4:30pm! I am still not used to that and it totally messes with your mind. Next, we headed over to Kongens Nytorv area with the beautiful docks, the opera house and such. I was able to show her where HC Andersen spent his years writing, as his apartment still stands. We then headed over to the King and Queen's palace. I just learned this past week, on my LINK bike tour, that the guards that are there (think of the ones that look like toy soldiers) have the right to shoot you! They issue you 2 warnings and on the third, they will or can shoot! So, fair warning.... don't mess around the the palace!
Here is a picture of Cassidy and I at the top of the watch tower... yea, it is like 4:30pm! Isn't she a doll!
This picture is from Illium. Every year all the breweries here (and, there are a lot!) release their annual Jule Ol, or Christmas Brew. It is a really big deal. So, Salli & I got to sample Kongens Bryghus Beer:
After a long day of sightseeing in Copenhagen, we were hungry! So, time to eat! There is this GREAT Thai restaurant on Osterbrogade called Shilom. Salli, Cassidy & I grabbed a great meal there and had some time to relax. I had my favorite... Paneeg Curry with Chicken. Imagine perfectly cooked chicken in a coconut sauce with the perfect amount of heat and kaffir lime. Served up with some sticky rice, it makes for a great meal on a cold day. They also have a GREAT Tom Yum soup. It has just the right heat... you know the kind... it makes your nose run and it is spicy, but then you just keep eating it and wanting more. You just have to keep a napkin nearby... perfect for a nice, cold night! We finished the night at the wine bar, Figaro. It is always super cozy (hygge.. VERY important in the Danish vocabulary), great service, great food (although, we didn't eat that night) and most importantly, great wine!
Saturday was a day of shopping in Sweden! We took the train to Malmo, Sweden; it is about a 45min train ride with lots to look at! The taxes are lower in Sweden & things are cheaper, so it is a great place to shop! We all did some shopping and loaded Cassidy's stroller with lots of bags & goodies. We got lucky, it was a gorgeous day. We had lunch at this little cafe called Moonlit Cafe. It is off the beaten path and just super cute. Salli had salmon ravioli and asparagus with a little cream sauce. I ate the white fish with spinach & squid ink tagliatelle and a nice big red. As we headed back to the train station, we stopped off at Harry's bar (no relation to the one in Florence) and had a beer and glass of wine. Oh.. and, learned what the Swedes think nachos are.... (OK you Texans, don't laugh) think cheese Doritos with a side of Pace Picante and a side of French Onion Dip. Salli and I were ferociously disappointed. We headed back to Kobenhavn and went straight to Dag H for some dinner. I went with the vegetable pasta with lots of spinach & mushrooms... yum! We headed back to the apartment and watched Nottinghill and crashed. Even Cassidy crashed, she was so good all day!
Here is Cassidy at Moonlit Cafe! She was so good!
Sunday we went to brunch at Norreboro Bryhus translated to Norreboro Beerhouse. They brew right there and brew many different kinds of beer and have a great menu. We had a great brunch to include "American Pancakes". And, yes, they were... I haven't had pancakes in forever and really forgot how good they were. And, I have to say, these pancakes were cooked perfectly. You know the ones with a little crunch on the outside, yet slightly doughy on the inside. And, not too sweet so that you could taste the Maple syrup without it overpowering all the other flavors. Delightful!It was time to send Salli & Cassidy home to Scotland. It was so great seeing Salli and meeting Cassidy. I can't believe we haven't really seen each other in about 10 years. It was so great to catch up and I look forward to seeing them again! As for me, I have a big week ahead of me with Mike gone to the US for the week. My goal is to get caught up on some stuff I have been dragging my feet on (ie. this blog!). And, to catch up on my girlie movies! After the Swedish Nacho incident, I felt compelled to thaw some of my beloved, HEB corn tortillas and make my own baked chips topped with refried beans, pico, cheese, jalapenos and avocado. Hmmm.. tasty, nachos and Penelope (the girly movie), I had a great night.
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