Danish first names

2009 most populars first names are out! You can spot there a few quite interesting names... much different from France (and yet again you don't know the pronunciation ;-)))

Bets are already open for the upcoming little royal twins... Princess Mary and Frederik have some work ahead of them to choose. Luckily for them they have up to 6 months after the birth to choose so they have still some time ....
Note that first names number one on the list have been given to around 700 babies... not so much risk to have a school classroom full of Freja and Lucas in 6 years...

1.	Freja	1.	Lucas
2.	Emma	2.	Mikkel
3.	Ida	3.	Emil
4.	Lærke	4.	William
5.	Caroline	5.	Oliver
6.	Anna	6.	Magnus
7.	Laura	7.	Victor
8.	Sofie	8.	Noah
9.	Isabella	9.	Frederik
10.	Sarah	10.	Mathias

Source Danmark statistik

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When you bike, it's always sunny!

As everyone knows, Copenhagen is the city of cyclists. Yes but some bad mouthed people pretend that in Denmark it rains all the time ;-) !! Conclusion: in Copenhagen, you have to learn how to bike in the rain ... and wear the appropriate rainwear.
Well think again, it does not rain that much and the city is trying to correct this image, thanks to this billboards campaign!


Translation for the non-Danish speakers "when you bike, it almost never rains!" And the small print adds: "It rains on an average of 4% of journeys by bike home to work" ...

Armed with my journalistic and scientific consciousness, I counted the days where I did get wet during my daily bike commute.
During the month of May, oh so significant because
(1) it's Spring
(2) you find deals on bike in every bike shop, and
(3) the campaign "vi cykler til arbejde " (yourself and all your co-workers have to bike to work during that campaign).....I served as guinea pig.

Here is the result of this highly scientific test:
May 4 evening, rain gear were mandatory.
May 13 morning, I was a little wet, but I avoided to change into rain gear.

Overall, I got wet twice out of the 2 x 17 trips or 5.9%. And I say: What a scam! With the taxes we pay, this campaign doesn't even deliver and keep its promises! ;-)))
Well, seriously it does not rain that often and it's nice to get some air and exercise, so I will not trade my bike for a car ...

Lagkagehuset, the best bakery in Copenhagen?

Walking on Christianhavn, I suddenly became a little hungry (let's see I needed sugar and quick!). So I walked into Lagkagehuset. You can try this for a pronunciation approximate : Laokééhouzeut.

Rumor has it that it would be the best bakery in Copenhagen. When I saw the long queue waiting by the counter (remember to take a numbered ticket when entering if you don't want to wait helplessly for hours...), I would say that this reputation may not be usurped.

You can already find 6 shops in Copenhagen
- Vesterbrogade 4A
- Torvegade 45)
- Dampfærgevej 9
- Falkoner Alle 4 inFrederiksberg
- Frederiksberggade 21
- Frederiksborggade 6

Why so much success? The answer is simple, just look at the impressive choice of pastries...

Amongst them, I choose the potato cake (kartoffelkage): cream puff covered with a thick layer of almond paste and covered with cocoa


And of course, it is too hard to only taste one so let's indulge with the House special: the Christianshavner. Available in two sizes: big or small. But the real question is what's inside?

And what is inside this little boxe? Calories, of course ;-)

A small size Christianshavner - damned it really was too small: fruits and strawberry mousse on a base of biscuit and caramelized hazelnuts. Really tasty!


A classic "Sarah Bernhardt", chocolate mousse on a macaroon base, with a top chocolate layer. Not the best I had in the city, but still definitly good.

I didn't try the lagkage, it will be for the next visit (you need to be really hungry for that!).

Of course, they also sell excellent bread... but would that really be reasonnable after all those cakes?

A cheap weekend in Copenhagen - Day 2

This is day 2 of our weekend Discount Copenhagen, the challenge continues....

Let's go for Day two.

• Let's start by visiting the little Mermaid
• Her girfriend - the new millemium Mermaid located a little more north on the docks
  
• A nice walk in the close by Kastellet
  
• The City Hall (you can go inside for free)
• The Danish Design tour by visiting the following shops: Illum, Magasin du Nord, Georg Jensen, Royal Copenhagen and Paustian
• National Galeries (Staten Museum for Kunst)
  
• the Sort Diamant (National Library with a nice design interior)
• Boat ride low budget (use the yellow boats where you can pay with your public transportation klippekort) or the slightly more expensive and touristic option, but still affordable, the Netto boat) the boarding dock is at the end of Nyhavn
• During the summer season essentially, look out for the festivals posters: like Copenhague Jazz Festival (most of the concerts are free), outside movie festival ....
  
• the bathing areas or beaches (yes, yes it's right, Copenhagen has a few beaches close by the Center).
  

Note that a large number of activities are outdoor, it's of course much easier to live small budget style in Copenhagen in summer than during winter. I have to admit that during the winter, nothing beats the hours spent huddled in a warm coffee to enjoy the Danish "hygge" Danish, but then we are not talking about the same kind of budget this time ;-)

A cheap weekend in Copenhagen

Copenhagen has a reputation for being an expensive city, ... no kidding? Ok, it's true. But I love challenge and will show you how to spend a weekend in Copenhagen low budget style....


Day One

• Nationalmuseet: National museum (entry is free): you should not miss it, and the new Prehistoric exhibit is really great
  
• Carlsberg Glyptotek (free one day per week, right now it is Sunday)
• the Royal Greenhouses in the Botanic garden (Botanisk Have)
  
• the parcs (Rosenborg Have where you can admire the beautiful Rosenborg Castle and Botanisk Have are my 2 personal favorites)
• Quick lunch at the pølsevogn - plan around 50 dkk for a sausage and a drink
  
• Quiet walk along the lakes (4 longs lakes at the west of the city center)
  
• A beer at the Carlsberg brewery (tasting included in the entry ticket) or the local way, sitting on the wharf at Nyhavn
• After all that you might be a little hungry, so let's stop for a nice little evening all you can eat buffet at Riz-Raz or Ankara (both are restaurants brands with a few in the city center)
  

For sleeping, no a lot of cheap options, I can onnly name Danhostel Copenhagen City (H.C. Andersens Boulevard 50). It's a youth hostel located fairly well but you still have to pay around 30 euros per night per person.