Compulsive snacking options

As everyone knows, the Danes are craving for snacks. You just have to look at the assortment offered by kiosks, candy merchants, sausage stands, and so on ...
Recent example at work: as if all the sugar that my colleagues have on their desk wasn't enough, a box of candy and chocolates appeared with a help yourself system - a little money box on its side (this also illustrates how much trust people have in each other here).

Of course, Danes realized that this sugar extravaganza might not be so healthy after all, so healthy options are also heavily available. At work, it is easy to get its hand on the classic carrot and mini cucumber, alongside more traditionnal fruits...

Other healthy treats are also commun, like the knækbrød (a kind of very dry toast) or peas.
Healthy versus sugar: the fight has just begun! Wonder who is going to win ;-)

Floating hotel

Are you looking up for an original hotel for your next trip in Copenhagen? Well, if you are not sea sick, you might consider staying at CPH living, a boat hotel!

Even if this idea is well know already, as for example in Holland, the idea of the hotel boat only appeared in Copenhagen in 2008. After a few years, the hotel is still there, but it doesn't seem the idea has been copied, at least not yet.
Of course, hotels in Copenhagen aren't cheap and a room there will cost you at least a 1000 dkk, but for that price, you will get a unrivaled view on the Copenhagen harbor! And on a sunny day (maybe next summer!), you can enjoy sun chairs on the deck...

You can find the hotel close by Langebro, nearly opposite of the Black Diamond. It is practicly the beginning of our New architecture in Islands Brygge walk.

Is it safe to cycle?

Copenhagen City also uses another argument in its Let's cycle campaign: Safety!


Translation : "You are safer on your bike than on your sofa!". And the small prints add: "The lack of physical activity affects your health, whereas physical activity maintains your body healthy and in good shape".
Yeah right, but at least, I never fell off my sofa ;-)

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?