Last week I was in New York City on a mini vacation. Even though I am from the United States, I had never visited New York before so I was very excited to finally go there. I was also a bit nervous. It just has always seemed to be a city with a lot of crime, so I didn't know what to expect. My friend from New York also advised me to subscribe to The Gothamist before my trip so I could be up to date with some New York news, and that was definitely a mistake. It just informed me of every bad thing that has happened there on a daily basis, which only made me more nervous. :)
BUT I was so surprised how safe it actually felt to be there. I was still cautious and aware of my surroundings, but it was such a great city, the people were nice, and it reminded me so much of Europe, but with Americans. There were tons of people in New York City though, and I was a little surprised just how busy it really got.
I stayed in the Flat Iron District, and was able to walk around Manhattan very easily. It was really a great location to be in. Unfortunately, I happened to have Tonsilitus during my entire trip, which was really bad timing, and it was really painful, but I still managed to enjoy my time in NYC and hope to go back there one day, hopefully while perfectly healthy. :o)
I recorded some things while there, and made a little music video with music is by The Golden Filter. You can check it out here:
If you haven't been to NYC, I definitely recommend it. I loved it there! It felt so exciting, and it seemed like every kind of food you could think of was there. I also loved how easy it was to get around, and it seemed to be just like it is in the movies. I didn't get to experience a NYC subway, but maybe next time I visit I will get to see some other areas. More to come!
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Favorite Stores in Copenhagen
As you might have heard, Copenhagen is an expensive city to live in, but there are some stores on the cheaper side, and two of them are among my favorites here, Tiger and Søstrene Grene.
Both stores sell a little bit of everything from kitchen supplies, to snacks, to toys, to office supplies, accessories and more. I would compare them to a Dollar store back home, but both stores produce their own products, and prices can be more than a US dollar.
Tiger
The best Tiger in Copenhagen is located on Købmagergade, near Rådhuspladsen. It has three floors, so there is a lot to choose from. Basically, if you are new to Copenhagen and need to buy something for a cheap price, try Tiger. Maybe you need party supplies, or pot holders, or a new coffee mug. It has quite a big selection, and every week a new shipment of a whole different assortment of items comes in. The items are fun, some are downright silly, and some are just practical but with a cool design. The store also sells DVDs and CDs for cheap, and some electronics. The only thing about Tiger is that the quality isn't always good (stay away from portable speakers), but it's definitely a neat store to check out once in a while. Prices start at 10 dkk.
Søstrene Grene
The store I love even more than Tiger is called Søstrene Grene (The Sisters Grene). The best location of this store in Copenhagen is again on Købmagergade, but more closer to Kultorvet. It has two floors, and has a more sophisticated feel to it, than Tiger. There is classical music playing, and everything is stacked in wooden crates. The prices here start pretty low as well, but I would say that the quality is actually really good at this store. The products are designed by The Sisters Grene themselves, and I get the feeling these sisters are very creative. There is quite a large section in the store just with art supplies, and if you like the store on Facebook you will see tutorial videos on how to be creative with products from the store.
This store also sells kitchen supplies, party items, furniture, snacks, toys, seasonal goods, candy, home goods, and a lot of other random things. :o) It is my favorite of the two because I like the products a lot better. I like the simple designs, and the things I buy here, I feel have a longer life span. It's also a great place to buy gifts for others back home (if you aren't from Denmark). The products look more expensive than they are, and you can put together a great gift basket for someone with a lot of random things. :o)
Both stores can get very crowded, since it's cramped inside. I also don't like the check-out systems at both stores. It can be very chaotic, and people might cut in front of you, so that's not very nice. Both stores are worth checking out though.
Vero Moda
My next favorite store here is called Vero Moda. It is a women's clothing store that sells various brands, and I think this store is affiliated with the accessories store Pieces and the clothing store Only, but I could be wrong. I just see similar brands at all stores, and some items from Pieces are sold at Vero Moda.
I like this store because they have really good sales and promotions. You should definitely like the Facebook page of your local Vero Moda store, The reason being that, the stores announce special promotions or contests on Facebook. For example, I found out on Facebook that on one particular day if you were one of the first customers, you got 40% off your entire purchase that day in the store. Another time my local store lowered the price of a particular pair of jeans to 60 dkk for one day only because the picture reached a goal set for the amount of likes it gets. These promotions are not generally visible in the store, and vary among the different locations.
The prices at Vero Moda can be cheap, but also can be expensive. I just think the clothes are really well made, and high quality, so if you do happen to buy something on sale, you get a really good deal. Check it out if you want another cheaper option besides H&M for clothes.
Magasin Du Nord
I also love Magasin. The best location of Magasin is by Kongens Nytorv metro. It is a very old department store, and I would compare it to Harrods in England. It's an upscale store, there is a bakery, restaurant, and high end grocery store in the basement. Of course the store also sells clothing, toys, home goods, appliances, books, kitchen supplies, bedding, make up, bags, luggage, shoes, and so on. I don't remember how many floors it has but maybe 5 or 6. It's generally not a cheap store, but there are sales, and you can often times find some good bargains.
Apart from all of that, I really like that the grocery store sells a lot of imported goods that are not found elsewhere. So if you are looking for something special, you might want to try Magasin, but again it's not a cheap store. Also, if you are a foreigner you can get a discount at this store (you might have to show your passport), and you also can shop tax free.
One more thing, a little hidden gem, is the top floor. Magasin is generally super crowded, but many people don't realize what the top floor has to offer. The top floor has two restaurants, and a coffee shop, and a great view of downtown Copenhagen. You can sit up there, have a cup of coffee, chat with friends, and have a really nice view. Everything is self-serve, so you don't have a waiter, and you can just sit there and unwind or escape the chaos. It's a lot quieter on that top floor, but it might be more crowded during the weekends.
So that is it! My favorite stores here. I hope someone found this interesting. There are other stores I frequent as well, but I would say these are my favorites!
Let me know in the comments if you have a different favorite store in Copenhagen. :)
Both stores sell a little bit of everything from kitchen supplies, to snacks, to toys, to office supplies, accessories and more. I would compare them to a Dollar store back home, but both stores produce their own products, and prices can be more than a US dollar.
Tiger
The best Tiger in Copenhagen is located on Købmagergade, near Rådhuspladsen. It has three floors, so there is a lot to choose from. Basically, if you are new to Copenhagen and need to buy something for a cheap price, try Tiger. Maybe you need party supplies, or pot holders, or a new coffee mug. It has quite a big selection, and every week a new shipment of a whole different assortment of items comes in. The items are fun, some are downright silly, and some are just practical but with a cool design. The store also sells DVDs and CDs for cheap, and some electronics. The only thing about Tiger is that the quality isn't always good (stay away from portable speakers), but it's definitely a neat store to check out once in a while. Prices start at 10 dkk.
Søstrene Grene
The store I love even more than Tiger is called Søstrene Grene (The Sisters Grene). The best location of this store in Copenhagen is again on Købmagergade, but more closer to Kultorvet. It has two floors, and has a more sophisticated feel to it, than Tiger. There is classical music playing, and everything is stacked in wooden crates. The prices here start pretty low as well, but I would say that the quality is actually really good at this store. The products are designed by The Sisters Grene themselves, and I get the feeling these sisters are very creative. There is quite a large section in the store just with art supplies, and if you like the store on Facebook you will see tutorial videos on how to be creative with products from the store.
This store also sells kitchen supplies, party items, furniture, snacks, toys, seasonal goods, candy, home goods, and a lot of other random things. :o) It is my favorite of the two because I like the products a lot better. I like the simple designs, and the things I buy here, I feel have a longer life span. It's also a great place to buy gifts for others back home (if you aren't from Denmark). The products look more expensive than they are, and you can put together a great gift basket for someone with a lot of random things. :o)
Both stores can get very crowded, since it's cramped inside. I also don't like the check-out systems at both stores. It can be very chaotic, and people might cut in front of you, so that's not very nice. Both stores are worth checking out though.
Vero Moda
My next favorite store here is called Vero Moda. It is a women's clothing store that sells various brands, and I think this store is affiliated with the accessories store Pieces and the clothing store Only, but I could be wrong. I just see similar brands at all stores, and some items from Pieces are sold at Vero Moda.
I like this store because they have really good sales and promotions. You should definitely like the Facebook page of your local Vero Moda store, The reason being that, the stores announce special promotions or contests on Facebook. For example, I found out on Facebook that on one particular day if you were one of the first customers, you got 40% off your entire purchase that day in the store. Another time my local store lowered the price of a particular pair of jeans to 60 dkk for one day only because the picture reached a goal set for the amount of likes it gets. These promotions are not generally visible in the store, and vary among the different locations.
The prices at Vero Moda can be cheap, but also can be expensive. I just think the clothes are really well made, and high quality, so if you do happen to buy something on sale, you get a really good deal. Check it out if you want another cheaper option besides H&M for clothes.
Magasin Du Nord
I also love Magasin. The best location of Magasin is by Kongens Nytorv metro. It is a very old department store, and I would compare it to Harrods in England. It's an upscale store, there is a bakery, restaurant, and high end grocery store in the basement. Of course the store also sells clothing, toys, home goods, appliances, books, kitchen supplies, bedding, make up, bags, luggage, shoes, and so on. I don't remember how many floors it has but maybe 5 or 6. It's generally not a cheap store, but there are sales, and you can often times find some good bargains.
Apart from all of that, I really like that the grocery store sells a lot of imported goods that are not found elsewhere. So if you are looking for something special, you might want to try Magasin, but again it's not a cheap store. Also, if you are a foreigner you can get a discount at this store (you might have to show your passport), and you also can shop tax free.
One more thing, a little hidden gem, is the top floor. Magasin is generally super crowded, but many people don't realize what the top floor has to offer. The top floor has two restaurants, and a coffee shop, and a great view of downtown Copenhagen. You can sit up there, have a cup of coffee, chat with friends, and have a really nice view. Everything is self-serve, so you don't have a waiter, and you can just sit there and unwind or escape the chaos. It's a lot quieter on that top floor, but it might be more crowded during the weekends.
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| Tea and croissant at Magasin |
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| Top Floor cafe seating area |
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| Top Floor cafe seating area |
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| Partial view from Top floor at Magasin |
Let me know in the comments if you have a different favorite store in Copenhagen. :)
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
YouTube
In addition to this blog, I also have a YouTube channel called idreamofcities where I upload all kinds of videos, from my travels, to the concerts I attend, to videos of my cats, to recipe videos, to whatever I find funny or interesting. It is a mix of all kinds of things, and represents my interests.
So every once in a while I make a music video with whatever I recorded (out and about) and upload it to my channel. If you would like to see a little bit of Denmark you can check out the video I uploaded today below. It was made using footage from March to September 2015. Music is by The Horrors.
I love filming with my camera, and I especially love turning that footage into a music video. Music can completely transform and enhance the original footage, and make it something really special. I also love that it makes the footage I recorded become almost like a short film. I am not a professional so it might look a bit raw. Let me know if you liked the video and would like to see more. :o)
So every once in a while I make a music video with whatever I recorded (out and about) and upload it to my channel. If you would like to see a little bit of Denmark you can check out the video I uploaded today below. It was made using footage from March to September 2015. Music is by The Horrors.
I love filming with my camera, and I especially love turning that footage into a music video. Music can completely transform and enhance the original footage, and make it something really special. I also love that it makes the footage I recorded become almost like a short film. I am not a professional so it might look a bit raw. Let me know if you liked the video and would like to see more. :o)
10 Things you should know if you are visiting Denmark
If you are planning on visiting Denmark there are some things you should know before your visit. I live in Copenhagen so some of my tips are specifically related to Copenhagen and probably also apply to some of the other large cities in Denmark. I hope this is helpful to someone.
1. Bring your own bag
When you go to a grocery store in Denmark you will have to either buy or bring your own grocery bag(s). So get ready to figure out how many bags you might need before you pay. Bags are normally available underneath the grocery conveyor belt at the register, but sometimes you have to let the clerk know that you would like to buy either a small or large bag for your groceries, and how many you would like. You should also know that it is also your responsibility to bag your own groceries at the grocery store.
You can also expect to buy or bring your own bag if you go to Tiger, Søstrene Grene, Normal, Kiosks, Book Stores, and countless other places. It isn't that expensive to buy a bag, but it can add up. So if you want to save money just remember to always carry a bag for what you buy just in case. Usually when you shop at a clothing store a bag will be provided at no charge, but if the clerk sees that you have a bag they might ask if your merchandise can be put in the bag you already have.
2. Don't throw away your drink bottle/can
There is something in Denmark called "pant." It is a tax on drink bottles/cans that you pay whenever you purchase a drink. The price of the pant you pay depends on the size or type of bottle. Basically, every time you drink from a bottle/can that has the pant symbol make sure to save it.
You can then go to any grocery store and find the machine called something like "flaske indlevering" and return all of your bottles/cans and you will get all of the money back that you paid for pant on a receipt. You then take the receipt into the store to the kunde service counter or a register and you will get cash in return or the money taken off your purchase.
I love this system and I wish it was done in Texas (where I am from). It is a great incentive to get people to recycle, helps keep the city clean (because if you leave a bottle on the ground it will get picked up), and it also can provide some kind of extra income for the homeless. Many people discard their bottles/cans when they are out and the homeless look in the trash and collect those bottles. So some trash cans in Copenhagen now have a special nook just for the bottles/cans so the homeless can easily access them.
Another thing to know is that if you do return your bottles/cans and want to donate the money you can push the red or yellow button on the machine. If you want to cash in the money you get back then you should push the green button marked "kr." for kroner.
3. A lot of people ride bikes in Denmark
If you didn't know there are probably more bikes than cars in Denmark. It is a lot easier to get around on a bike within a city since you don't have to wait for the bus, metro, or train to arrive.
Denmark is really good about making it safe to ride a bike here by creating many bike paths throughout the bigger cities especially. So if you are a tourist you should be aware of the bike paths. They are placed in between the sidewalk and the main roads but sometimes on smaller streets the bikes ride alongside the cars.
So you just have to make sure to stay on the sidewalk when walking, and not stand in the path of the bikes because the cyclists here are very speedy and will run you over. :o) You will probably hear a warning before when they ring their bell at you.
If you want to explore the city on a bike you can rent one. I have never rented a bike myself, but there are many bike shops throughout the city that allow you to rent a bike. You can also rent a bike at the central station and other popular locations from a self service bike station. You will know it when you see it. There are a lot of white bikes lined up outside together and those are for rent.
4. Bikes are not allowed on the metro during rush hour
You are not allowed to take your bike on the metro during rush hour. If you do you will be fined. Rush hour is considered between 7 - 9:00 am and 3:30 - 5:30 pm Monday through Friday.
I believe you can, however, take your bike on the S train at any hour, but you must take it into the section of the train specifically for bikes. You will see a picture of a bike on the side of the train.
As far as taking your bike on a bus goes, I personally have never seen anyone bring a bike on the bus. I would assume it is especially frowned upon during rush hour, but I have read that at other times you could take your bike on a bus if the driver allows it. I would assume you would only do this in a small town or outside of Copenhagen otherwise the s trains runs throughout the greater Copenhagen area and that is a better solution.
5. You need an extra ticket to bring your bike on public transportation
You also can't take your bike on public transportation without an additional bike ticket. A bike ticket costs around 13 dkk and can be purchased at the airport, metro, and any train station.
5. You must take a number at some places
There are a few places here where you must take a number instead of stand in a line. So you should just be aware to look out for this number taking machine at some bakeries, the post office, tourist information centers, customer service desks, the bank, immigration office, pharmacy, and probably a few others.
6. Water is not free
If you go to a restaurant and ask for water it is usually not free. However, sometimes tap water is free, but sometimes it is not. You should just be aware of this and you can ask your waiter if you are unsure.
7. You generally don't tip in Denmark
If you take a taxi in Denmark or go to a restaurant you generally don't have to leave a tip. People don't work for tips here, unlike in other countries. However, if you feel the service was really great, and you feel generous you can leave a tip if you want.
8. There is a floor 0
The floor level system here can be a bit confusing at first if you come from the U.S. like me. In Denmark the main level of a building or apartment is considered the ground floor or floor 0 instead of the 1st floor, like in the U.S. This really isn't a problem unless you step into an elevator. :o)
For example if you go to a metro in Copenhagen there are usually three floor levels. So if you want to take the elevator straight down to the metro it is underground so it is usually considered floor -2 and if you want to take the elevator from underground straight to street level it would be floor 0.
9. You need a pin code to use a Credit Card
Not all foreign credit cards or bank cards will work in Denmark unless you have a pin code. Also, there is a card system here called Dankort (Danish bank card with a chip) and some smaller businesses or fast food places sometimes only accept Dankort or cash. So you should take out cash as well if you are visiting in case you run into problems.
10. The winters are dark and long
Denmark has long hours of daylight during the summer and short hours of daylight during the winter. So if you come here during the fall/winter don't expect to see the sun much. The sun usually rises around 9 am and sets around 2:30 - 3 pm.
1. Bring your own bag
When you go to a grocery store in Denmark you will have to either buy or bring your own grocery bag(s). So get ready to figure out how many bags you might need before you pay. Bags are normally available underneath the grocery conveyor belt at the register, but sometimes you have to let the clerk know that you would like to buy either a small or large bag for your groceries, and how many you would like. You should also know that it is also your responsibility to bag your own groceries at the grocery store.
You can also expect to buy or bring your own bag if you go to Tiger, Søstrene Grene, Normal, Kiosks, Book Stores, and countless other places. It isn't that expensive to buy a bag, but it can add up. So if you want to save money just remember to always carry a bag for what you buy just in case. Usually when you shop at a clothing store a bag will be provided at no charge, but if the clerk sees that you have a bag they might ask if your merchandise can be put in the bag you already have.
2. Don't throw away your drink bottle/can
There is something in Denmark called "pant." It is a tax on drink bottles/cans that you pay whenever you purchase a drink. The price of the pant you pay depends on the size or type of bottle. Basically, every time you drink from a bottle/can that has the pant symbol make sure to save it.
You can then go to any grocery store and find the machine called something like "flaske indlevering" and return all of your bottles/cans and you will get all of the money back that you paid for pant on a receipt. You then take the receipt into the store to the kunde service counter or a register and you will get cash in return or the money taken off your purchase.
I love this system and I wish it was done in Texas (where I am from). It is a great incentive to get people to recycle, helps keep the city clean (because if you leave a bottle on the ground it will get picked up), and it also can provide some kind of extra income for the homeless. Many people discard their bottles/cans when they are out and the homeless look in the trash and collect those bottles. So some trash cans in Copenhagen now have a special nook just for the bottles/cans so the homeless can easily access them.
Another thing to know is that if you do return your bottles/cans and want to donate the money you can push the red or yellow button on the machine. If you want to cash in the money you get back then you should push the green button marked "kr." for kroner.
3. A lot of people ride bikes in Denmark
If you didn't know there are probably more bikes than cars in Denmark. It is a lot easier to get around on a bike within a city since you don't have to wait for the bus, metro, or train to arrive.
Denmark is really good about making it safe to ride a bike here by creating many bike paths throughout the bigger cities especially. So if you are a tourist you should be aware of the bike paths. They are placed in between the sidewalk and the main roads but sometimes on smaller streets the bikes ride alongside the cars.
So you just have to make sure to stay on the sidewalk when walking, and not stand in the path of the bikes because the cyclists here are very speedy and will run you over. :o) You will probably hear a warning before when they ring their bell at you.
If you want to explore the city on a bike you can rent one. I have never rented a bike myself, but there are many bike shops throughout the city that allow you to rent a bike. You can also rent a bike at the central station and other popular locations from a self service bike station. You will know it when you see it. There are a lot of white bikes lined up outside together and those are for rent.
4. Bikes are not allowed on the metro during rush hour
You are not allowed to take your bike on the metro during rush hour. If you do you will be fined. Rush hour is considered between 7 - 9:00 am and 3:30 - 5:30 pm Monday through Friday.
I believe you can, however, take your bike on the S train at any hour, but you must take it into the section of the train specifically for bikes. You will see a picture of a bike on the side of the train.
As far as taking your bike on a bus goes, I personally have never seen anyone bring a bike on the bus. I would assume it is especially frowned upon during rush hour, but I have read that at other times you could take your bike on a bus if the driver allows it. I would assume you would only do this in a small town or outside of Copenhagen otherwise the s trains runs throughout the greater Copenhagen area and that is a better solution.
5. You need an extra ticket to bring your bike on public transportation
You also can't take your bike on public transportation without an additional bike ticket. A bike ticket costs around 13 dkk and can be purchased at the airport, metro, and any train station.
5. You must take a number at some places
There are a few places here where you must take a number instead of stand in a line. So you should just be aware to look out for this number taking machine at some bakeries, the post office, tourist information centers, customer service desks, the bank, immigration office, pharmacy, and probably a few others.
6. Water is not free
If you go to a restaurant and ask for water it is usually not free. However, sometimes tap water is free, but sometimes it is not. You should just be aware of this and you can ask your waiter if you are unsure.
7. You generally don't tip in Denmark
If you take a taxi in Denmark or go to a restaurant you generally don't have to leave a tip. People don't work for tips here, unlike in other countries. However, if you feel the service was really great, and you feel generous you can leave a tip if you want.
8. There is a floor 0
The floor level system here can be a bit confusing at first if you come from the U.S. like me. In Denmark the main level of a building or apartment is considered the ground floor or floor 0 instead of the 1st floor, like in the U.S. This really isn't a problem unless you step into an elevator. :o)
For example if you go to a metro in Copenhagen there are usually three floor levels. So if you want to take the elevator straight down to the metro it is underground so it is usually considered floor -2 and if you want to take the elevator from underground straight to street level it would be floor 0.
9. You need a pin code to use a Credit Card
Not all foreign credit cards or bank cards will work in Denmark unless you have a pin code. Also, there is a card system here called Dankort (Danish bank card with a chip) and some smaller businesses or fast food places sometimes only accept Dankort or cash. So you should take out cash as well if you are visiting in case you run into problems.
10. The winters are dark and long
Denmark has long hours of daylight during the summer and short hours of daylight during the winter. So if you come here during the fall/winter don't expect to see the sun much. The sun usually rises around 9 am and sets around 2:30 - 3 pm.
I Dream of Cities
Hello there!
I am an American girl living in Denmark. Yep, that's right, I live in the "happiest country in the world". I probably should have started this blog when I arrived, five long years ago, but I didn't. Instead I am going to start one now. Why? Well, I feel like I have a lot to share with others who might be interested in Denmark, Europe, different cultures, and perhaps even the world. :) I personally am fascinated with other countries and cultures so I thought I would start this blog to share with you whatever I find interesting.
This blog isn't going to be all about Denmark. If I travel somewhere and have something to share about that I will definitely post it here. I hope someone out there enjoys reading this blog. If you have any questions or requests feel free to write me. In the mean time take a look at the video below to get a brief lesson in Danish history by one of my favorite Danish bands, Mew. :o)
I am an American girl living in Denmark. Yep, that's right, I live in the "happiest country in the world". I probably should have started this blog when I arrived, five long years ago, but I didn't. Instead I am going to start one now. Why? Well, I feel like I have a lot to share with others who might be interested in Denmark, Europe, different cultures, and perhaps even the world. :) I personally am fascinated with other countries and cultures so I thought I would start this blog to share with you whatever I find interesting.
This blog isn't going to be all about Denmark. If I travel somewhere and have something to share about that I will definitely post it here. I hope someone out there enjoys reading this blog. If you have any questions or requests feel free to write me. In the mean time take a look at the video below to get a brief lesson in Danish history by one of my favorite Danish bands, Mew. :o)
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