Farewell to Denmark

So nearly a month after I've returned to the States, I'm posting a Farewell to Denmark--all the stories and pictures from my last few weeks. I had a great semester--got to travel a ton, meet some cool people, and learned a lot about the Europe that I always thought was similar to the US in many ways--it's not. My SIS classes all talk about "the West" as this monolithic mentality, but Europe has a whole different perspective on a lot of world issues.

So, highlights from the last weeks in what will soon be the biking capital of the world:

1. Tivoli. Where Walt Disney was inspired. The main attraction at this park is the rides, but it's SO expensive! So I saw the second and third main attraction--the lights and the gardens. The park really is beautiful lit up at night.

Whimsical streets--one of the sections of Tivoli

One of the restaurants lit up at night

One of the other big attractions in Tivoli is the gardens!

The lake at night

My friend Katie and I stayed for the free concert that evening--Eric Hassle. It was a really fun show!

2. Rosenborg Slot: I finally made it to the castle located right in the town where I lived! It is, to quote my history teacher, one of, if not the, best castles in Denmark.

Great Hall in the interior of the castle

Castle taken from the garden--there is a large lake separating the castle from the garden

3. Kastellet and Den Lille Havfrue: A fortress and a fairy tale!
The kastellet is the old citadel, shaped like a star, that is still intact today. Instead of leveling it, it's used as the headquarters of, according to my history teacher, the Danish CIA. That's inside the fortress--surrounding the buildings (what used to be barracks), there is an earth wall in the shape of a star that has a path running around the top. It's really nice for a walk in good weather--green and with a good view.

Kastellet--walking along the top path

Den Lille Havfrue--The Little Mermaid statue! This is like THE landmark of Denmark--and the statue itself is tiny in comparison to the larger-than-life legacy of Andersen's tale.

Gefionspringvandet, a famous fountain in the area

4. Danish Resistance Museum: located right near Kastellet, this museum is all about Danish resistance, in all its forms, during the German occupation. World War II still has a sizable political impact, especially when it comes to talking about race and religion into European society.

So amidst the studying and preparing of final papers, I got to say goodbye to Denmark and visit a bunch of cultural landmarks. I'm happily settled back in DC for the summer, but there are some things I do miss about that little country. It was a great semester, and thanks to everyone who followed my adventures!