WHY I LOVE THE NORTHERN COUNTRIES
In the Northern European countries, I find all that I was fighting for when I was in Southern Europe.
Here I am so happy that I feel a bit like a “looser”, I have the sensation that by being in this place, getting all the benefits of locals whom actually won those battles which I just left at midway, it’s a kind of easy escape for me.
Of course there are things here to improve too, still, the institutions are honest and trustworthy.
But from the other hand, I feel that by spending so much of my life at these latitudes, I am linked to the lands and people, which is so far and different from where I was born, aware of belonging much more here than anywhere else.
Copenhagen – Malmø
United but divided.
Sweden and Denmark spent big efforts to build the Øresund bridge, to create a metropolitan area that would be extended from Copenhagen to Malmo.
It happened that Sweden claimed to host much more refugees than Denmark and decided to have a border control between the bridge from Copenhagen to Malmo.
The most worrying and upsetting thing is that in Copenhagen the control personnel, before boarding the train to Malmo, takes a picture of your ID without even telling you anything about it.
That’s a big abuse against privacy. Not even in intercontinental border controls they take pictures of documents without a specific reason or without communicating it in advance.
Harmonious contrasts
Business, but social.
København: “trading-harbour”, this is the translation of the name of the most continental capital of Scandinavia.
Even though we could easily say that Copenhagen is the capital of trading, business, design, and development, at the same time there is such a big social and human oriented movement, a real avant-garde, that you feel at home, no matter where you come from, or at least I speak for myself.
I feel warm, with like minded people and in a welcoming environment, even if I always disliked business and trade… but here commerce, it’s fair. At any rate fairer than anywhere else.
The first aspect that many companies and startups often take into account, in Copenhagen, it’s the social and environmental commitment.
POLITICS IN DENMARK, WHY IS IT SO SUCCESSFUL?
Because political issues are made easy to understand by politicians.
Because everyone participates to political topics in the ordinary day life.
Because people gets involved and loves to share their thoughts in a constructive way.
LIBRARIES vs SHOPPING CENTERS
You can judge the quality of the administration of a country not just from the welfare measures, but from his libraries too.
In many countries there is this habit of hanging out in shopping centers, wasting time, money, brain, products and polluting.
Here libraries are a richer, more enjoyable place to be.
ART vs TECH PEOPLE
We are keen to think that creative people is fun and laugh all the time while persons in science and religion are always serious and sad. Actually, often the opposite happens. People that does ‘serious’ jobs are quite open to jokes and fun, maybe especially because they want to get out their serious environment.
PUBLIC BIKES SHORT PERIOD RENTAL TOO EXPENSIVE
Public Bike sharing is something that should be tourist friendly–they are the ones that need a bike for short and don’t want to buy one–.
The average tourist stays in Copenhagen for two/three days, paying 25kr/hour is really expensive, it’s equal to about 3,5 euros.
The monthly subscription is quite interesting: 70kr/month and the first half hour is free.
You should make the one-day subscription for maximum 10kr a day and weekly 30kr without having to pay extra if you use the bike for less than 30 minutes each time.
In Paris, Seville, London, and many other cities you pay about two euros/day with the first 30 min free.
CYCLING INFRASTRICUTRE
Impressive, but I can still list stuff to improve:
– Narrow bike lanes
– Bus stops on the bike lanes
– Cars going on the bicycle Lane to turn right
– Too long waiting for traffic lights
– Not all the city is cyclable
Yes, I lived nearby Holland.
LIVING IN CHRISTIANIA
Hunting for accommodation in Copenhagen is quite a mission impossible.
After long hours of online research and many emails, I find something, in Christiania!
It’s a big room in a factory building which has been transformed into an apartment. It’s a historical, cultural, living example of Copenhagen Lifestyle and changing urbanisation habits.
The same happens to many buildings in Christiania years ago, when a bunch of artistic, creative, good-hearted, revolutionary people, started to occupy buildings, creating the current “free-town”.
It’s typical for many alternative areas of Copenhagen, I have been lucky to have a true feeling of Christiania-like accommodation.
ONE HOUSE, TWO HOUSES, THREE HOUSES
Most accommodations in Copenhagen are like this: Plants, white framed windows, white furniture as bee’s nest. In every house.
ANIMAL’S RIGHTS AND SOCIAL
Animals rights and human rights are strongly linked, not just because we as human are ‘social animals’ with the same needs of animals, but also cause you can evaluate the quality of a government by the animal welfare. I am not surprised to see that in Denmark, regardless a quite carnist society, there is strong fermentation for animal rights.
PEOPLE’S KITCHEN COPENHAGEN
Free collaborative dinner, organized by no profit associations of volunteers
MONDAYS
18:30 – Folkets Hus, Outdoors (Vegetarian)
Stengade 50, 2200 Kbh. NV.
“There is a box for donations, the proposal is 20 kr. You eat outside, so wear clothes on cold months. The food is rarely dumpster-dived. Vegetarian.
Ragnhildgade 1, 2100 Copenhagen
Is an asylum and refugee political café with hosted in The Candy Factory.
18:00 – Kraftwerkts Folgekokken
Valgårdsvej 2, 2500 Valby (Right next to Toftegårds Plads).
“Bus 4a and 1a run straight to the door, and otherwise, it takes about 5 min to walk from Valby station. Would you like to help plan and cook the kitchen? Send an email to kwfolkekoekken@gmail.com.
19:00 – Kafa-X
Korsgade 19, kælderen, 2200 Kbh. N.
“20 kr. Come at 16:00 and help with the food and get a free meal. You can also take the dishes out. The food does not come from the trash, but they get discarded vegetables from the greengrocer. Vegan.”
WEDNESDAYS
17:30-20:00 Støberiet
Blågårds Plads 3, 2200 Nørrebro – tlf.: 35 35 77 70.25
“25 kr. For vegetarian. I do not know if it’s vegan-friendly option.”
THURSDAYS
19:00 – Ungeren
Dortheavej 61, 2400 Kbh. NV.
“Go at 15:00 and help if you want to have a free meal. Otherwise about 20 kr. (Sometimes 25 kr.) The most luxurious folk kitchen in Copenhagen. Sign up for Dortheave’s Folkekoek on Facebook and get to know the menu in advance. The ingridients are not from dumpsters. Sometimes you can buy a cake for dessert. Vegan.”
19:00 – Christiania, by Loppe-bygningen (there is a sign)
“20 kr / wash the dishes after eating and you can freely make use of the remaining bread. Vegetarian, but vegans are taken into account.”
FRIDAY
18:30 – Cafe N,
Blågårdsgade 17, 2200 København N.
“25 kr. Non dumpsterdived food. Vegan.”
19:00 – The Candy Factory (Bolsjefabrikken)
Lærkevej 11, 2400 København NV.
“You can come and help make the food from 16-17. Both vegetarian and vegan.”
SATURDAY
12:00-16:00 – Foodsharing Copenhagen (indoors)
Grønttorvet 64, 2500 København
“Check the calendar on facebook to be sure of the date/time. Foodsharing Copenhagen invites you once again to share rescued / donated food in a fair matter! You are invited to come by between 12pm and 4pm and pick up food for yourself, your friends, neighbors and family! It is getting cold outside, therefore we are moving inside for this special event and next to our regular food distribution, we want you to have a good time as well, so feel free to stay for some hot drinks and a hyggeligt atmosphere. =) PLEASE BRING also the food that you would throw away at home to prevent your own food waste!”
SUNDAY
12:00 – Folkets Hus, Stengade 50, 2200 Kbh. N.
“Brunch! 25 kr. Check the website for dates. Vegetarian but with a fair vegan selection. The ingredients for the food can be from the bins.”
14:00 – Kageorgie (First Sunday of every month)
Ungeren, Dortheavej 61, 2400 Kbh. NV.,
“Donation Based. I was there the first time they made it and it was insane! There were so many cakes! Sumptuous. Vegan.”
Is an asylum and refugee political café with hosted in The Candy Factory.
So, have you been in Copenhagen?
Do you know any other social, non-profit, places where to eat?
Wanna tell me your opinion about this design city?
Write a comment!
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