heading home for the holidays...

Milan is gorgeous and festive around the winter holiday time...

Gorgeous sunsets on a clear day (this one was taken at the Vigentino bus stop)...

The view of the Christmas tree of lights from my apartment:

And get-togethers with friends!

Carrie had a bunch of us over for a lovely brunch at the end of a recent three-day weekend:

I've enjoyed the past few weeks... but now am excited to head HOME for the holidays!

I haven't spent a Christmas in New York in about 7 years and am really looking forward to the time in Rochester with family and friends. My suitcase is packed... and it's mostly all gifts and little yummy things from Italy and my recent travels through Europe... I was also able to stuff some clothes in there but might end up wearing some of Mom's!

Rochester, here I coooooooome!

Tivoli - Copenhagen

Tivoli Gardens is the second oldest amusement park in the world! It opened in the mid-1800's... the oldest park is even in Copenhagen as well.

Jaime and many of her friends have season passes to Tivoli - it's the type of place that you can go to and enjoy a walk, shopping, food, and fireworks at night!

It was a lot of fun to visit Tivoli while the Christmas Market is going on. ...Talk about festive!!! I felt like I was in a piece of Disney World.

This is where Santa is for visits!

Having fun with Jaime, Lisa, and reflections...

Jaime... awaiting our delicious Danish dessert!!! Mmmmhmmmm...

Deliciousness with powdered sugar on top... and dipped in berry jam!

What a wooonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I absolutely adore Copenhagen and everything Scandinavian design.

Christiania - Copenhagen

During our day in the city on bicycles, we went to Christiania - a commune that is separate from the rest of Copenhagen... as it is also referred to as "Freetown Christiania"...and well-known for its use and sale of marijuana. It was interesting to go to this area and there is only one section that sells the drug... it felt touristy and weird to me... but I can appreciate this commune for many reasons and enjoyed seeing it. I really liked walking along a path to a lake, some houses, and even a school for the children that live here! A nice break from the lovely city.

The Wikipedia article about Freetown Christiania is interesting to read.

This would be the perrrrfect reading nook!

This poem reads:

All men dream but not equally -- those who dream by night, in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was all vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes and make it possible.

On the side of the school (with a small playground and beachfront area!)

Gooooorgeous and the right time of day for a visit:

Jaime, enjoying the music   : )

day on bikes! - Copenhagen

Jaime didn't have to work on Saturday and she planned a number of great things for us to do and see. She has gotten to know the owner of a bike rental shop near her apartment and he let us borrow bikes for the day (so sweet!!). He liked Jaime a lot - she has a beautiful vintage bike and has gotten everything for it (and its up-keep) from this guy.

We bundled up... got the bikes set... and were off to explore Copenhagen!

After a yummy coffee and brioche stop at a cute cafe, we biked to the bakery shown below and met up with one of Jaime's friends... for a Danish cake (similar to a pop tart)... mmmhmmmm... shaping up to be a lovely morning!

With our pop tart cakes in hand, we left our bikes locked up on the sidewalk and walked across the street to Assistens Cemetery (Kirkegard). The history of this cemetery is interesting (read more by clicking the link above)... it originated in 1760 for people that maybe could not afford to be buried within the walled city... but then prominent people (like Hans Christian Anderson!) were buried here in the early 1800's. Today, the cemetery also acts like a park... being a lovely, peaceful green space within the city.

The tree-lined entrance to the cemetery:

THIS guy cracked me up. His head is so small compared the rest of him. ...Looks like he's getting plenty to eat in the cemetery...

We walked around the cemetery, from Hans Christian Anderson's grave, and walked around some more... until our toes were too cold and we decided to find someplace warm.

Ohhh my goodie goodness. Deliciousness in a bowl! We stopped in a cozy cafe for a warm lunch and I loved my meal... it was a very flavorful kale risotto with lemon and other goodness mixed in. I want more... now!

After the delicious and warm lunch stop, we biked to Christiania... but that will soon get a post of its own...

The sun is setting around 4:00pm or so in Copenhagen this time of year... so it's nice to catch a sunset and still know that its early. BUT... it also made me sleep and, paired with the cold, ready to just cozy up in Jaime's apartment with pajamas on and my book   : P

Day on bikes!

Festive in Copenhagen

It was a lot of fun to be in Copenhagen for Thanksgiving. The weather is getting cold (really cold!) but not reeeeaaallyyyyy cold yet... and the holiday season has started! Christmas markets are popping up... mulled wine is plentiful... lights are sparkling... and there is a festive feeling in throughout the city.

The 5-star Hotel d'Angleterre, which opened in the mid-1700's

is gorgeous around the winter holiday time!

another Christmas market:

Happy Wall - Copenhagen

I love the Happy Wall in Copenhagen! Interactive art pieces throughout city... are awesome.   : )

It IS often the little, random things that can add some happiness in a day!

There was a family with a young boy at the wall and they were working to flip over various pieces. After some time, the they all stepped back and the mom asked the boy (in French) what he had spelled... he yelled out, "Victor!" Haha... so cute - must be his name. They then took a picture of Victor standing in front of his name on the wall.

More pictures can be seen here: Guerrilla Innvoation

The Happy Wall is in a large, beautiful square...

AND then I turned the corner and found some lovely street art paintings, which I matched with one of my favorite photos from my time living in Vietnam (left, below):

Nyhavn - Copenhagen

While walking around the center of Copenhagen, Lisa and I wanted to find the canal area lined with colorful townhouses. The area is called Nyhavn ...but we definitely were not pronouncing it correctly and confused numerous people as we asked for directions.   : P

...But we found it! Lovely area. One side of the canal is lined with restaurants and bars... the other seemed more quiet with storefronts and what looks like homes.

Wooden ships docked in the canal (which is very close to the harbor):

Cold but loving this city!