Personal Blog
Christiania celebrated its 42 years that weekend, and there were concerts all over the place, and the lake’s shores were covered with young, beer in hand.
The slogan of the weekend was “Fed musik. Billig Bar. Lækker mad.” (“Good music. Cheap bar. Delicious food.”).
To know more about Christiania, I already talked about it here.
Another nice and exotic place in the heart of Copenhagen: the Botanical Garden.
Victoire arrived in Copenhagen Saturday night for two days before making a detour Aalborg and then flying to Bergen (Norway).
Since it was Saturday night, we had to get out! She knew two nice bars in Nørrebro.
The first one, the Kattens :
Fælledvej 12, 2200 København
t was still pretty quiet when we arrived and then bar get filled. There are only large tables so all the small groups stick to each other. You can play the DJ through an electronic jukebox and the atmosphere is quite nice.
Obviously, the disposition leads people to “get to know each other”. We came across a group of boys, not too drunk yet, who spoke to us successively in Danish, English, French. My heart still broke when one of them gave “gangsta’s going.” They wanted us to play a game where you must guess I don’t realy know what number, with your fingers. We dodged it.
Unfortunately the bar is quite small, and smoking is allowed, so it became very hard for me when more than two people close by began to smoke. After a while it was my eyes that made me realize that it was no longer possible.
We kept on with the Valhalla :
Blågårdsgade 21, 2200 København N
Smoking allowed too, but much more bearable fom the sofas in the back where we slumped. And I think also even in the middle of the bar, because the tables are further apart and the area much larger area.
I’m a little disappointed that many bars are smokers here, because I remember the Moose last year, impossible for me to just stay there, when he has the reputation of being one of the coolest bars in the city.
But anyway Valhalla was a good compromise, I will go back!
The next day, Tivoli. She did not know it because, despite the desire to see it, the price refrained her. But since I have my card that allows me to get someone in, it was an opportunity!
The tragedy of my childhood, never finding my name on that kind of stuff in France.
Bumper cars, a serious thing in Tivoli.
And two random pictures from the late walk in the city after:
And the next day, on our way to meet Rasmus for breakfast:
Tycho Brahe Planetarium.
Christiania is a kind of independent state, located in Copenhagen, a “free town” (Fristaden Christiania) as it is proclaimed.
In September 1971 a group of hippies took up residence in a neighborhood/empty military barracks. They destroyed the fences and created a self-managed and financially independent society based on the importance of community and its well-being.
Haunt of artists of all kinds, Christiania is unfortunately known for its open air sale of Cannabis in “Pusher Street” During its history Christiania has seen sellers of hard drugs settle there and several times had to “clean” Pusher Street of drugs traffic and gangs (bikers and Co.) that run them.
(This photo is not mine but I lost the source :-/ )
Be careful, there is also 3 more rules in the Pusher Street area, recentrly renammed The Green Light District : Have Fun – Don’t Run (it causes panic) – NO PHOTO. Because of this the Danish government, which owns the land, has repeatedly tried to end the community. It’s a complicated dance that has been played between the two parties all these years, but since 2011 Christiania and the government have reached an agreement that allows the inhabitants (and supporters) to buy a share. Christiania is a true state with its own flag (3 points that represent its i), an anthem, a currency (the Løn but crowns are also used by businesses), its own rules and also a complete city with its cinema, its bakery, bars and restaurants, events/concerts venues, shops (the famous Christiania Bikes among others), etc.. A doctor and a nurse also come once a week to provide free medical care, and as some residents have no bathroom there is a large building for this, two things that make life a little easier to homeless people too.
Christiania is divided into neighborhoods, all self managed. To make decisions people gather to discuss until they (absolutely all of them) agree.
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More photos :
And when you leave:
At lunch I tested the college canteen. I do not really know how it goes elsewhere because at Paris IV Centre Malesherbes there is only a small cafeteria where you can buy sandwiches and one or two distributors, when they want to work. I know there are University restaurants offering full meals for a few dollars, but I never had the opportunity to test them.
Here, there is a wide choice of smørrebrød, salads, hot dishes, sandwiches, cakes. You help yourself and take what you want and then go to the cashier for salads and Co. you pay by weight.
(I don’t eat that much in real life, I just wanted to test everything…)
