Flight To Denmark-DIARY

I would like to write about Danish daily life from the resident point of view.

No.51 - No.60　　　(May 2005 - Jul 2005) Now translating...
No.41 - No.50　　　(Mar 2005 - May 2005) Now translating...
No.31 - No.40　　　(Dec 2004 - Mar 2005) Now translating...
No.21 - No.30　　　(Oct 2004 - Dec 2004)
No.11 - No.20　　　(Sep 2004 - Oct 2004)
No.01 - No.10　　　(Sep 2004 - Oct 2004)

No.30 Dec 8, 2004 "Christmas in Tivoli"

Talking of Copenhagen, many people imagine "Tivoli Park", don’t they? It closes on September once, and opens again from November to before Christmas Eve. The "new" Tivoli has been changed "The Christmas version". They say that Walt Disney referred Tivoli. Tivoli Park isn't so big site, but you won’t feel small. The place is loved by family, young couples and everybody.


Tivoli Park in twilight time. Most stands sell a lot of Santa Claus goods. Most goods in Tivoli are concerned with Christmas. Tivoli is wrapped in Christmas atmosphere.	Lighted trees and a building like castle.	Fantastic atmosphere. The color of snow lighted dark blue and warm lights of the building, two contrasts are so beautiful.

No.29 Dec 4, 2005 "COPENHAGEN JAZZ HOUSE"

After my wife and I enjoyed a Christmas atmosphere in Copenhagen, we went to my friend’s boyfriend’s house, because we had them invite. We spent a wonderful time there with nice music, dinner and interior, and then we left for "COPENHAGEN JAZZ HOUSE". It’s first time for us to go to Jazz club in Denmark. We enjoyed a Copenhagen winter night as we were given to the groove the big band was playing.
(Click on this for further details:ACTUS)


The choir who appeared in the center of Copenhagen. Their red hats like Santa were very cute.	My friend’s boyfriend’s house. The interior is minimum, it looks cool but very warm and cozy because of the use of lighting. It welcomes the first guest warmly.	The facade of "COPENHAGEN JAZZ HOUSE". Today’s band is the "Fredrik Lundin"band. He is one of the most popular saxophone player in Denmark.

No.28 Dec 1, 2004 "Skating link at the corner of a street"

My wife and I went to Malmo again. It’s full of contents today. First we visited the furniture showroom "IFORM" which I have really wanted to visit since before, and then we went to "david design" which just moved on the end of last October, and at last we had dinner in Japanese restaurant "IZAKAYA KOI" that gets a reputation as the minimum simple interior. All places were wonderful, and I spent a good time there. But I was more impressed by a skating link as same as them or more. This skating link appeared in a small square in this town recently. I want to introduce the look of Christmas in Malmo, mainly a skating link.
（Click on this for further details:FURNITURE,DESIGN SPOT）


Children who skate with unsteady steps.	The view of this city in the twilight. It’s not gorgeous, but simple lights lighten the town gently.	This is the skating link in the twilight. It shows us the different aspect from the daytime. It’s almost four o’clock then.

No.27 Nov 28, 2004 "Christmas in my town"

My wife and I were invited to go to downtown by our friend; I was thinking that where he would go because most shops closed on Sunday, but a big Christmas event was given there. There are so many people. I thought "What so many people live in this town!" Grandpa, grandma and baby…everybody gathered and enjoy this event. My image of Japanese Christmas was for young couples, but in fact I have just known Christmas is for everybody here in Denmark. I was thinking about those things while gazing at people enjoying genuinely.


There are many stands on the square in front of the station. I was surprised that Ferris wheel was prepared for this event. By the way, this Ferris wheel looks powerless. As I expected, its light sometimes went out and it itself sometimes stopped. People never screamed, just laughing even though they saw such a situation. Does this kind of thing often happen in this country? Or the nationality? Is it only me to be afraid of it?	This is a stand that an uncle like a Santa Claus sells wood dolls.	It’s the situation that Santa Claus was taking gondola and he was about to turn on the light to a big Christmas tree. Some children were gazing at the situation; others were absorbed in waving hands toward Santa Claus.

No.26 Nov 27, 2004 "Bellvue Beach in Winter"

10 a.m. in the morning, while I was sitting on "The Egg Chair" in the lobby in SAS Royal Hotel, two faces appeared. They are my previous coworkers. They got married recently and chose Denmark as the destination of their honeymoon. We walked around Copenhagen city and visited Bellvue Beach which is one of the holy places designed by Arne Jacobsen and is also our favorite place. I also felt happy to spend with the happy couple.


Antique furniture shop "KLASSIK". The two will never forget this shop, because this is the place which they bought a special souvenir for their memory of happy honeymoon. This shop has a good selection, and it made a deep impression on them that they have a good judge of furniture. （Click on this for further details:DESIGN SPOT）	Calm Bellvue Beach. When I visited here last September, this beach was crowded with many people wearing swimwear. I was felt warm by the light of watchtower which was also designed by Jacobsen. （Click on this for further details:ARCHITECTURE）	The inside of "Restaurant Jacobsen". The contrast between the twilight blue outside and the warm cozy light inside was very beautiful. They are going to leave Denmark tomorrow. I wish this place will always remain in their memory. I wish you'll be happy forever!（Click on this for further details:DESIGN SPOT）

No.25 Nov 23, 2004 "Long Cold Night"

This season, particularly November is a gloomy month to most Danish people. On December they will be able to enjoy a lot of Christmas events, but now the dark time is getting longer day by day and they don’t have many pleasures. Their pleasure is only a presentation for Christmas and drinking Christmas special beer, maybe. So I want to introduce some goods to spend such a long cold night today.


Candle. It’s one of the most necessary items in Danish home. I can absolutely say that every home has candle. Small flare flames make me warm and cozy. By the way, these candle holders on the photo were made in Finnish famous glass maker "iittala" and sold for 30DKK for two pieces at an antique shop in Copenhagen.	After coming to Denmark, we especially my wife bought about more than ten picture books. Since they are written in Danish and Swedish, I can’t understand. But I’m always softened when just looking at their pretty pictures. The left book on the photo is "BARBAPAPA" which was born in France. The right one was written by Tove Jansson who is also well known to Finnish character "MOOMIN". And the last one is the most favorite for my wife and me. Their pictures are so cute that my friend took all pictures by her digital camera.	Christmas special beer. The left beer is the most popular. The right one is called "Calendar beer". When the number on the label changes, at the same time, the design changes, too. You can catch a glimpse of Danish humor from this.

No.24 Nov 20, 2004 "Going around Oresund area"

"Fine, cloudy later, sometimes snow and fine again later…" On the day the weather was very changeable, my wife and I went to Malmo which was our favorite town since last September we visited first. It was so cold today like freezing my fingers, but I enjoyed and could find new favorite places. On our way home, we changed the route. First we went north from Malmo to Helsingborg by train and then to Helsingor by ferry. That is, we went around Oresund area in one day. (From Helsingor to Malmo via Copenhagen and from Malmo to Helsingor via Helsingborg.) I felt a fresh sense of passing across the border easily different from Japan. By the way, we have never been asked about a presentation of our passport when going to Sweden.


My most favorite place in Malmo is "Form Design Center". On the first floor, the exhibition of "Norway Says" was held. "Norway Says" is a rising designer’s group in Norway. In this situation that the topic of Norwegian design hasn’t come up in recent years compared with other Nordic countries, I make sure that their existence will be more important from now on. （Click on this for further details:DESIGN SPOT）	"Form Design Center" same as the left photo. The exhibition of Swedish graphic design was held here. Their works were warm and something humorous.	"Malmo City Library". I think it will become my new favorite place. I felt comfortable the open space with big open windows and a high ceiling. Besides the slow atmosphere had me more comfortable. After taking this photo, the weather changed dramatically. The sky would be covered with dark clouds soon.（Click on this for further details:ARCHITECTURE）

No.23 Nov 10, 2004 "The way of spending times on a rainy day"

I don’t usually feel chilly in my room because of two heaters, but I woke up with a little chilly this morning. Besides it was raining outside. My wife and I have only one class after dinner on Wednesday, so I thought we would go somewhere…Oh? Today is Wednesday. Wow, let’s go to a museum! Because some museums are for free and open late than usual on Wednesday. It’s warm inside the building; we don’t need care about rain. we finished breakfast at once and got in the train bound for Copenhagen.


On the street to the National Art Museum. Will a group of children lead by teachers go somewhere? Excursion? Though a rainfall in Denmark is pretty less than Japan, it often rains in this country, everybody goes out without caring about a little rain. Most people don’t have an umbrella in a little rain.	The National Art Museum. The left side of this picture is an old building and the right is a new building. It’s free for only a permanent exhibition on Wednesday. (Click on this for further details: DESIGN SPOT)	Denmark Design Center. It sends information about current Danish designs. This is a photograph of a cafe. (Click on this for further details: DESIGN SPOT)

No.22 Nov 5, 2004 "Louisiana Museum"

When I woke up this morning, it's been a long time since I saw blue sky the last. When I finished having brunch, I felt it’s a little busy atmosphere because probably other students also were going somewhere. My wife and I decided to go to Louisiana Museum because we wanted to relax today. This museum has a beautiful location as well as excellent art collections. When we came here in August for a school excursion, we had just only one hour, that’s why I couldn’t see permanent exhibition and a museum shop. Today is the best weather, and we have enough time. I’ll enjoy one of the best modern museums in the world.
(Click on this for further details: DESIGN SPOT)


At the entrance. It’s a small entrance than I expected. The theme of the exhibition is "Flower". So this object with flower motifs was decorated there.	The situation of the entrance of today’s exhibition "THE FLOWER AS IMAGE". I was moved to Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki’s photo displayed among great artists like Robert Mapplethorpe, Wolfgang Tillmans, etc. I re-realized his greatness as a photographer.	The best location close to the sea. There are many open-air sculptures in this huge site.

No.21 Oct 31, 2004 "Winter Time"

Today is Sunday of the last week on October. Finally summer time switches winter time. It’s the first experience for me. After I hesitated whether I should advance the hands on the clock or set it back, I adjusted it taking the time difference into consideration. From now on, Denmark is heading for real winter. When it passes four o’clock in the evening, dusk falls. Since I experienced this season, I could understand the reason why Danish people always were out in summer, even it’s only a couple of minutes. What are pleasures for Danish in this season? The answer is that they are starting preparing for Christmas which is the biggest event in winter.


The path in a forest. In this season, colored leaves were over and they are falling from trees. It sounds comfortable when I step the earth. Far from here, I can see a horse riding.	Cloudy days continue. The sun sometimes breaks through the clouds, it makes me happy.	Many goods for Christmas are started to display in shops. Families forward a preparation for Christmas together.