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Tivoli and The Lakes. May 2018.

Back at one of our favorite places here. Tivoli. And the flowers are starting to bloom.

K is bummed she is not tall enough to ride. She rallied.

Tivoli is always so pretty at night.

Feeling pretty darn good about themselves.

Copenhagen has three man-made lakes curving west of City Central. They start in Østerbro, go thru Nørrebro, and end in Vesterbro. We walked down to the end (and then totally took the train back to our house.)

xoxo-sk

ps. Things that made me happy.

Mel and Travis are here! May 2018.

Melanie and Travis are here!! And they are tired. Understandable. Jet lag is real, especially coming east. I get it bad; Andy (the super traveler) is usually unbothered.

Katherine managed to lose a tooth while they’re here.

Night out in Nørrebro.

Mel, the wine-drinker.

The bar we went to had Mario Kart. I talked a big game, but sadly, did not back it up. All those hours I played in college obviously forgotten. But, I wasn’t the worst… Melanie was.

Twinning. (The older K gets the more she looks like her Aunt Mel.)

xoxo-sk

Spring. May 2018.

So, after a cold Danish winter, we have moved into Spring.

See, they do love each other.

Warm enough for ice cream? Why not?

One weekend, Andrew had a birthday party up in Klampenborg, a suburb North of us. We dropped him off at the party and biked five minutes down the road to check out Bakken. It is the world’s oldest amusement park. We mostly walked around, but managed to squeeze in one ride. She picked a water ride of course.

The before.

During-

And after. Not too bad, they dried quick.

Churros to celebrate.

Bakken in located in the woods of Dyrehaven (Deer Park.) Dyrehaven is a huge forest, home to huge old oak trees and over 2100 hundred deer.

Checking out the deer.

xoxo-sk

Fun and Football. April 2018.

As the weather gets a little nicer, we like to take the kids on walks again. This is Rosenborg Castle. It is a small pleasure palace in the Kings’s Garden. It was built in 1606 as a summer residence. It was only used until the early 1700s. Now, you can visit inside and see the Danish Crown Jewels. It is about five minutes from our house to this park, so we get to walk through here often.

For those that remember, K has always slept in odd places. When she was little, we would find her in the bathroom sink, on the stairs, etc. The tradition continues.

We went to the International Cultural Festival at the kid’s school. Every country sets up a booth with food and drinks specific to there culture. Very cool and yummy. For the curious- chili, Rice Krispies and brownies for the U.S.

Danish tailgating in front of the Stadium before the football game.

Go FCK! F.C. København. Yeah, I know what it looks like. What are ya gonna do?

We sat in the “family friendly” area.

A beautiful walk home after the game through Fælledparken Park.

A mural of landmarks I love on the edge of the Park.

Let’s hope April shower’s bring May flowers…

xoxo-sk

ps. Andrew lost another tooth.

Billy and Neen are here! April 2018.

We were so happy to have Billy and Neen back in Copenhagen. Kids were super excited! Billy even navigated the train solo and came directly to the flat this time.

With American visitors, comes American goodies. Cheese-its for Andrew, NyQuil for me. (They don’t sell strong OTC meds here- cough syrup, ibuprofen, most allergy meds.)

The kids love it when Billy bikes with them to school. Billy loves it too, but does not love the cold.

Dinner at Lo-Jo’s Social.

Some lucky kids got to go shopping and to KFC (the closest thing we have to Zaxbys or Chick-fil-A.)

Jeannine exploring Cph.

Lovely brunch at SULT (it means hunger in Danish), where Andrew just ate the bread.

Goodbye and Goodnight Neen and Billy! We love you!

K in her new unicorn jammies Neen bought her.

xoxo-sk

Lad and Lass II. April 2018.

Another day, another castle. I’m so happy. Pictures below show the Royal Mile circa 1600s (D.D.D.C.), with Edinburgh Castle sitting atop the Mile to the West (left) and Holyrood Palace laying on the bottom (right.)

On your way east, towards the Palace, you come across John Knox’s House. It was built in the 1490s. It’s debatable if or for how long he actually lived there however. (It was also believed to be home of Queen Mary’s goldsmith.) Knox was the Scottish leader of the Protestant Reformation, founding the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

The Catholic Queen Mary and the the Protestant John Knox had a turbulent relationship.

Right before you get to the Palace, on your left, is Canongate Kirk. It was built in 1688-1691. The Queens Granddaughter, Zara Phillips, was married there.

While Edinborough Castle is an old, ancient military fortress, Holyrood Place is more modern and decorative. The original Palace was built in 1503 by King James IV (previously Royals had stayed in the Abbey’s guesthouse.) It was the primary residence of Scottish Kings and Queens until 1603. That changed when King James became the King of England and moved to London. Presently, it is Queen Elizabeth II’s official Scottish residence. She stays there for a week in the summer.

You walk through the main entrance to an inner courtyard.

Sadly, you aren’t allowed to take pictures inside the Palace. You get to see the Royal Apartments, ceremonial rooms, and Queen Mary’s historic chambers. For all of those interested in Mary, Queen of Scots, it was amazing. You get to see her bedchamber, outer chamber, and supper room. In her private chambers, she saw her husband, Lord Darnley, murder her secretary, Rizzio. It was the beginning of the end for the tragic Queen. If you don’t know her story, it is definitely an intriguing one.

Mary, Queen of Scots and the Murder of Lord Darnley by Alison Weir and Mary, Queen of Scots by Lady Antonia Fraser are excellent reads if you are interested.

They are ready for the Royal Wedding in the gift shop.

The Palace Gardens

The Ruins of Holyrood Abbey. The Abbey was founded by King David I in 1128. The nave is the only surviving part of what was once a grand Church. It was the site of Royal coronations and funerals. The Abby’s guesthouse was what eventually became the Palace.

Behind Holyrood Palace is the scenic Arthur’s Seat.

King Arthur’s Seat is part of Holyrood Park, a 640 acre Royal Park that sits beside the Palace. It is an ancient volcano that is 250 m above the city. Andy loves me, so he did not make me climb to the highest peak, just the second highest. Views were amazing, even on a misty day.

Carlton Hill is sits near the city center. It offers a lovely view of the city and houses multiple Scottish monuments. Here are some pictures of a few favorites, I won’t make you suffer through them all.

The Robert Burns Monument. Burns is a well known Scots poet who lived in the late 1700s. He wrote Auld Lang Syne (the song everyone plays at New Year’s.)

The (unfinished) Acropolis is the “National Monument.” It was started after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, to memorialize the soldiers who had died during the Napoleonic wars.

The Old Observatory House.

The Scottish-American Soldier Monument is in the Old Carlton Cemetery. Built in 1893, it commemorates the Scots who died in America’s Civil War.

The beautiful Balmoral Hotel on Princess Street. Two fun facts. 1. J.K. Rowling finished writing the last Harry Potter here in 2007. 2. Since 1902 the Hotel has been setting it’s enormous clock three minutes fast, to make sure people don’t miss their train.

The Gothic Sir Walter Scott monument is 61 meters tall and was erected in 1841 for the author. It is super detailed (pics don’t do it justice), with 64 statues of various historic Scottish figures and Scott’s literary characters throughout. The statue of Scott and his dog sits in the middle. Fun Fact- The train statin nearby is called the Waverley after Scott’s novel.

We walked around the Princes Street Garden, which offered a majestic view of Edinburgh Castle atop the hill. Also, Great Aunt Lizzie’s cute cottage.

The Scottish National Gallery – just a few favorites. You know I love portraits of lovely ladies. Mary Nesbit, Countess of Elgin (1977-1855) (1804) by Baron Gérard François and The Lady Agnew (1892-3) by John Singer Sargent

The Ladies of Waldegrave (1780) by Sir Joshua Reynolds

All of the food!! And drinks!!

In love with the kilts.

My last Scottish meal (in the airport lounge)- Scone with jam and clotted cream and PG tips tea. Classic.

And I really did love Scotland. It was one of my favorite places I’ve been. The people were so personable, and I absolutely loved the history and feel of the city.

xoxo-sk

ps. Look what we found-

Lad and Lass I. April 2018.

I have finally made it to the UK. I love my British History, 16th Century and earlier is my favorite- Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, the War of the Roses, Eleanor of Aquitaine, King Arthur’s court. I was so excited to see Edinburgh, home to many memorable events in Mary, Queen of Scots tragic life.

We stayed in Hunter’s Square, which is in the middle of the Royal Mile. The Royal Mile is the road in Old Town Edinburgh that connects Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace.

Edinburgh Castle is a magnificent fortress that sits atop Castle Rock, overlooking the city. Kings and Queens have lived on this land since the 12th century, with human occupation noted since 2nd century AD. It ceased to be a royal residence in 1633, becoming a military base. The castle is massive, brimming with history, and there is a ton to explore.

With additions being made and parts being destroyed over it’s centuries old existence, the Castle’s layout is interesting. It’s a confusing mix of Royal Apartments, Towers, staircases, and military buildings.

St. Margaret’s Chapel was built by King David I around 1130. Named after his Mother, Margaret, it has been spared in battles, and is the oldest building in Edinburgh.

Mons Meg was a huge cannon used for blowing holes in castle walls, weighing six tonnes. It could fire a 150kg stone ball up to 3.2km. In the 15/16th century she was cutting edge.

David’s Tower where the original “Black Dinner” took place. In 1441 King James II invited the Douglases (his rivals) to dine. During dinner, they were accused of treason and summarily beheaded immediately.

Robert the Bruce getting crowned on the Stone of Destiny.

The Scottish National War Museum. It honors lives lost since 1914.

James IV built The Great Hall in 1511. It is a long room room with a beautiful wooden ceiling, displaying armor and swords. Like most spaces in the Castle, this room was repurposed multiple times over the years.

Prisons for POWs as they were in 1781. The War of American Independence (that’s what they call the American Revolution I guess) brought almost 1000 POWs to Edinburgh Castle. The prisoners carved graffiti on the wooden doors of the prison. In some of the old carvings, you can see an early version of the U.S. flag. Very cool.

The western view from atop. Good-bye Edinburgh Castle, I loved you.

The view from the street. Pretty amazing structure and strategic placement.

Greyfriars Kirkyard is a beautiful cemetery that has been around since the late 16th century. A lot of notable Edinburgh residents are buried there.

Flodden Wall was built in the aftermath of Scotland’s defeat (against the English) in the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

Greyfriars Bobby is a Skye terrier who guarded his owner’s grave in the kirkyard for 14 years in the mid 1800s. He is apparently a big thing around here. You are supposed to (gently) rub his nose for luck.

Before I started researching this trip, I had no idea the role Edinburgh played in the Harry Potter Universe. While I am not a die hard Harry Potter fan, I have enjoyed the books and movies and could definitely see places around the city reflected in Rowling’s works.

The Elephant House, where Rowling did a lot of her early Potter writing.

Diagon Alley aka Victoria Street filled with cute shops, restaurants, bars, and lots of Potter memorabilia.

From the aformentioned Greyfriar’s Kirkyard- home of Tom Riddle and Professor McGonagall’s namesakes.

George Heriot’s School (1628) was the basis for Hogwarts.

We stayed right beside St. Giles Cathedral. Though restored in the 19th century, the current church is said to date back to the late 14th century.

My favorite part of St. Giles was the Thistle Chapel. In 1687, King James VII created the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. There are only 16 living members, knighted by the monarch for services rendered to Scotland. The Chapel is a small, beautifully detailed room, hidden in the rear of the Cathedral, built in 1911. Each knight has a personal seat, with their (and previous seat holder’s) coat of arms on the wall. The currant knight has their emblem at the apex of their seat.

Quick stop at the Royal Museum. We really could have spent the whole day here. It is really massive, with lovely historical collections.

Some impressive period ladies fashion. That’s commitment.

Queen Mary and a museum selfie for you.

I was obsessed with the closes. They are little alleyways off the main road.

Breakfast at Southern Cross Cafe.

Lunch at Oink. Pork and Diet Coke (real DC, not Coke light), two of my great loves.

Some of the Pubs we liked. And some of the drinks we drank.

So many stairs.

xoxo-sk

ps. Couldn’t resist.

My So-Called Life. Winter 2018.

As Winter is now officially over, here are some odds and ends from our first Danish Winter.

Sweet babies at the start of 2018. Katherine’s new look.

Yummy bubble waffle cones with friends at Munchies. Yes, ice cream in the cold!

Just a documentation of Katherine’s descent into Angela Chase territory. For those unfamiliar, Angela was the angsty teenager on the amazing tv show from the mid-90s, My So-Called Life.

Some of her #ootds (outfit of the days.) The gray one was vetoed by me. Tights do not equal pants, she knows better. She is very into black these days, which is very Danish and very me. Can’t really be mad at her for that.

Fastelavn is celebrated in mid February in Denmark. It is their version of Halloween. My favorite part was the fastelavnsboller, pastries filled with cream. They are amazing, and they sadly, are only made in the weeks surrounding it.

Cold days with Mom and Dad.

Some new haircuts for Spring.

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KRK finally decided to get her ears pierced. She did great, no tears, total pro. She loves her new look. Hello, Spring. We are ready for you (like really ready, please bring warmer weather.)

xoxo-sk

ps. It’s true. They really do leave babies outside here.

Malmö and the Lamb. March 2018.

At the end of the week, we took a little day trip over to Malmö Sweden. One thing we have really enjoyed here is the train. It is so low-key and easy. Malmö is just over the Oresund Bridge, about 45 minutes from our flat. The Bridge is quite a sight. It’s 16.4 km long and was opened in 2001. From Copenhagen (Amager,) you travel under the water for 4 kms. It is the world’s longest underwater tube tunnel. You then come up in the middle of the water on a man-made island, continuing onto the bridge. Very cool.

We visited Malmöhus Castle. It was originally Danish (as was Norway and Sweden.) It houses art exhibits and various castle paraphernalia. It is a true fortress. In it’s heyday, it was surrounded by a moat and heavily fortified.

The Castle and the town of Malmö.

Lots of art.

Portraits are my favorite. I love seeing how people looked and dressed in different time periods. So solemn and fancy.

Life imitating art.

K and A were not impressed by the group toilets.

I was super intrigued with this. It is a sink, with a chamber pot tucked into the bottom from 1890. Fancy.

Down into the Round Tower and out the window into the moat.

And a Castle selfie.

We walked around Kungsparken. It borders the Castle to the Southwest.

Snack Break.

Right beside the Castle and Kungsparken is the Technology and Maritime Museum. The kids really enjoyed this place. Lots to see and very interactive.

Katherine looking up the periscope. We got to climb into an old submarine. I am not claustrophobic, but it was tight in there.

Kids were hangry at this point, so we stopped for lunch at the Surf Shop.

Malmö’s Museum of Modern Art. Modern art is not my favorite.

The beautiful Gothic Malmö City Hall in Stortorget Square.

Lilla Torget, the Little Square.

St. Peter’s Church. It was built in the early 14th century.

And we’re spent.

Goodbye Malmö.

Happy Resurrection Sunday. The Easter Bunny is international and visited us this morning. We hunted eggs, ate some candy, and went to church.

For Easter, Andy requested lamb. Yes, lamb, to celebrate the lamb of God. “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

xoxo-sk

ps. Look who won the family NCAA college basketball pick ’em!!

Experimentarium. March 2018.

In Denmark, Easter is a public holiday. Most people have off Thursday, Friday, and Monday. So we took advantage of Andy being off Thursday and went to the Experimentarium in Hellerup (just north of us.) They have a bunch of different exhibitions. It was very fun and vey impressive.

The Port. The balls represent various goods and simulate global trade. The kids have to load their ship with the proper goods (balls) and transport to the correct warehouse. In turn, they return with separate goods (different color balls.) The exhibit also uses a huge ball run, acting as trains and airplanes. It was a little confusing at the beginning, but the kids caught on quick.