Having a European christmas is something that I have always wanted to experience. I have only ever seen what it would be like in movies as the snowy covered christmas trees, the magical lights and the concept of a cold christmas is very very far away from the Australian christmas that I enjoy every year around a swimming pool. Whilst I am yet to see a real snow covered christmas tree, European christmas is everything I thought it would be, and so so much more.
In Denmark, I think December would have to be one of the biggest months of the year. Christmas is in full swing, and they do not hold back to show their love of the festive season. Around almost every town, there are special lights that light up at night, well rather afternoon because it is dark now at 4 30pm. There are also other decorations that add to the feel and get everyone in the festival season. At 7 30 every night, a show called 'julekalendar' (christmas calendar) comes on and famalies all around Denmark tune in to see it. I am actually enjoying it. Here is a short add, sorry its in danish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CiO8SUUb7E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CiO8SUUb7E
In my town now, there is are two REAL christmas trees that are yet to be decorated with decorations. There are people wearing santa hats, and I have an excuse to wear cute christmas socks and sweaters. Quite a change from the Aussie attire of thongs and a singlet!! There are christmas lunches in nearly every weekend, and time is now dedicated to making decorations, christmas cakes, staying warm and counting down the days til the 24th, not the 25th!
Some traditions mirror those in Australia. For example, most kids have an advent calendar which for those who have been deprived throughout their childhood, is a calendar where every day in December, you get a chocolate, like a countdown. This year, I received one as a gift from my host family on the first day of advent which is something that we do not have in Australia. In Denmark, it is actually a tradition to get a christmas present every Sunday in December. Why, I have no idea, but it is a tradition that I think Australia would like a lot! It is called 'advents gaver' which translates to an advent present. Pretty cool tradition!
I have also enjoyed seeing Copenhagen at christmas. Last Tuesday, I had an early day from school so I met my friend Lauren in there. We had some souvenirs to buy, and we admired Copenhagen in the festive season. Along the shopping street, there were decorations that were really magical, and made the dark day seem okay. We strolled along strøget (shopping street) and came across a christmas market that had stalls made out of wooden houses. It was something quite special and I really hope it snows before I go home so that I can see it in the snow!
Shopping street in Copenhagen
Lauren at the christmas markets we found
WITH A SNOW MAN!
One of the fanciest hotels in Copenhagen. The stage is set up to look like the nutcracker. really beautiful!
After collecting what we needed, and feeling more like tourists than we ever have before, we headed for Tivoli. How do I even begin to explain Tivoli's beautifulness or magicalness. It truly was soooo wonderful and I thought that it couldn't get any better! The theme was Russian, so in the middle of the park, there is a tower that resembles Moscow. The colours are so wonderful. Lauren and I arrived there in the late afternoon, to see the lights being turned on at night. Amazing doesn't quite cut it. Hopefully these pictures will do it justice.
TIVOLI! Hard to believe that just 2 weeks before, it was decked out in so many pumpkins!
The main entrance
MOSCOW tower!
During the day
and during the night
TIVOLI! so magical
Tivoli om aften
How can you not love this?!
Lauren and I enjoyed some christmas food from the little market stalls that are set up around Tivoli, we also visited Santa Clause and admired the reindeers that were nearby where he was sitting (ACTUAL REINDEERS!) It was a really wonderful day that totally got me into the Christmas spirit and ready for the days that would follow.
On Wednesday after school, my host family and I drove the 6 hours to Berlin! If someone asks me if i have ever been there, I can say that I have been there 3 times, in the space of one year. Pretty crazy! The three times i have been there though, I have traveled there a different way. In April when I met chris and sal, i flew, for Euro tour back in May, we drove through Jutland (an island of denmark) andddd for this tour, we drove to the border, caught the ferry and drove the rest of the way. It was my first time on a ferry of that kind... where you drive your car on and sit on the top deck. It was around a 45 minuet tour, and the sea was pretty rocky! There was a border shop on board, where you can buy things like makeup and perfume cheap. Then we finally reached land- in the space of just under two hours I was in a different country. Europe's geography continues to amaze me. We arrived, and drove straight to the border shop which is something that I have always wanted to see. This is basically a four leveled store, where you can buy cheap food, fizzy drink and alcohol. It was HUGE!
After this, we continued to drive the rest of the way which was about 3-4 hours. We arrived quite late at night and went to bed, ready for our first day in Berlin!
We woke up the next morning and after eating breakfast, we walked down the shopping street in Berlin which was close to where we were staying. Along the way we came across what would be the first of many christmas markets. It was so beautiful with all the lights that lined the streets and the little wooden houses. It was like from a scene out from a movie. The first day consisted of christmas markets and a lot of walking. We saw some of Berlins sights along the way.
The next three days that followed continued in a similar pattern.
We managed to tick off some of Berlin's major attractions- Brandenburg gate, the Reichstag, berlin tower, berlin wall (but a part that I have never been to before), berlin dome and Charlottenburg Palace (which I had also never been in before). Another attraction was of the restaurant kind. Being on euro tour, I only ever ate fried chicken served by our hostels.... and never managed to try one of Berlin's famous curry wursts- which i found out actually taste okay! On one of the nights in Berlin, my host family and I ate out at a blind restaurant. This was really cool, as it is a restaurant where blind people are the waiters. It is completely black inside so you literally can not see anything at all! It is quite difficult to eat, and you actually have no idea what you are eating, you just pick a type of meat you want to eat before you go in. We were guided to our table by our waitress, through the pitch black. We had no idea what the restaurant looked like on the inside, and it was so strange and quite funny to sit in the dark eating your dinner. It was a really cool experience. Another place we visited was called 'Das klo' which translates to the loo'. This place had so much character, there was a toilet at the end of our table and when you opened the lid, there was a little surprise that looked real. The dj of the night found out I was from Australia, and played 'down under' as we sat down. He then proceeded to ask me if i had tried german tomato sauce, and then squirted a bottle in my face that looked like ketchup but was actually just red string. It was a really fun night, and I recommend the place to anyone in Berlin. You are guaranteed to have a fun night that you won't forget in a hurry!
I really love snowmen
Everything is dedicated to christmas in berlin- even buildings...
Display in a shop similiar to Myer or DJs
At night!
Check point Charlie
Brandenburg Gate- for the third time ;)
Beautiful Christmas tree at a christmas market
Palace exploring
Berlin Tower
Beautiful Christmas market in Berlin!
The main reason we were in Berlin though was for the christmas markets and they were really something special. The whole of Berlin seemed to be dedicated to christmas. We went to a shopping centre and the whole place was lined with christmas trees and christmas lights. It was quite a sight!
It was a really nice tour to Berlin and I had a wonderful time exploring the city for the third time!
And now December is in full swing- where has this year gone?! Before I know it it will be new years! Just 38 days to go, and I plan on making the most of them. This week, I don't have too many plans, except for Rotary, then maybe just a trip to Copenhagen to buy some last minuet things and then on Saturday a trip to the Ballet with my councilor and his wife which I am very much looking forward to and on Sunday, I have a christmas thing with my host family. The rest of my time here is just going to pass by before i know it! But I did manage to achieve one of my biggest aims for the school year; a 12 in English! (which is the equivalent to over 90 )
For anyone having a bad day, check out this link.... another reason why I love Denmark so much
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