I decided I really
did want a keyboard, and I was able to find one at the electronics store in Copenhagen. This one is compatible with iPhone via Bluetooth. So I am currently in an Espresso Coffee place, and currently trying to figure out how to find punctuation marks on the keyboard. I do have a computer with a Danish keyboard at home, but this one is a bit different. Oh wait, I think it is because I also use the Danish keyboard system on the computer, rather than the American alphabet. Got it.
The first surprise when I got the Copenhagen airport was the ease of arrival. To arrive in the U.S. or Japan, you have to fill out declarations and stand in long lines. Here I only had to show my passport, and nothing else happened.
Secondly, I inquired at Information about renting a mobile hotspot. She did not know of any such place. Because I get lost in every sense possible without my GPS map on my phone, the only option that appeared to me was to use my phone carrier’s international plan—not my preferred method, as the data is limited, but it is functional for GPS.
Thirdly, I realized that the electrical outlets are different. Thankfully the electronics store was next door when I realized this. So that is another in-country purchase.
I dropped off my luggage at the hostel, and went to the medical museum on my first day. I was surprised when I asked about the photography policy, as the only restriction was “no flash”. At the little medical museum at Harvard Medical School or the one in Philadelphia (which I would like to go to as well), photography in general is forbidden, I think because the theory is it’s not proper to take pictures of human remains. Here in the Copenhagen museum it was free-reign. They did have a very impressive collection of preserved diseased organs and tissues, and preserved abnormal fetuses—conjoined twins, anencephaly, “mermaid syndrome”, and others. As interesting as these were, my main goal for photography was to take pictures of medical technology. They also had Gram’s microscope on display, who was an important fellow for bacterial identification, and we still use the Gram stain in laboratories and classification.
I am staying at Japanese-inspired hostel with sleeping pods, which I appreciate the basic privacy they provide. I’ve had to take naps more than once. The customer service has been excellent.
Today I’m wandering about Copenhagen, mainly the shopping area by Radhuspladsen (sorry, still trying to figure out the keyboard). About the city itself, I noticed there’s wider streets than in Boston, which I find surprising. All major roads have an adjacent bike lane—a real bike lane—and sidewalk. The cleanliness of the streets is about the same as in Boston. Something I find refreshing is the lack of commercialism, or maybe just advertising. Yes, items are displayed in the store windows, but you’re not flooded with pictures of the ideal man or woman.
Another surprise I have is that real people live here, and not super-polished fashionistas.
The idea of European countries in the U.S. is that everyone is looks a model. This idea made my perfectionistic self go crazy, as I was afraid of judgement upon arriving. Now that I’m here, I realized the Americans are more self-conscious than the Danes. In the U.S., if your shoes look like they were—gasp!—worn outside, you need to buy new shoes. Here, not so much, and I appreciate that.
Not sure what my plans are tomorrow. Wednesday I will take the train through Jutland and catch the overnight ferry to Oslo. I thought of going to Helsingor, or maybe the more touristy places like a castle.
That’s today’s update, stay tuned.