Since most of the other suggestions would be much better accompanied by pictures, and I'm waiting for a special birthday present to arrive, which will launch a new photo-intensive phase over here, I guess I'll start this exciting reader-inspired series (not too late to add ideas!) with a note in response to Mary's question about the length of the day, and the required coping mechanisms.
It's getting dark now around 4:30,* but to be honest it often feels like it never got to be day in the first place. There has been low-hanging cloud cover for the past... 2...3... weeks? I tried to take a picture but it looked misleadingly bright, and I don't want anyone to mistakenly think it is remotely so. I know I've been known to throw around comments about how much I love the weather in the PNW, and how much I love rain, and all that, and so I guess I should be having a ball. But I think its just too dark here (and no pitter patter of rain to sooth the soul - just cold and dark). It's hard to be motivated to do anything, outside or inside the house. Still, the center of town is still a nice place for a stroll, and the christmas decorations are coming out in full force, so I've gotta up my effort to get out and about. I'll have a post on christmas soon (that will be a photo series).
As far as coping mechanisms, I think I mentioned this before, but the Danes do drink a lot. Despite some formidable barriers - to name a few: 1) the cheapest beer is sold in individual cans/bottles which are annoying to carry 2) medium quality beer is about $8 for 6 cans and is not a huge step up fromt he cheapest beer 3) actual good tasting beer appears to exist but is also sold in individual units and is prohibitively expensive 4) beer on tap at a pub run $6 - $10 for a half liter, in face of all the obstacles, the danes really seem to take it down.
Mayhem ensues. For example, one of the first weekends I was here I was taking the bus from a party back to the center to go "out", around 12 or 1. There were a bunch of young drunk danish people on the bus, and after someone started singing a song they all knew, next thing you know the whole bus is belting this song out loud, one of them has commandeered the bus driver's microphone, and you are wondering if you're on a regular city bus or if you've accidentally gotten on someone's privately chartered party bus. Woo HOOO!! (Sidenote to Seattle bus riders - imagine if the 358 were to collide with the danish party bus experience - now that could be crazy!)
* Actually it's 4pm right now and it's getting dark :(
** It's 4:36 now and it is officially dark.
It's getting dark now around 4:30,* but to be honest it often feels like it never got to be day in the first place. There has been low-hanging cloud cover for the past... 2...3... weeks? I tried to take a picture but it looked misleadingly bright, and I don't want anyone to mistakenly think it is remotely so. I know I've been known to throw around comments about how much I love the weather in the PNW, and how much I love rain, and all that, and so I guess I should be having a ball. But I think its just too dark here (and no pitter patter of rain to sooth the soul - just cold and dark). It's hard to be motivated to do anything, outside or inside the house. Still, the center of town is still a nice place for a stroll, and the christmas decorations are coming out in full force, so I've gotta up my effort to get out and about. I'll have a post on christmas soon (that will be a photo series).
As far as coping mechanisms, I think I mentioned this before, but the Danes do drink a lot. Despite some formidable barriers - to name a few: 1) the cheapest beer is sold in individual cans/bottles which are annoying to carry 2) medium quality beer is about $8 for 6 cans and is not a huge step up fromt he cheapest beer 3) actual good tasting beer appears to exist but is also sold in individual units and is prohibitively expensive 4) beer on tap at a pub run $6 - $10 for a half liter, in face of all the obstacles, the danes really seem to take it down.
Mayhem ensues. For example, one of the first weekends I was here I was taking the bus from a party back to the center to go "out", around 12 or 1. There were a bunch of young drunk danish people on the bus, and after someone started singing a song they all knew, next thing you know the whole bus is belting this song out loud, one of them has commandeered the bus driver's microphone, and you are wondering if you're on a regular city bus or if you've accidentally gotten on someone's privately chartered party bus. Woo HOOO!! (Sidenote to Seattle bus riders - imagine if the 358 were to collide with the danish party bus experience - now that could be crazy!)
* Actually it's 4pm right now and it's getting dark :(
** It's 4:36 now and it is officially dark.
It gets dark pretty early here in the Netherlands also...bah! I'm just glad we set the clocks back finally because I was having trouble waking up before 9 a.m. under any circumstances. And wow, that's outrageous pricing for beer! Another reason you should come here for a visit--you can get nice Belgian beers in the supermarket for 3-4 euros for a six-pack. :)
ReplyDeleteGood commentary Bree. Lots of L's OL!
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