Copenhagen’s beloved Little Mermaid, known from the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, will leave the city in 2010. She will travel around the world to be part of World Expo in Shanghai from April to November 2010. The Little Mermaid has never left her spot at Langelinie Pier, where cruise ships dock, since the statue was [...]
Copenhagen’s beloved Little Mermaid, known from the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, will leave the city in 2010. She will travel around the world to be part of World Expo in Shanghai from April to November 2010. The Little Mermaid has never left her spot at Langelinie Pier, where cruise ships dock, since the statue was erected in 1913. While in Shanghai, her place in Copenhagen will be temporarily taken by a sculpture created by a Chinese artist.
To understand Copenhagen and the Danes, you must grasp the concept of “hygge.” The candle-lit, snow-covered, outdoor tables on a snowy night in Copenhagen are one example of hygge. Although translated as “coziness,” hygge has no exact English equivalent. It is a complete absence of anything annoying, irritating, or emotionally overwhelming, and the presence of [...]
To understand Copenhagen and the Danes, you must grasp the concept of “hygge.” The candle-lit, snow-covered, outdoor tables on a snowy night in Copenhagen are one example of hygge.
Although translated as “coziness,” hygge has no exact English equivalent. It is a complete absence of anything annoying, irritating, or emotionally overwhelming, and the presence of and pleasure from comforting, gentle, and soothing things.
Hygge is often associated with family and close friends. Christmas time when loved ones sit close together with candles lit on a cold rainy night is “hygge”, as is grilling a pølse (Danish sausage) on a long summer evening.
These examples, although they do not precisely define “hygge”, can give an English speaker an idea of a deeply valued traditional concept of Danish culture.
If you’re cruising from Stockholm this summer, you might be curious about how Stockholm appears in the winter. These photos were taken in February and March, when Lake Malaren freezes over and locals go out for long walks on the frozen lake. Also featured are photos from Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town. To view the [...]
If you’re cruising from Stockholm this summer, you might be curious about how Stockholm appears in the winter. These photos were taken in February and March, when Lake Malaren freezes over and locals go out for long walks on the frozen lake. Also featured are photos from Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town.
To view the photos, click on any of the thumbnail images below.
[flickr album=72157614663044862 num=20 size=Square]
Stockholm Today, originally uploaded by Ralph Grizzle. This photo was taken on February 27, 2009, at 3:30 p.m Stockholm time. A gorgeous day here. Photo was taken by Ralph Grizzle from the Hilton Slussen Stockholm. Interesting also that today the US dollar trades for SEK9.08. Several months ago it traded for only SEK5.9, so we’re [...]
This photo was taken on February 27, 2009, at 3:30 p.m Stockholm time. A gorgeous day here. Photo was taken by Ralph Grizzle from the Hilton Slussen Stockholm.
Interesting also that today the US dollar trades for SEK9.08. Several months ago it traded for only SEK5.9, so we’re nearing the point where Stockholm (and Sweden) is nearly 50 percent cheaper than it was last summer.
