Copenhagen was really showing off for us as we gathered for our first group activity together on this glorious Friday afternoon. It was an idyllic Copenhagen summer day, with temperatures around 70 degrees and a nice breeze. It seemed the travel gods were shining down on us, at least for the first few moments, as we eagerly prepared to explore the city we would call home for the next two weeks. We knew we would learn a lot on the ride, but we had no idea just what sort of lessons were truly in store for us. And, of course, there’s no better way to kick off our travel blog than with a post about unexpected lessons learned.
While we were all incredibly excited for this adventure, we were a little thrown off to find ourselves immediately amidst Friday afternoon traffic. We were inches from cars, bikes, and buses, oh my! Our initial instructions included a breezy demo of the kickstand and a rather flippant option to grab a helmet "if we needed one." And that was... it. We were then shown some half-hearted hand signals to use, if we felt comfortable. The cultural differences of biking in the US versus biking in Copenhagen became immediately, hilariously apparent. Here in Copenhagen, it's the cultural norm that everyone is comfortable biking from the cradle, while the harsh realities of biking in the US mean many of us haven't been on a bike in an urban setting in years. But, as they say, it’s just like…well, you know the rest.
Lesson #2: You’re Never Too Ugly to Write (According to Our Guide)
We did settle in after a few red lights separated our group (and reunited us, eventually), and we all got more comfortable as we progressed. Our first stop was at Rosenborg Slot, where our guide offered some truly unique Copenhagen history: the castle, we were told, was built for the king's mistress (a detail our history books somehow omitted), and Hans Christian Andersen only became a literary giant because he was, shall we say, artistically challenged when it came to dancing or acting. Apparently, a pen is mightier than a plié.
Lesson #3: Fact-Checking Is a Lost Art (At Least on This Tour)
Our second stop was Nyboder, a historic row house district that once served as Naval barracks. Built in the 1700s, we were proudly informed by our tour guide that they were a UNESCO World Heritage site. A little post-ride fact-checking (because that's what teachers do, even on vacation) revealed they were, in fact, not on the World Heritage list. Maybe we'll get to visit one of Denmark's actual eight World Heritage sites on our trip. All was not lost, though, as we did learn (from the guide, naturally) that nudity is apparently not illegal in Copenhagen. Good to know!
Our next stop (with the 14 of our original 16 group members who hadn't yet been accidentally abandoned by the tour guide) was the Gefjon Fountain. This impressive monument depicts the Norse Goddess Gefjon, associated with plowing, virginity, and her oxen children. The legend, our guide explained, has it that she turned her four sons into oxen for one night to plow up a hunk of land from Sweden, and it became the Danish island of Zealand. We didn't linger long here, for friends needed a rescue.
Lesson #5: Smoking Is Hot in Denmark (Allegedly, for Queens)
Our ensuing rescue mission for our two group members who had been unceremoniously left behind led us to Amalienborg Palace. There, our guide quizzed us on which of the four identical palaces the chain-smoking Queen of Denmark (yes, she smokes!) allegedly had built specifically for herself because it had extra chimneys and extra windows. (Spoiler: she didn't build any of them, but it made for a truly memorable trivia moment!)
Lesson #6: Drinking Is Hot in Denmark (And Makes for Colorful Homes)
Our final leg of the journey took us down Nyhavn, famous for its colorful, iconic houses. Legend has it (and by "legend," I mean "what our guide enthusiastically told us") that they were painted so vibrantly so that drunk men and young children could easily find their own homes among the rows. It makes sense, really.
Lesson #7: Keep Your Friends Close (Especially When Biking in Copenhagen)
Overall, we leaned into our Bike Tour of Copenhagen. We learned that yes, we can bike here, and we certainly heard some "information" that we likely won't hear from any other tour guides along the way. Our bike tour was not what any of us expected, but it turned out to be a fantastic bonding experience – in that special way only crazy, unexpected turns of events can lead to a truly tight-knit group. We’re on to more adventures and lessons, hopefully with fewer abandoned teachers!
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