From Joy to @#$!@#$^$#@

If anyone is reading this blog, let it be said that blogging is not without its frustrations. I think I should have picked another template and/or tried this out before I left home instead of learning on the fly. Maybe I'd have had better luck if I could have gotten my own computer to connect to this DSL line, but that's another boring story. So here I am unable to post photos for the moment, which was my intention.

We've been busy this past week doing the sights of Copenhagen: canal trip, neighborhood walks, museums, and palaces. The most interesting of the lot was the Museum of Danish Resistance in WWII. Denmark was occupied by the Germans and became the supply station for provisions to the Germans during the war, but there was a very active underground network against the Germans, and almost all the Jews were safely transported into Sweden.

Some observations: We are finding the Danes to be helpful and friendly when we need to find the right train or the place we're looking for, but otherwise fairly reserved. We're told that a Dane never does business at lunch and NEVER takes work home. At 5, the office closes and the Danes are with family. Copenhagen reminds me much of Amsterdam, a canal town, architecturally very similar, art museums nowhere near as interesting. No Vermeer here! Some Danish factoids: Tax on an automobile purchase is 180% of the purchase price. Yes! And when it's sold as used, the new buyer pays 180% of the used price. Driver's licenses cost $2000. As a result, 40% of Danes commute to work by bicycle, the goal being 50% by 2011. Around 10% commute by car, the rest by train. The trains run frequently and are generally crowded. It gets cold here in the winter, but seldom snows.

We went over the bridge by train into Malmo Sweden today. Malmo has an industrial shoreline that's being transformed into expensive waterfront housing like so many coastal areas throughout the world. The town between the canals though, is old and lovely, with large flowered, fountained plazas. There seems to be a big Italian influence in the food. I have to investigate that further. Has there been an Italian migration to Malmo???

Tomorrow it's back into Copenhagen to go to Tivoli Gardens with the children.