4.5 weeks of summer vacation have now been forced upon me. How tragic – whatever shall I do with all that free time? 😂
Jokes aside, with the current chaos at work, stress levels through the roof, and life in general being a delightful rollercoaster, a long vacation was clearly the responsible choice. Originally, I planned just two weeks in weeks 29 and 30, with a few extra days in week 33. But then, certain circumstances (read: sanity preservation) led me to take a solid 4.5 weeks instead. Self-care, people! 😌
So, right after work on Friday, I jumped on a train to Copenhagen to kick off my hard-earned break with a weekend at my sweetest friend A’s place. We had also been to Istanbul together during Easter, and since she recently moved to a new neighborhood, so I was looking forward to see her new Home too 😊 We had planned a sightseeing weekend because, let’s be real, Copenhagen never fails to keep you entertained.
Since I arrived in the evening, we decided to meet for dinner at Sticks’n’Sushi. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. I, in all my wisdom, managed to mix up the locations. A had booked a table at the Tivoli Hotel branch, but for some reason, I assumed it was the one at Tivoli Gardens (honestly, why aren’t they in the same place? 😂). So there I was, standing awkwardly at the wrong restaurant, confused about why A wasn’t there. A quick phone call later, I realized my mistake and sprinted to the correct place, where A was waiting – absolutely howling with laughter 🤣. Good thing she found it funny… imagine if she’d been mad! 😅😂
Sticks’n’Sushi at Tivoli Hotel is on the 12th floor, so at least my detour ended with a stunning view. The restaurant is all about quality sushi and Japanese-inspired dishes, so we were in for a treat.
We ordered a mix of grilled broccoli with goma, avocado tartar, various sticks, and sushi. To top it off, we indulged in cocktails – I had Geisha (passion fruit, yuzu, and Japanese Shochu) and Yuzu Zoo (Japanese Roku gin, infused yuzu, and Japanese sake). A great meal to celebrate my daring city navigation skills.
After dinner, we headed to A’s new place, where we planned our adventures for the next day.
Saturday – A Cultural Detour
The day kicked off with a decently sized brunch at Fars Dreng on Rosengården. Post-feasting, we took a nice stroll through Carlsbergbyen, enjoying the shockingly cooperative Danish weather. Since the sun actually decided to show up, we seized the moment and got tickets to the Frederiksberg Museums.
First stop: Bakkehuset, a beautifully preserved Golden Age home that once hosted the intellectual elite. Basically, the 1800s version of an exclusive book club. In the early 19th century, Bakkehuset was a lively hub of discussions and gatherings, as the married couple Kamma and Knud Lyne Rahbek welcomed writers, artists, and scientists into their home.
There was also a creative space inspired by H.C. Andersen, where visitors – kids and adults – can unleash their inner fairy tale author.
Next, we descended into the Cisternerne for Chiharu Shiota’s exhibition Multiple Realities. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to wander through a surreal dreamscape filled with floating dresses and endless yarn mazes in an underground cavern – this was it. Spooky yet stunning.
Last but definitely not least, we visited STORM, my personal favorite! The museum is dedicated to Danish humor and satire – because, let’s face it, what would life be without a good dose of sarcasm? It showcased everything from legendary comedians like Storm P. to modern satirists like Roald Als. A fun and hilarious reminder that humor has been the survival tool in Danish culture since 1849.
After all that culture and inspiration, it was time for dinner. We had booked a table at Tramonto Rooftop, an Italian place I had loved a year ago. This time? Not so much. The new menu was… an experience (a bland, disappointing one).
So, to cleanse our palates from that tragedy, we headed to Bertels Salon on Strædet for some heavenly cakes 😍 Now that was a meal worth remembering.
And that’s it! Today I headed to Herning to spend some time with my parents before jetting off to Spain. It’s also Aadi Pirappu, which meant my mom made Aadi Kool – a meal so good it almost made me forget about the food crime from the night before.
In Herning, I’ll be catching up with my childhood friend T and my former colleague S, who is currently on maternity leave. Some quality time, cozy chats, and much-needed hygge are definitely on the agenda! 😃
