I understand, unfortunately, not Danish.

This phrase more than any other has been our m.o. in Copenhagen (fyi: København). I speak it, of course, in the lengua franca. It ingratiates me to the locals, gives them reason to snicker, and invites them to respond in English. It's quite useful. In fact, the gentleman who rented us our bikes (~ $11 per day/person) congratulated me for using "unfortunately" because it communicates desire to speak Danish, as well as inability.

Everyone here speaks English well. We attribute this to successful public schooling and fear of isolation, as well as Anglo influence. [Ryan says: This could also be attributed to the fact that much of Danish television consists of American/British/Australian programming - the Danes love Frasier.] I'm rather embarrassed not to speak the language. (Are they thinking that I'm an imperialist Americanoo? Well, they were imperialists first.)

We spent all day yesterday biking around the city. I won't tire of telling you how bike-y this city is. And it's leisure biking, just like in Japan. The relaxed atmosphere probably accounts for the lack of helmets. Only children and some professorial types wear them. Our oracle (the bike renter) spent 10 minutes convincing us of the futility of the helmet. I told him to bike in midtown Manhattan during rush hour.

Some other observations:

1. The women have a certain Barbie aire (Mattel must be Scandinavian).
2. Alcohol is consumed everywhere. But no fall-down drunks, like in Japan.
3. Design. Architecture. Design. (It's amazing what the human mind can accomplish when it's not preoccupied with war.)
4. Smoking is still permitted in bars.
5. DVDs are cheap.

More on Christiana, immigration "problems," and traveling with a pregnant woman in future posts!