Denmark

The weekend of May 15-17th, while madrileños were busy celebrating their patron saint, San Isidro, I jetted off to Denmark to meet up with my friend Kaeleen, who had been sent to Helsinki for work (lucky girl). For some time I have been a bit curious to see how life is in the northern European countries, especially since republicans keep scaring everyone and saying that the U.S. is going to turn out like them socialists in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia. Which yes, would be the end of the world as we know it.

Yes, I was a bit shocked to hear that the average income tax is 50%, but Danes take advantage of a very efficient health care system, where even the most advanced surgeries are covered (and they don't have to wait forever like opponents would have you believe). If they are laid off, there are extensive unemployment benefits. Generally socialist and capitalist systems are considered mutually exclusive, leading me to think that entrepreneurship would be stifled in Denmark, but it is quite the opposite. We stayed at a B&B in Kalstrup, a half hour outside of the capital of Kobenhavn, with Eva and Asger, an incredibly nice, well-traveled, tri-lingual Danish couple. I spent our car rides to the train station and back inquiring about Denmarks pseudo-Socialist system. Asger said now that he is a retired schoolteacher and principal, Eva and he run the B&B which actually earns them more money than teaching. The taxes on small businesses are very low, compared with larger corporations. While he was teaching, he was taxed so heavily that for every 100 DKK he made, he pocketed 38. ($1 USD=5DKK) Small businesses are encouraged to not get to big, or else they are heavily taxed. This would seem to be a positive, as more small businesses competing is better for consumers, and you don't risk the problems that occur when a sector is run by large conglomerates who have one objective.

The highlights of Denmark I would have to say were Tivoli Gardens and Eva and Asger's house. Tivoli Gardens is the oldest amusement park in the world, opened in 1843, and was Walt Disney's inspiration for Disneyland. It was like walking back in time, before the current over-commercialized super expensive theme parks took over. There was a pirate ship, a Chinese themed stage, a Dragon boat lake, and a ton of things going on--concerts, interpretations (one free-style dance show that was a bit strange) and a night rock concert. Kaeleen and I had some amazing Italian food as well (though expensive, because hey, it is Denmark).

The second highlight of the trip was of course Eva and Asger's house and beautiful yard. We stayed with them on the top floor of their A-frame house, and they made us breakfast every morning, with organic fresh-baked bread, cheeses, and soft boiled eggs. They introduced me to Norwegian brown cheese (it has various names) that is a soft cheese that is caramelized. I am now a convert. On the last day I was there, Asger led us on an expedition trying to find brown cheese for me to take back to Madrid. We found it and I bought 2 packages of it, one of which was quickly consumed by Mariana (my roommate) and I in less than a week. Eva insisted I liked it because of my Norwegian heritage. Kaeleen returned to Seattle and found the cheese in Ballard, which makes sense. I told her it would be way more likely she found it there than I find it in Madrid, despite the proximity to Scandinavia.

All in all a quiet and tranquil stay (emphasis on tranquil). It is worlds away from Spain, as you would expect for a country whose population is barely that of the city of Madrid.

Pictures:
1. flower pot in Eva and Asger's yard
2. Tivoli Gardens in Kobenhavn
3. Eva and Asger in front of their house
4. amazing Norwegian brown cheese
5. Kaeleen and I on the swings that Asger built
6. Kaeleen taking a picture at the lake near Eva and Asger's house in Karlstrup