Sunday, November 21, 2010
Copenhagen, Denmark
Nov 20th-Copenhagen
Since I last wrote, Scott and I visited Copenhagen, Denmark. Scott had to go for a work training and I went for fun. I spent a few days exploring the city, despite it being cold and windy. November is not the perfect time to visit, but at least there was no waiting on lines for museums. I visited the Jewish museum, Museum of Resistance, three of the royal palaces, Museum of Copenhagen, Museum of Denmark, and the Geology museum. Unfortunately the famous landmark of the city, The Little Mermaid is in China for 2010, so I couldn’t see her. They had a copy in the airport so we took pictures. See above. I took the hop of hop off bus tour and for one of the routes; I was actually the only one of the bus. Interesting experience to be on a huge bus all alone going around the city. I was very impressed with all the palaces. We even were able to see some of the royal jewels, which they have on display. On Thursday night I arranged us to see a comedy/musical show at Tivoli, which is an amusement park with restaurants and theaters, and very famous in Copenhagen. It was put on by an English speaking theater company and was hysterical. We didn’t understand all the jokes as they made fun of some Danish things, but overall we had a great time. I was unimpressed with the Jewish museum. It was designed the by famous architect Daniel Libeskind, but I thought it was a weird setup and there actually wasn’t many artifacts to see. The Museum of Resistance was much more interesting and showed what the Danish did to resist the Nazis during WWII. Amazing how they helped save the Jews and only a small amount were killed. Makes you think what other countries could have done to help save people during the war. As we decided to stay for Shabbos, I got in touch with the local Chabad to see if we could join them for meals. What an experience we had. There is an active Jewish community in the city, with two shuls. The shul near chabad doesn’t get so many people on Shabbos, but the other has at least 100 active families. The chabad is very active with many ongoing activities and every shabbos they get close to 100 people and in the summer the number is even higher. They feed people for free and just ask you to give a donation. The chabad rabbi and his wife were so nice and friendly and we enjoyed their company. The rabbi had just come back from a Chabad conference in NY, so we got to hear about his experience. We were even fortunate to meet an elderly man who grew up in Copenhagen visiting from Israel. He shared his experiences of being in the City during the war. He spoke in Hebrew and most I was able to understand, but thankfully the rabbi translated all afterwards. We had a very lovely Shabbos and I am sure will go back again.
Now we are getting ready for our first Thanksgiving outside the US. We arranged for a turkey from Amsterdam and are having 10 adults and 4 kids for dinner tomorrow. Should be fun!!! Just hoping our turkey defrosts by tomorrow!!
Since I last wrote, Scott and I visited Copenhagen, Denmark. Scott had to go for a work training and I went for fun. I spent a few days exploring the city, despite it being cold and windy. November is not the perfect time to visit, but at least there was no waiting on lines for museums. I visited the Jewish museum, Museum of Resistance, three of the royal palaces, Museum of Copenhagen, Museum of Denmark, and the Geology museum. Unfortunately the famous landmark of the city, The Little Mermaid is in China for 2010, so I couldn’t see her. They had a copy in the airport so we took pictures. See above. I took the hop of hop off bus tour and for one of the routes; I was actually the only one of the bus. Interesting experience to be on a huge bus all alone going around the city. I was very impressed with all the palaces. We even were able to see some of the royal jewels, which they have on display. On Thursday night I arranged us to see a comedy/musical show at Tivoli, which is an amusement park with restaurants and theaters, and very famous in Copenhagen. It was put on by an English speaking theater company and was hysterical. We didn’t understand all the jokes as they made fun of some Danish things, but overall we had a great time. I was unimpressed with the Jewish museum. It was designed the by famous architect Daniel Libeskind, but I thought it was a weird setup and there actually wasn’t many artifacts to see. The Museum of Resistance was much more interesting and showed what the Danish did to resist the Nazis during WWII. Amazing how they helped save the Jews and only a small amount were killed. Makes you think what other countries could have done to help save people during the war. As we decided to stay for Shabbos, I got in touch with the local Chabad to see if we could join them for meals. What an experience we had. There is an active Jewish community in the city, with two shuls. The shul near chabad doesn’t get so many people on Shabbos, but the other has at least 100 active families. The chabad is very active with many ongoing activities and every shabbos they get close to 100 people and in the summer the number is even higher. They feed people for free and just ask you to give a donation. The chabad rabbi and his wife were so nice and friendly and we enjoyed their company. The rabbi had just come back from a Chabad conference in NY, so we got to hear about his experience. We were even fortunate to meet an elderly man who grew up in Copenhagen visiting from Israel. He shared his experiences of being in the City during the war. He spoke in Hebrew and most I was able to understand, but thankfully the rabbi translated all afterwards. We had a very lovely Shabbos and I am sure will go back again.
Now we are getting ready for our first Thanksgiving outside the US. We arranged for a turkey from Amsterdam and are having 10 adults and 4 kids for dinner tomorrow. Should be fun!!! Just hoping our turkey defrosts by tomorrow!!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Mid-October
I know it has been a while since I have updated my blog, but thankfully things have been busy. On the Sunday after Scott’s birthday we headed to Amsterdam, to find mozzarella cheese to make pizzas for the birthday party we were planning. We also ordered a large birthday cake for the occasion. See it just took a while, but now we have figured out this whole kosher food situation. We were also fortunate to spend time with some of Scott’s fellow American expat coworkers and their families. The wives have been so friendly and helpful to me, which has been great. So now back to birthday celebrations. On the 23rd, we had a big party at our house in honor of my birthday, Scott’s birthday and Diego’s birthday. (Scott’s coworker’s husband who also just turned 30). Diego came over the Thursday before to help Scott make the pizzas. Now he is an expert pizza maker. We also filled him in on Diego from Dora the Explorer. He had never heard of him. I guess they don’t show Dora in Argentina, where he is from. The party was so much fun. We had Argentinean friends of Diego, our friends from shul, some of Scott’s coworkers, some friends I have already made while here and our neighbors. Everyone had a great time eating homemade pizza, and the big birthday cake. (pictures posted above) This was the first time I felt like we were settled here and things will be ok. It was so nice to see in such a short time all the people we have met and can share happy occasions. It was great that the party was so multicultural because then happy birthday could be sung to us in three languages. It was also great to spend time with our neighbors, an expat from Canada and a young Dutch family, renovating the house next store. Good thing I am used to construction nearby from my NYC days, so doesn’t faze me. Our neighbors are really friendly, which is very nice.
Now that we are also more settled we have been able to host more shabbos meals. Last weekend, we even hosted Friday night and shabbos day. People are so happy to know they can trust our kashrus and eat in our house. And on the flip side we are happy that we can have people over to celebrate the Sabbath with us. We have also been hanging out socially with some of the people we have met here. Just last Sunday we went to Amsterdam and met up with a nice young couple whom we had met weeks before at the Jewish learning weekend. We ate in a kosher Mediterranean meat restaurant. Food was great. We have decided this is our new favorite Amsterdam kosher spot.
Recently I started knitting lessons with my friend Sasha, who is stuck at home in bed after an unfortunate carting accident, led to two broken ankles. Word to the wise, try and avoid carting. We had a teacher, who owns a cute knit shop in the town center come to Sasha’s house. She gave us basic lessons and now we are off knitting. I can tell you here that I am planning to start with a scarf for Scott and as he doesn’t read this blog, it will still be a surprise.
Scott and I also started Dutch lessons. We go to class twice a week at night. There are 6 students including us in the class. They come from Poland, Ethiopia, China and Israel/South Africa, so we are a diverse bunch. Has been an interesting experience. Many words are similar to English, it is just a question of getting pronunciation and grammar, which can be difficult. We need to memorize the words we don’t know and practice, practice, practice. Hopefully next time we are home to the states, we will be able to speak to you in Dutch.
So that’s the latest for now dear friends . . .
Now that we are also more settled we have been able to host more shabbos meals. Last weekend, we even hosted Friday night and shabbos day. People are so happy to know they can trust our kashrus and eat in our house. And on the flip side we are happy that we can have people over to celebrate the Sabbath with us. We have also been hanging out socially with some of the people we have met here. Just last Sunday we went to Amsterdam and met up with a nice young couple whom we had met weeks before at the Jewish learning weekend. We ate in a kosher Mediterranean meat restaurant. Food was great. We have decided this is our new favorite Amsterdam kosher spot.
Recently I started knitting lessons with my friend Sasha, who is stuck at home in bed after an unfortunate carting accident, led to two broken ankles. Word to the wise, try and avoid carting. We had a teacher, who owns a cute knit shop in the town center come to Sasha’s house. She gave us basic lessons and now we are off knitting. I can tell you here that I am planning to start with a scarf for Scott and as he doesn’t read this blog, it will still be a surprise.
Scott and I also started Dutch lessons. We go to class twice a week at night. There are 6 students including us in the class. They come from Poland, Ethiopia, China and Israel/South Africa, so we are a diverse bunch. Has been an interesting experience. Many words are similar to English, it is just a question of getting pronunciation and grammar, which can be difficult. We need to memorize the words we don’t know and practice, practice, practice. Hopefully next time we are home to the states, we will be able to speak to you in Dutch.
So that’s the latest for now dear friends . . .
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