Saturday, April 13, 2013




FREETOWN CHRISTIANIA:

History:

The September 26, 1970 Christiania's history begins with the demolition of a fence by parents who wanted land where their children could play. This raises a debate thanks to an article in a newspaper, which makes a lot of people melt Christiania, based on freedom.
This is done in a military field abandoned by the Danish army in 1971. The government also accepted and since then allows the use and sale of soft drugs also include having its own laws and do not pay taxes.

Self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood of about 850 residents, covering 34 hectares.
Civic authorities in Copenhagen regard Christiania as a large , but the area has a unique status in that it is regulated by a special law, the Christiania Law of 1989 which transfers parts of the supervision of the area from the municipality of Copenhagen to the state. It was closed by residents in April 2011, whilst discussions continued with the Danish government as to its future, but is now open again.
Christiania has been a source of controversy since its creation in a squatted military area in 1971. Its cannabis trade was tolerated by authorities until 2004. Since then, measures for normalising the legal status of the community have led to conflicts, and negotiations are ongoing.

Flag of Christiania:
The flag of Christiania is a red banner with three yellow discs representing the dots in the "i"s in "Christiania"The colours were supposedly chosen because when the original squatters took over the former military base, they reportedly found a large amount of red and yellow paint.

The 9 common rules:


1-No weapons 6-No bulletproof clothing
2-No hard drugs 7-No sale of fireworks
3-No violence 8-No use of thinderflashes
4-No private cars 9-No stolen goods
5-No bikers colour

Where is Christiania?


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

10 reasons to love Copenhaguen


10 reasons to love Copenhaguen
1. THE DANES KNOW HOW TO PLAY
In contrast to the commercial clutter of most theme parks, Tivoli has clung on to much of its 19th-century atmosphere. Alongside the modern rides and Michelin-starred restaurants, the gardens are dotted with antique dodgems, vintage Ferris wheels and twirling merry-go-rounds. The oriental theatre, built in 1874, stages ballets and Pierrot pantomimes, while oompah bands serenade visitors from beneath the willow trees, and Chinese lanterns twinkle in the branches overhead.
2. THERE’S AN URBAN BEACH
You might not think of Copenhagen as a beach destination, but three miles south of the centre is one of Denmark’s finest stretches of sand: Amager Strandpark, a vast white beach extending along a sheltered lagoon, backed by gentle dunes and marram grass. It’s popular all year round with cyclists and rollerbladers, and come summer it’s awash with sunbathers. Be warned, though: swimming is best left for the steely, as the water temperature is only ever bracing at best.
3. FOOD IS A PERFORMANCE
Copenhagen’s gastronomic reputation has undergone a quiet renaissance over the last decade. At 1.th (the name means ‘first floor to the right’), lodged inside a luxurious apartment just off Copenhagen’s harbourfront, owner Mette Martinussen has created a dining experience halfway between a posh dinner party and a piece of live performance. Diners are sent their ‘invitation’ by email and mingle over drinks in the retro drawing room, before being ushered through to watch the head chef and his team at work in the kitchen-cum-dining room. The food is as flamboyant as the concept, taking in everything from pork with seaweed and horseradish foam to beetroot and liquorice ice cream.
4. THE CITY LIVES FOR PASTRY
Copenhagen’s bakeries are piled high with pastries, but ask for a Danish and you’ll more than likely get a funny look. They’re known as wienerbrød in Denmark, a reminder that the nation’s most famous pastries were originally invented by Viennese chefs during a nationwide strike by Danish bakers in the mid-1850s. A century-and-a-half later, and the wienerbrød is still the sticky treat of choice for Copenhageners. You’ll see people queuing up at bakeries for a cup of coffee and freshly made wienerbrød throughout the morning. The city’s best are handmade at La Glace, where the wienerbrød recipe has hardly changed since the shop first opened its doors in 1870
5. IN THE SWIM
Copenhageners don’t have to travel too far for a dip. Just south of the centre is the Islands Brygge Havnebadet, one of two outdoor swimming pools in Copenhagen. It’s a glorious place to experience an authentically Scandinavian swim; situated on one of the city’s main canals, the pool’s streamlined design has won architectural awards, and in summer the water temperature rarely falls below 20˚C.
6. DESIGNED FOR LIFE
Design in Denmark is both a way of life and a passion that teeters close to an obsession. Nowhere is this more obvious than at Copenhagen’s interior design store Illums Bolighus. The historic shop is like an art gallery: every item, from lamps to coffee tables, is displayed with the precision of a museum exhibit. If you’ve never fallen in love with a coat hanger or a piece of cutlery, you’ve clearly never been shopping at Illums Bolighus.
7. HYGGE: THE DANISH WAY
Falling somewhere between cosy, friendly and chilled out, hygge is a word that’s difficult to translate. The best way to get your head around hygge is to see it in action. Copenhagen’s harbour district, Nyhavn, makes an ideal place to start. On sunny days, Copenhageners can be seen sprawling along the waterfront, sharing snacks at one of the bistros on the cobbled quayside. As dusk falls, they huddle together under patio heaters to escape the chill evening air, or duck into basement bars, with quintessentially hygge combinations of low ceilings, tightly-packed tables and crackling fires.
8. BICYCLES RULE
It’s hardly surprising that the city is often cited as the world’s most bike-friendly city. With cycle lanes and flat streets, the appeal is obvious, but the real joy of cycling here is the sheer variety of bikes on the streets. Copenhageners treat their bikes as an expression of their personalities: some weld trunks onto the front of their bikes to make a makeshift seat for passengers, while others transform their machines into delivery carts or mobile prams. Try rentabike.dk (from 10 per day) or the city’s free bike scheme.
9. A LITTLE VENICE
Copenhagen looks at its best from the water. The city is criss-crossed by a network of canals, and though the clippers and tall ships have long since sailed into the sunset, the waterways are still an integral part of the city’s character. In the well-heeled canal quarter of Christianshavn, yachts, barges and houseboats jostle for space along the granite quays, while cruise-boats laden with sightseers putter past the elegant shuttered townhouses. As the afternoon light fades, the terraces of waterside restaurants such as Restaurant Kanalen fill up with evening diners, while buskers serenade them with traditional Danish folk songs.
10. SMØRREBRØD
Sliced rye bread (rugbrød) topped with cold meats, smoked fish, cheese or pate – this open-faced sandwich known as smørrebrød has been a lunchtime staple for the Danish for as long as anyone cares to remember. For connoisseurs, there’s only one address in town that cuts the mustard, and that’s Ida Davidsen. It retains a reassuringly old-world feel: diners cram into wooden booths lit by candles, while aproned waiters carry gleaming plates laden with sandwiches. In recent years, a new breed of cafe has sprung up, championing a modern twist on the traditional smørrebrød. One of the best is Aamanns, where you can pick up bento-style boxes if you’re in a hurry. Now that’s progress. 

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Walks in Copenhagen

Walks in Copenhagen- Sightseeing

There are quite many places to visit in Copenhagen, but the biggest one I think that is the Øresund Bridge, which connects the Danish Capital with the large Swedish City of Malmö.



Then you may visit the Kobenhavns Radhaus, the beautiful City Hall of Copenhagen.














Or maybe you prefer the Rundetårn church, a historical building placed in the centre of the city and at the top of the tower it affords you some great views over Copenhagen
File:Copenhagen Rundetårn street left.jpg

Another place you should sightsee is the Kastellet, the Copenhagen Citadel, one of the best preserved fortresses in Nothern Europe.



Afterwards, you can walk through the nice Frederiksberg Allë Avenue, that originally was the King's private road leading to his summer residence.
File:Frederiksberg Allé - parking lanes.jpg

Finally, you definately must visit the famous Little Mermaid, Den Lille Havfrue in Danish, a little statue made of marmol based on a fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen. The mermaid has been demaged many times, so it was decided to move her farther out in the harbour to avoid vandalism and prevent tourists from climbing onto it.
File:The Little Mermaid statue.jpg

LOCATION- MAP



(Víctor Santana)

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Facts of Denmark

General facts:

-The population of Denmark is 5,5 million people.

-The official language is Danish but they also learn English and Deutsche.

-The currency is Denmark Kroner.

-The official religion is Christianity (90% protestants).

-The timezone of Denmark is the same than in Spain: UTC +1-The national letters on cars are DK.

-The international phone code there is +45.

-The number in case of emergency is: 112.

-The national bird of Denmark is the swan.

-The speed limits are: In the city: 50 km/h - Highway: 80 km/h - Freeway: 110 km/h.

-The life expectancy of Denmark is: Women 81.62 years, men 77.3 years (2012).

-The flag of Denmark is:





Geography facts:

The capital city in Denmark is Copenhagen, and other important cities with their population are: Aarhus 319.094 , Odense 168.798, Aalborg 126.556 (2012).

Denmark is divided in five areas, which are: Sealand, Jutland, Funen, Bornholm and The islands, Copenhagen is in Sealand.




The area of Denmark is about 43.098 km²

The population density is 126,4 per km²



Government facts:

The present Government consists of the parties Social Democrats, Social Liberals and Socialist People´s Party. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, from the Social Democrats is the Prime Minister.

The Kingdom of Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, in which Queen Margrethe II is the Head of state (since 14 January 1972).

The Royal Family

This is a picture of the queen, the one in the middle, and the royal monarchy.


Denmark is part of Scandinavia and they are also a members of The European Union, UN, OECD, NATO and others.


Traditions:

-February/march - shrovetide: Shrovetide is a children’s festival, they dress up – usually on Quinquagesima Sunday – and go around with their collection tins which they try to get filled with money.

-April/May Great Prayer Day: Great Prayer Day is a special Danish festival falling on the fourth Friday after Easter Sunday, i.e. at the earliest on 17 April and at the latest on 21 May.
-5 May - Denmark's Liberation: After having been occupied by Germany since 9 April 1940, Denmark became free again on 5 May 1945. When the liberation was announced in the 8.30pm BBC broadcast on 4 May 1945, many Danes spontaneously placed lit candles in their windows. This became a custom that is still kept up by many Danes.

-5 June - Constitution Day: 5 June is the anniversary of the coming in force of the first Danish Constitution, the June Constitution of 1849. The day, which in many places is a full or half holiday, is celebrated around the country with political rallies, which especially formerly were in the nature of popular festivals, for instance on the popular nature spots Himmelbjerget and Skamlingsbanken in Jutland. It is also Father’s Day, which was introduced from the USA in 1935.

-31 December - New Year: Unlike Christmas, which most people spend with their family, New Year is celebrated with the friends. New Year’s Eve is framed by two important items broadcast on television and radio, viz. respectively the monarch’s New Year Speech at 6pm and the striking of midnight by the Town Hall Clock in Copenhagen, which marks the start of the new year.

The monarch’s New Year Speech has virtually become a national rallying point since it was first made in 1942 during the German Occupation, when the King called for national unity.
Other holidays days are: Labour Day and the day before Christmas Day (lille jule aften),the Christmas Day (Juledag) and the Second Christmas Day (2. Juledag), those are half holidays for most people.

David Marti & Danís Azizov

Famous Danish People


Denmark has a few celebrities, but some of them are very recognized all over the world.

Is from Denmark one of the greatests writers on the XIX Century, Hans Christian Andersen. "The Princess and the Pea", "The Little Mermaid" or "The Emperor's New Clothes" are three of his more read tales.


There are also some actors and actresses from Denmark.


Mads Mikkelsen, who won the Best Actor Award playing the main antagonist Le Chiffre in the twenty-first James Bond film,Casino Royale.



Brigitte Nielsen, Is an actress, model, musician and reality television personality. She is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone (1985-1987).

Sven-Ole Thorsen, is a Danish actor, bodybuilder and strongman competitor. In 1983 he won a prize, Denmark's Strongest Man.


Film Directors.

Susane Bier,



Jacob Christian Jacobsen was a Danish industrialist and philanthropist best known for founding the brewery Carlsberg. Starting in 1844, he established his brewery on the outskirts of Copenhagen, in 1875 he founded the Carlsberg Laboratory.







Viggo Mortensen is an American actor, poet, musician, photographer and painter. Eastern Promises (2007)made earn him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Mortensen is also politically active. 








Karen von Blixen-Finecke was a Danish author also known by her nickname Isak Dinesen. Blixen is best known for Out of Africa, her account of living in Kenya and she has been really acclaimed. 





René Redzepi is a Danish chef and co-owner of the two-Michelin star restaurant Noma in the Christianshavn neighborhood of Copenhagen, Denmark. His restaurant was voted the best restaurant in the world in 2010 San Pellegrino Awards, 2011 and 2012.


Friday, April 5, 2013

NYHAVN – The harbor


NYHAVN – The harbor

Nyhavn "New Port" was established by King Frederik V (1646-1699 - ruled Denmark and Norway 1670–99) in 1670-73 as a gateway from the sea to the old inner city and at that time the canal area reached right up to the Kongens Nytorv (Kings Square), where the ships unloaded their cargo and the fishermen their daily catch. The trade and shipping activities around Nyhavn provide a strong growth of Copenhagen and the many houses surrounding the Nyhavn canal along the two quays are more than 300 years old.

Mansions for the wealthy
In the beginning of the 1700s and on the shady side of Nyhavn, great mansions like Charlottenborg and other lavish houses with flats for the wealthy citizens were built. On the sunny side the houses were built of wood, brick and plaster and were the most colorful and picturesque house at Nyhavn rented by poor and common residents.

Old wooden ships
Up through the 1970s, Nyhavn has become a fashionable place to live and the quay is turned into a pedestrian street and the canal is packed with old wooden ships creating an atmosphere from the past time around 1780-1810 when Nyhavn was the main centre of all trade to sea from Copenhagen.
Every 30 min. there are boat tours from Nyhavn around the harbour area and canals to historical sights and known places.
Restaurants and cafés alongside the quay overlooking the canal with its old wooden ships and special maritime atmosphere.

Picturesque old houses
Nyhavn with its picturesque old houses on either side of the canal offers a variety of restaurants, pubs, cafés with dancing and music - 24 hours a day. Nyhavn is also called "The longest outdoor bar in Scandinavia" - with its many restaurants and cafés overlooking the canal.

Hans Christian Andersen and Nyhavn
The famous fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen lived in no. 20, from 1834-38, where he wrote his first stories. Later he also lived on the opposite - sunny side of Nyhavn in no. 67 - from 1845-64. The last years of his life he lived in no.18.

House no. 20 at Nyhavn on the shady side was where H. C. Andersen lived from 1834-38. The famous fairy tale writer also lived on the sunny side of Nyhavn in no. 67 from 1845-64.
There is always plenty of activity around Nyhavn and especially on the square with the monument of the Memorial Anchor from 1872 in front of the entrance to canal and harbour area.

The Memorial Anchor at Nyhavn
The great Memorial Anchor (Mindeankeret) in front of Nyhavn is a monument commemorating the more than 1,700 Danish officers and sailors in service for the Navy - merchant fleet or Allied forces, who offered their life's during the Second World War. The Anchor was inaugurated in 1951 and has a plague with a monogram of King Frederik VII on it. The Memorial Anchor is from 1872 and was used on the Frigate Fyn (Funen) - which was docked at Holmen Naval Base during the Second World War. The Memorial Anchor replaced a momentary big wooden Cross erected on the same spot in 1945. Every year on May 5th – Denmark’s Liberation day 1945 - an official ceremony is held to honor and commemorate the fallen at the Memorial Anchor.

 

 

Thursday, April 4, 2013

DANISH ART!!

THE MOST IMPORTANT  DANISH PAINTING

The most important Danish painting starts in the 18th century. As a consequence of the foundation of The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, which followed the European artistic movement, a lot of Danish artists appeared. Landscape with Northern Light of Jens Juel is one of them:
File:Landschaft mit Nordlicht.jpg
    

Around the beginning of the 19th century the Golden Age of Danish Painting emerged to form a Danish own style. They were more realistic and they painted everyday scenes, portraits.
A crucial figure was Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, who painted The Woman in front of a mirror.

File:C W Eckersberg 1841 - Kvinde foran et spejl.jpg

Constantin Hansen is also very interesting and important. He painted a scene of having company of Danish artists in Rome. There is painted famous artists of that moment. 

File:Constantin Hansen 1837 - Et selskab af danske kunstnere i Rom.jpg



Late, in the end of 19th century, modernism and expressionism began. The symbolism was very important on the paintings, so sometimes is difficult to understand the meaning of the picture because it has “secrets” to reveal.  Vilhelm Hammershøi was considered an enigma in his lifetime, now is remembered for his interior paintings. Like this one of a young man reading.
 File:Vilhelm Hammershøi 1898 - Interiør med læsende ung mand.jpg

Nowdays, the contemporany art is very different from anything made before. The meaning of the piece, sometimes, is more important than the way of explaining it. Mette Gitz is one of the contemporany Danish artists. Here it is a picture of one of her performances.Observing Pink

ARCHITECTURE IN COPENHAGEN

The large figure-eight-shaped building called 8TALLET (letf photo) - formerly known as BIG House – is located at the very tip of Ørestad South. There is a 1.5-kilometre-long path that runs around the entire perimeter of the building. It was build in 2010 by Bkarke Ingels. The building is designed to accommodate people at all stages of life: singles, couples and familes, young and old. More specifically, 8TALLET contains the following types of housing units: duplex townhouses with courtyards, apartments with balconies, penthouses with roof terraces and small, exclusive apartments. The commercial facilities are placed on the ground floor to let light into the residential facilities on top.


MOUNTAIN DWELLING (rigth photo) was constructed in 2008 by Bjarke Ingels. The building was made for modern people who wish to combine the splendours of the suburban backyard with the social intensity of urban density. The suburban style is further highlighted by the building's position on the site, with all terraces facing towards the old single-family housing district on Western Amager. Thus the view from the Mountain is of back gardens, DIY extensions and red and white flags waving from flagpoles. On the other side of the Mountain, the style is not suburban, but a futuristic urban scene featuring the elevated Metro tracks and new, contemporary residential properties in Ørestad City. 


AMALIENBORG PLACE SQUARE , was constructed in 1760. The octagonal palace courtyard is the central square in the rococo quarter, Frederiksstaden. Amaliegade traverses the square like an axis oriented in one direction, Frederiksgade in the transverse direction. At the end of the axis lies Frederikskirken, or Marmorkirken (the Marble Church). The two streets intersect in the middle of the square, where an equestrian statue of the founder of Frederiksstaden, King Frederik V, is placed. 


Charlotte Ammundsens Square was constructed in 2008 by the artist Beatrice Hansson. The square is divided into several areas: A classical 'Copenhagen square' with sett stone paving, a recessed ball court in black asphalt, a playground with black rubber surface and a white rocky landscape.The ball court and playground is recessed to the level of Søgade street and is terminated by a wide stairway up toward Nansensgade street. From the classical Copenhagen square one can look down over the ball court and the rocky landscape. The rocks can be used for climbing, biking and skating as well as sitting or lying. 




DANISH SCULPTURE 


Danish sculpture as a nationally recognized art form can be traced back to 1752 when Jacques Saly was commissioned to execute a statue of King Frederick V of Denmark on horseback. While Bertel Thorvaldsen was undoubtedly the country's most prominent contributor, many other players have produced fine work, especially in the areas of NeoclassicismRealism, and in Historicism, the latter resulting from growing consciousness of a national identity. More recently, Danish sculpture has been inspired by European trends, especially those from Paris, including Surrealism and Modernism
File:Salys statue of Frederik V 2.jpgFile:Ekko Kongens Have.JPGFile:Kai Nielsen statue, Blågårds Plads.jpgFile:Venus-med-æblet1.jpg

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Shopping and Design



Although sometimes the prices can be high, Denmark is a perfect place for shopping, thanks to a wide selection of international brands and talented local designers.

Tableware, hand-blown glass, porcelain, coats and Scandinavian design pieces are some of the items you'll find in stores in Copenhagen. Amber, in particular, is very special and is collected on the west coast of Denmark to make jewelry.



 
Brands
Designers
Georg Jensen
Stelton
Fritz Hansen
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain
Pandora
LEGO®
Ecco

Poul Henningsen
Hans Christian Andersen
Eva Trio/Eva Solo
Hans J. Wegner
Arne Jacobsen
Finn Juhl
Georg Jensen
Kaare Klint
Børge Mogensen
Verner Panton
Poul Kjærholm
Poul Henningsen
Hans J. Wegner







Where to shop in Copenhague:
Bredgade
This grand street runs past the royal palace of Amalienborg and contains the city’s finest antique art and furniture dealers. Pick up classics from Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl and many others here.
Kongens Nytorv
The area in and around Kongens Nytorv (The King’s New Square) buzzes with cutting-edge Danish fashion brands and interior design shops. You’ll find Bang and Olufsen’s flagship store here. Please note that a new metro line is currently being built here, so it is not possible to access the square itself at present.
Læderstræde
A charming and quieter alternative to Strøget runs one street behind it and contains unique jewellery, clothing and interior boutiques, as well as lovely cafés to take a break in.
Jægersborggade
 One of Copenhagen's coolest streets right now sits at the edge of Assisten's Churchyard where Hans Christian Andersen is buried. Full of cafés, second-hand and other curiosity shops.
The Latin Quarter
On the other side of Copenhagen University, the area on and around Larsbjørnsstræde is a hub for avant-garde, underground and up-and-coming labels.
Kronprinsensgade
A stroll around this street and its surrounds will take you past the windows of some of Denmark’s biggest new names in fashion, such as Marlene Birger.
Strøget
Copenhagen's main shopping street is the longest pedestrian street in the world. It's also the place to pick up big brands, both Danish and international, and to visit well-known department stores such as Illum and Magasin.
Fiolstræde
The streets around Copenhagen University are the place to head for new and antique bookshops or to sit in a café and relax with a good read.
Østerbro
This district next to the lakes has some lovely small boutiques, exclusive to Copenhagen, as well as the up-and-coming Danish design powerhouse,Normann.
Frederiksberg
A cosy area with many small boutiques. Head to this district to grab a bargain on Royal Copenhagen Porcelain at the Royal Copenhagen factory outlet shop located in the old factory from the late 1800s.
Vesterbro
This area, previously a little rough around the edges, is now the trendiest part of the city. Head to Istegade and its side streets for small, edgy boutiques.


Arne Jacobsen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPiRH5W_Xg0


 

Laura Vila i Carla Fuster