{"id":2919,"date":"2015-07-20T10:58:16","date_gmt":"2015-07-20T17:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rayivey.com.php5-21.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com\/wordpress\/?p=2919"},"modified":"2015-07-20T10:58:16","modified_gmt":"2015-07-20T17:58:16","slug":"scandirayvia-17-something-is-radiant-in-the-state-of-denmark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.rayivey.com\/wordpress\/scandirayvia-17-something-is-radiant-in-the-state-of-denmark\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"rss\"<\/a>\"instagram\"<\/a>

What began to win\u00a0me over to Copenhagen was the people.\u00a0 The Danes are the happiest people in the world (seriously) and this makes the city a pleasant place to visit.<\/p>\n

I began to see this on my Segway tour, which gave me a good overview of the old portions of the city.<\/p>\n

Next door to the Segway place is the super-cool Downtown Copenhagen Hostel. \u00a0Now, I normally don’t talk about or even think about youth hostels that much. \u00a0I felt I’d pretty much aged out of them by the time I took my first trip to Europe at age 27. \u00a0But this place is just really groovy. \u00a0The ground floor is a large, extremely welcoming tavern, with lawn chairs lining the street and a giant bed for lounging on in one corner. \u00a0If I was twenty-two, I’d totally stay here.<\/p>\n

Anyway, back to the Segway tour. \u00a0Our guide was a charming Estonian grad student and he guided us through many of the most important landmarks of Denmark’s capital city. \u00a0Everywhere we went I thought more and more about happy Danes. \u00a0At the Royal Palace complex we learned about how Queen Margrethe is famous for her smoking out in the plaza, and how Crown Princess Mary was an avid jogger who had coffee in the same little coffee shop most mornings. \u00a0You know, just out in public like a person.<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>
Note: This is NOT my photograph. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But that was just the window dressing. \u00a0Coming from a country where the government is so often seen as the enemy, it was once again a pleasure to see the benefits of living in a place where the government considered it\u2019s role was to make the lives of the citizens better.<\/p>\n

A few years ago, a large survey found the average health level of the Copenhageners to be not at all optimal.\u00a0 The government began an ambitious program to encourage health and fitness.\u00a0 You see evidence of this everywhere you look.<\/p>\n

Check this out. \u00a0It’s trampolines ON THE SIDEWALK. \u00a0How fantastic is that?<\/p>\n

[Sorry I don’t have my own photo here; not easy to get the shot when you’re whizzing by on a Segway.]<\/p>\n

I think this emphasis on health contributes to the Danish happiness factor.\u00a0 Look at these bicycles:<\/p>\n

\"Those_Bicycles\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Forty percent of Copenhageners commute by bicycle.\u00a0 As in Stockholm, the bicycle lanes are raised, smooth, ubiquitous, and separate from car and pedestrian lanes.\u00a0 (Also, oddly, hardly anyone wears helmets.)\u00a0 With all that aerobic exercise comes a steady endorphin flow that I\u2019m sure helps everyone\u2019s mood.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another reason I think the Danes are so flippin’ happy.\u00a0 Check out the Rosenberg Castle Gardens:<\/p>\n

\"Normal_Tuesday_Afternoon\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This is about 4:00 p.m.\u00a0 On a normal, sunny, weekday.\u00a0 It\u2019s not a holiday, it\u2019s just a summer Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Every time I come to Europe I am reminded about how the people here have a much better idea about the importance of life over work.<\/p>\n

If you\u00a0 think this means Denmark is a country of shiftless, lazy people, check again.\u00a0 It has one of the strongest economies in Europe.<\/p>\n

The City of Copenhagen has a plan to be Carbon-Neutral within a few years.<\/p>\n

I never saw litter on the streets anywhere I went in the city.<\/p>\n

The tour was so successful even the brutally cliche visit to the stupid Little Mermaid statue couldn’t lower my mood. \u00a0For long.<\/p>\n

\"Obligatory<\/a>
Obligatory Little Mermaid Tourist Shot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Coming next: \u00a0More Danish Delights!<\/p>\n

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