Everybody's doing it...

When I first arrived in Copenhagen at least three separate people told me to watch out for bikes when crossing the road or getting off a bus. At first I shrugged off their advice, thinking to myself that they were exaggerating just a bit to emphasize how environmentally friendly and active the Danes are, but it didn't take me more three blocks to realize that their concerns were completely valid. Copenhagen is a city full of bicycles and although most of the people on these bicycles obey the traffic laws and stop when the little red man lights up there are definitely some rebels out there that will literally run you over on the street. Recent studies estimate that over one-third of commuters bike to work, including the prime minister! Like I said, it is a city that loves their bikes and since I love this city I decided it was about time I got myself a bike. My host family was nice enough to let me use Emma's bike and I have now started biking everywhere. Not only does it cut five minutes off my commute but I also get to experience so much more of this wonderful city. I notice things that I would never have seen by taking the bus or the metro; it's too easy to just put in your ipod and zone out but when you're on a bike you have to take notice. Just on my way into school today I spotted a cute little cafe I want to test out, a charming mural on the side of a kindergarten, a garden that promises to be beautiful in a matter of weeks and grocery store that is having a sale on Somersby through Friday. (Somersby is a delicious cider that I have grown to love and cherish so much that it deserves it's own blog post just to describe how wonderful it is.) So now I have officially developed a liking for (most) licorice, I prefer open-face sandwiches to the kind with two slices, Aqua is at the top of my recently played list and now, I have a bike! Basically I'm Danish. Now if I could only say rødgrød med fløde they would officially let me into the club...