My love letter to Copenhagen
Dear CPH,
Even before meeting you in person, I knew you and I would be good together. I’ve heard so many good things about you from friends that I had a crush on you for a long time without you even knowing I existed. For at least 3 years, I thought about going to visit you but for some reasons, it wasn’t the right time and I wasn’t free enough yet. And I always had in mind to come visit you alone, it seemed perfect for me to do a solo trip to come and meet you, Copenhagen.
I’m currently writing those words on a sunny terrasse on my last day here. I came two weeks ago, and as planned, you charmed me in many, many ways.
I instantly felt safe and at home when I arrived. Things were flowing naturally and you felt so familiar to my spirit.
I took the time to observe the people who inhabit you, those to whom you’ve been revealing your daily life for much longer than you have to me. The fact that your people are always eating outside no matter what the temperature is, rainy, cold, sunny they have blankets and outdoor heaters to make sure we can enjoy the outdoors regardless of Mother Nature’s moods.
As a Montreal biking-my-city kind of girl (not in the winter tho), I was of course absolutely a fan of all your beautiful and wide cycling lanes. It was refreshing to be able to bike without avoiding any goddamn potholes. I watched people come and go on their bikes, some in really fancy outfits, others in Havainas flats, and a few women over 70 riding their bikes so proudly, and that really touched me.
I also feel like there’s a certain freedom around bodies and appearance here. It might sound a bit contradictory since everybody in the city is so beautiful and well dressed, but it also looks absolutely effortless. Scandinavian people are like what I love about Europeans: they don’t care about a naked body, it’s just an envelope and we don’t have to hide ourselves as much as we do in the West. And for me, these little details are so inspiring and liberating.
And that feeling of safety… I do think it’s a slippery slope, and I still need to sit with it because it also feels deeply contradictory. I wonder if it might be tied to forms of social cohesion and homogeneity that raise important questions around diversity and inclusion. I want to inform myself and read more about this subject, and even talk about it with Danish people to better understand where this feeling of safety in the city comes from.
Why do parents leave strollers outside cafés with their babies sleeping inside without the slightest fear? Why don’t they lock their bikes or simply lock the back wheel? Why didn’t I question whether my tank top was too transparent for wandering eyes? Or why didn’t I turn around to look behind me when walking alone at night or in certain alleys?
Is it because of a stronger social safety net? A deeper collective trust? And if so, is there something we could learn from that back home in Quebec?
I do have to say that feeling safer here than in my own city brings up questions, but it also feels so rejuvenating to see young women walking with headphones on or being dressed up and drunk in the streets (mostly Fridays and Saturdays, we really see the big drinking culture ahah), and from what I’ve observed, they don’t seem threatened by catcalling or whatever disgusting weird things that men do in my country. I’m sure these issues exist here too, but from my outsider perspective, the fear feels less present.
I have to admit, Copenhagen, you have a lot to please me. The fact that we can easily go swim in the heart of the city, or just have a peaceful and quiet time in one of your majestic parks, with the sound of birds and almost no sounds from the city even though the big roads are only two streets away.
Your people seem to care for each other. I received so many smiles from strangers in the street, and you have a real appreciation for quality and beautiful things. It’s not surprising, since you are one of the cities known for your design and amazing food, and my visit to the Design Museum left a lasting impression on me.
It felt like the perfect way to understand your way of doing things. Whether it’s a chair or a park bench, simple objects from everyday life, designers in Copenhagen make sure that even the most practical things are treated with the same care and beauty as a carefully designed object. And that’s the essence I love here: the attention to detail, and the way people seem to truly take the time to slow down and appreciate life.
A friend of mine who was born and raised in CPH once told me that he never wants to leave CPH during summertime because it’s the best place on earth. There’s a pride and a strong love from Copenhageners toward you, and it’s beautiful to witness.
This first solo trip in a long time wouldn’t have been the same without Copenhagen. Tomorrow I will fly back to my city, which I also love, and I’ll bring some pieces of you back with me, like wearing my bright red Havainas with jeans, eating smørrebrød, tying my little blue scarf around my head while biking, and much more.
I’ve made peace with part of me in your city, and I think this is one of the most precious souvenirs I can bring home.
I’ll be back soon CPH, I promise, and this time, I would introduce you to my lover Oliver <3
A special thanks to Kasper and Ida who made this trip even more meaningful and special! <3
Bisou,
Caroline xx