I would like to start with some tidbits on Denmark. It is a unique country (I mean, most countries have their identity, but there is something very special about Danish land). It is actually quite different from its European neighbors.
Denmark has 406 islands and 7314km of coastline. The Danish flag is called Dannebrog (‘the flag of the Danes’ or ‘the red flag’) and is associated with a variety of events (birthdays, holidays and national sports). The country has four seasons with snowy winters, warm summers, colorful autumns and green springs. The college and university education here is mostly free.
Danish people promote green living, and believe in creating a sustainable society. More than 20 per cent of Denmark’s energy comes from renewable energy. They hope that by 2050, 100 per cent of the energy needs of the country will be met through the said source. Much of the renewable energy comes from wind turbines, where Denmark is a world leader. It is also the largest exporter of wind turbines because the average wind here is 7.6 meters per second.
On a weekend trip, I got to visit Copenhagen. This city is fashionable, and the capital of Denmark. Copenhageners are kind, warm and English speaking. People here believe that “Nobody is better than anybody.” This humble attitude, modesty and life lived with gratitude touched my heart.
The Danish cycling culture is a great example of creating a green and sustainable society. In various respects, Copenhagen is an inspiration for many cities when it comes to ecological town development. The city has around 400km of cycle paths, and roughly 40 per cent of the population commutes to work by bicycle, since there is a 200 per cent import duty on cars here. It is another reason, why people here prefer bicycles more to cars here.
Carlsberg Brewery, Tivoli Gardens and the Little Mermaid are some of the highlights of the city. Most men generally go crazy at the Carlsberg Brewery, and the kids go bonkers at the 170-year-old Tivoli Gardens. This charming amusement park has beautiful gardens with peacocks, lovely coffee shops, restaurants and some fright rides. It kind of reminded me of my young Six Flags and Great America days in California.
Out of everything I saw, the statue of the Little Mermaid captured my heart totally. This unassuming statue is made of bronze, and is an icon of Copenhagen. It has been a major tourist attraction since 1913, since this statue is based on the fairy tale “Little Mermaid” written by Hans Christian Andersen (most of us have read these while growing up).
The Disney version of the Little Mermaid is very different from the original story, as the latter ends on a spiritual level, and has a wonderful teaching attached to it. For those who have forgotten the end of the original story, here is a snippet:
Instead of living happily ever after with the prince, the Little Mermaid’s heart breaks as the prince marries a princess. She thinks of all the pain she has suffered. She despairs, thinking of the death that awaits her, but she cannot bring herself to kill the prince to regain her lost life. At the break of dawn, her body dissolves into foam, but instead of ceasing to exist, she turns into a spirit, as a daughter of the air. The other daughters of air tell her that she will earn her own soul by doing good deeds, and will eventually rise up into the kingdom of God.
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