In Copenhagen, people learn to love life from the simplest things.
I first came to Copenhagen many years ago, on a late summer, early autumn day. The sun was still shining beautifully and the sky was very blue, but it had turned chilly by evening. However, that chill didn't extinguish the fire of my eagerness to explore this place, as a first-time traveler to Scandinavia.
The first impression is the familiar green color of the Danish beer brand at Copenhagen airport upon landing, and almost every first-time visitor wants to do one thing: stand in front of the large billboard that reads "Denmark, the happiest country in the world " and take a commemorative photo. The second impression is the bicycles, countless bicycles outside Copenhagen train station, a beautiful and elegant architectural structure, but not as large as the central train stations of other European capitals.
In the bustling city center, the architecture still retains its ancient, mythical charm.
My third impression is that it's so peaceful and lovely here, the loveliness of a country where people understand the value of life through the philosophy of "hygge" (an old Norwegian word meaning "happiness," emphasizing the feeling of comfort, warmth, joy with loved ones, and enjoying the small everyday pleasures). They cherish every moment of life, every living space, every day as summer comes and goes, giving way to the cool autumn and then the cold, wet winter.
And the fourth impression, like the scale of Copenhagen train station, everything here is just right—small, not too big, like the country itself. But it turns out that after being here long enough, talking to the Danes, feeling everything with all your heart and soul, you understand that size doesn't define stature, but rather the idea, what it conveys, the inspiration it creates.
These are the small, beautiful streets on the outskirts of the city where I stayed for a few nights, just a short ride on a clean, almost brand-new bus to the center. These are the vibrant colors, like a lovely and poetic palette, on the walls of the houses along the Nyhavn canal in the harbor area, built by King Christian V in 1673, which for centuries served as a trading port but has now become one of the city's most lively entertainment and gathering places. These are the colorful bicycles parked in corners, in front of shops, and against walls, becoming a symbol of a green city where more than half of Copenhagen's population cycles to work every day.
Colorful houses line the Nyhavn canal.
That's the vibrancy of Tivoli Park right in the heart of the city, with its charming gardens, lovely little lakes reflecting the clear blue sky on a day I visited. They say that Walt Disney himself came here in 1951, and, captivated by the gardens, the lights, and the family-friendly play areas, four years later he created Walt Disney Park, a fairytale world based on the world already present in Tivoli.
But the most striking symbol of smallness combined with greatness is undoubtedly the statue of the Little Mermaid in the harbor of Langelinje, just outside the city center, a landmark that passes by the headquarters of Maersk, the world's largest container shipping company. This statue, over 100 years old, is inspired by the fairy tale of the Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875). The story tells of a mermaid who gave up everything—her life and future—for a one-sided love for a handsome, young prince. Morning and evening, she would climb a rock and gaze into the distance, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man she loved. And then, she would dissolve into sea foam.
Here, in the capital of one of the happiest countries in the world, and despite its small size, almost all the statues and monuments are small. Bo, the manager at the hostel where I stayed a few nights in Copenhagen, said that in Denmark, people believe that the intrinsic value of a person, or even a monument, doesn't lie in its form or size. "A person's ego, like the size of a statue, doesn't determine its value; it's what it represents," he said with a smile. That's why Danes prefer simplicity and frugality. They value enjoying life by immersing themselves in nature, traveling frequently, participating in sports , having fun with friends and family, regularly sharing stories about their lives, decorating their homes elegantly with neat rooms and plenty of natural light, and eating food that they either prepare themselves from natural ingredients or organic food that is clean and good for the body.
The entire green and clean Copenhagen is therefore a vast park. Even the Assistens Cemetery, where Andersen's very simple grave is located, is as beautiful as a park. Engraved on that grave are four lines from his poem "Oldingen" (Old Man): "The soul that God created for him/Is incorruptible, cannot be lost/Our life on Earth is the seed of immortality/Our bodies die, but our souls live on." Not long before his death from liver cancer, the king of fairy tales told a composer who offered to write music for his funeral: "Most of the people following my coffin are children, so please write a rhythm that suits the footsteps of children." Andersen also once said: "Enjoy life. There is so much time to live before you die."
Frederik Church
Yes, there's so much time to live before you die, but you have to enjoy it to the fullest, right here in Copenhagen. I've seen young people here enjoying their last summer days in the fading afternoon sun as they sit drinking beer by the canals, their legs dangling and swinging in the open air, their joyful laughter echoing everywhere. I've seen artists perform on the famous Stroget shopping street, the pedestrian street running from Copenhagen City Hall to Kongens Nytorv (the King's New Square), and even passersby stopping to sing along. I've also seen the cheerful, lively, joyful, and musical atmosphere of Paperoen (Paper Island), an island on the east coast of Copenhagen harbor that has for many years become one of Europe's most vibrant culinary and cultural hubs. And I also love the colorful little houses, the art spaces, and the free and creative atmosphere of Christiana, the hippie suburb, established in 1971 and ever since one of Copenhagen's most visited places. And I myself enjoy life there in my own way: sipping a glass of fresh Carlsberg beer on the sidewalk of a pub, wrapped in a blanket, as the afternoon grows colder.
Later, having had the opportunity to return to Copenhagen several more times, I still couldn't forget the feeling I had on that first day in Copenhagen on that chilly afternoon. Copenhagen is a place you can visit once and return to many times, even though it's not as large as many other European capitals. But it's a place where you feel free, where you can live, and enjoy the wonderful things in life in the most carefree way. Copenhagen, a place to fall in love with…
Source: https://heritagevietnamairlines.com/copenhagen-den-la-de-yeu/
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