Lizzy Cantor
Frejasgade 2, 4 TH
2200 Kobenhavn N
DANMARK
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Belgian Highlights
-wandering around the Medeival city of Brugges
-visiting with an old childhood friend
-visiting the frietes museum
-realizing that the 'traditional' fries and mayonaise is.... fries and mayonaise
-delicious beer
-delicious chocolate
-Magritte museum in Brussells
-musical instrument museum, where they give you headphones and you can listen to all of the instruments displayed (THAT was a trip)
-visiting with an old childhood friend
-visiting the frietes museum
-realizing that the 'traditional' fries and mayonaise is.... fries and mayonaise
-delicious beer
-delicious chocolate
-Magritte museum in Brussells
-musical instrument museum, where they give you headphones and you can listen to all of the instruments displayed (THAT was a trip)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
In Belgium
I must admit i've been feeling very emo the past few days. Don't get me wrong, Paris was amazing and I'm glad to be traveling. But i'm bound to get pissy eventually.
I've been exhausted since I left Manhattan, and that train ride/first day of Paris where I walked for 10+ hours exhausted me. Then I got sick. I was still able to push myself and go sightseeing, but it meant I would be worn out by evening and wouldn't go anywhere. Fortunately, my hostel was social and I had friends to hang out with, but it meant I couldn't go out at night and epicly act my age. I realize I was in Paris to see Paris, hence daytime energy was my priority, but I would have loved at least a couple nights out.
Now I'm in Belgium, at a tiny hostel where it is hard to make friends, and I'm reminded of how alone I feel. I did plan my stay to meet up with a childhood friend, and we had an absolutely lovely day, but now I'm on my own again. I have been feeling better (I knew I was better when I had energy to hate the world) but now I have to decide if I make that extra effort to meet people, (everyone travels in pairs) or if I stay in my own thoughts.
Sorry for the emo rant. Knowing me, the loneliness was bound to come eventually.
I've been exhausted since I left Manhattan, and that train ride/first day of Paris where I walked for 10+ hours exhausted me. Then I got sick. I was still able to push myself and go sightseeing, but it meant I would be worn out by evening and wouldn't go anywhere. Fortunately, my hostel was social and I had friends to hang out with, but it meant I couldn't go out at night and epicly act my age. I realize I was in Paris to see Paris, hence daytime energy was my priority, but I would have loved at least a couple nights out.
Now I'm in Belgium, at a tiny hostel where it is hard to make friends, and I'm reminded of how alone I feel. I did plan my stay to meet up with a childhood friend, and we had an absolutely lovely day, but now I'm on my own again. I have been feeling better (I knew I was better when I had energy to hate the world) but now I have to decide if I make that extra effort to meet people, (everyone travels in pairs) or if I stay in my own thoughts.
Sorry for the emo rant. Knowing me, the loneliness was bound to come eventually.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Bon Jour!
Like every American, I have fallen in love with Paris. Here are some personal highlights:
-staying in a hostel and hanging out with only Australian guys
-Notre Dame
-seeing Orthodox and Muslim women mingle in the park
-visiting the museum of Middle Ages and viewing the very famous tapestry series The Lady and the Unicorn
-visiting the Louvre and recognizing a portrait of Edward VI, the son of Henry VIII and Elizabeth's half brother
-VERSAILLES is amazing! the gardens! the palace! the gardens! Marie Antoinette's own village
Adieu!
-staying in a hostel and hanging out with only Australian guys
-Notre Dame
-seeing Orthodox and Muslim women mingle in the park
-visiting the museum of Middle Ages and viewing the very famous tapestry series The Lady and the Unicorn
-visiting the Louvre and recognizing a portrait of Edward VI, the son of Henry VIII and Elizabeth's half brother
-VERSAILLES is amazing! the gardens! the palace! the gardens! Marie Antoinette's own village
Adieu!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
how NOT to travel from Copenhagen to Paris
This actually happened last Sunday, but it was so epic, I need to share.
1. 6 hours from Copenhagen to Hamburg (this was actually nice; we took a ferry to Germany and it was cool seeing different kinds of windmills in Denmark and Germany)
2. 6 hours from Hambeug to Koln
3. realize halfway through that I'm about to be at a German train station at 330 am and freak out for 2 hours wondering what to do
4. stay on the train for 3 more hours so I arrive in Frankfurt at a reasonable time (7 am ish)
5. get on ANOTHER train to ANOTHER German city for an hour
6. FINALLY get on a train going directly to Paris. Accidently find myself in first class, pay the extra fee, and get fed real food.
7. Arrive in Paris around 1 pm
8. Go to hostel and pass out.
3. realize halfway through that I'm about to be at a German train station at 330 am and freak out for 2 hours wondering what to do
4. stay on the train for 3 more hours so I arrive in Frankfurt at a reasonable time (7 am ish)
5. get on ANOTHER train to ANOTHER German city for an hour
6. FINALLY get on a train going directly to Paris. Accidently find myself in first class, pay the extra fee, and get fed real food.
7. Arrive in Paris around 1 pm
8. Go to hostel and pass out.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Shabbat
The inevitable post... my rant on Jewish life in Copenhagen so far.
Family friends from Los Angeles are here this weekend, and I've been spending all my time with them. My neighborhood happens to be partly Arab, which is fine, until I'm accompanied by one friend wearing a kippah. This made me feel incredibly vulnerable and uncomfortable, as I felt we stuck out. I'm not used to being noticably Jewish, and was not so interested in experiencing Anti-Semitism.
As today is Shabbat, I went to the Great Synogague. Stevie and I were intensely interrogated by security guards before we were even allowed inside. The sanctuary was beautiful, and it was comforting to hear Hebrew in a foreign country, though my siddur was in Danish as well as Hebrew. On the other hand, it is an Orthodox minyan, so I as a woman am relegated to the balcony. I have been in an Orthodox minyan with a mechitza (separation). I don't like it, but I will tolerate it now and then. I HATED the balcony. I was an observer, instead of on the floor participating with the men. The community was welcoming, though the service long. However, I too distracted by the fact that I was far away up high to actually pray.
Sunday, I am off to Paris!
Family friends from Los Angeles are here this weekend, and I've been spending all my time with them. My neighborhood happens to be partly Arab, which is fine, until I'm accompanied by one friend wearing a kippah. This made me feel incredibly vulnerable and uncomfortable, as I felt we stuck out. I'm not used to being noticably Jewish, and was not so interested in experiencing Anti-Semitism.
As today is Shabbat, I went to the Great Synogague. Stevie and I were intensely interrogated by security guards before we were even allowed inside. The sanctuary was beautiful, and it was comforting to hear Hebrew in a foreign country, though my siddur was in Danish as well as Hebrew. On the other hand, it is an Orthodox minyan, so I as a woman am relegated to the balcony. I have been in an Orthodox minyan with a mechitza (separation). I don't like it, but I will tolerate it now and then. I HATED the balcony. I was an observer, instead of on the floor participating with the men. The community was welcoming, though the service long. However, I too distracted by the fact that I was far away up high to actually pray.
Sunday, I am off to Paris!
Friday, July 17, 2009
A Sustainable Amusement Park
My good friend Nathan and his family are in Copenhagen this weekend, and this afternoon we went to Tivoli Gardens, Denmark' s main tourist attraction. Aside from the usual ride and activity information, the brochure also had blurbs about how windmills power the rides and a refundable cup system where you have to buy your drinking cup from the restaurant and you can redeem your money buy returning the cup. This is also the cleanest amusement park I've ever seen. If Disneyland is based on Tivoli, then perhaps they should pick up a few more tips.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Arrival
So after a ridiculous amount of time spent on planes and in airports, I arrived in Copenhagen, the place I've been talking about and thinking about for the past 6 + months. My amazing roommates met me at the airport, showed me how to get to the apartment, and helped me lug my bags up a fourth floor walk up (haha, just like Joanna's apt in Manhattan).
The apt is adorable. The first level is a large living room and a kitchen. Narrow stairs bring you to a second floor, where I find among other things my bedroom that looks like a nook and has a skylight that opens in the roof. Our second floor even has a little balcony that you can look out to other tall charming buildings.
I know I've barely left the flat since I've arrived, but even my walk for an overpriced hummus sandwhich owned by Muslims instead of Israelis which was even weirder because I realized I was wearing my star when I ordered and I was very annoyed I couldn't order in Hebrew and at least redeem myself for not knowing Danish has told me that this city is like nowhere I've ever been. Most of the buildings are brick and actually pretty. People bike. Neighbors look like they actually know each other. And even more so, I feel like this is where I was meant to be.
The apt is adorable. The first level is a large living room and a kitchen. Narrow stairs bring you to a second floor, where I find among other things my bedroom that looks like a nook and has a skylight that opens in the roof. Our second floor even has a little balcony that you can look out to other tall charming buildings.
I know I've barely left the flat since I've arrived, but even my walk for an overpriced hummus sandwhich owned by Muslims instead of Israelis which was even weirder because I realized I was wearing my star when I ordered and I was very annoyed I couldn't order in Hebrew and at least redeem myself for not knowing Danish has told me that this city is like nowhere I've ever been. Most of the buildings are brick and actually pretty. People bike. Neighbors look like they actually know each other. And even more so, I feel like this is where I was meant to be.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
NYC
Since I've already done the typical New York tourist attractions, the main focus was visiting my cousins. Here are some highlights:
-dragging my heavy suitcases up a 4th floor walk-up
-going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the fourth time
-having lovely visits with my cousins Joanna and Esther in Manhattan
-taking the train to Long Island to meet future cousins-in-law
I might also add that last night was the last night drinking is illegal for me. And that I already miss California produce. Watsonville strawberries taste better in *omg* Watsonville...
Tonight I fly to Europe, the route that was my father's first flight: New York to Paris!
-dragging my heavy suitcases up a 4th floor walk-up
-going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the fourth time
-having lovely visits with my cousins Joanna and Esther in Manhattan
-taking the train to Long Island to meet future cousins-in-law
I might also add that last night was the last night drinking is illegal for me. And that I already miss California produce. Watsonville strawberries taste better in *omg* Watsonville...
Tonight I fly to Europe, the route that was my father's first flight: New York to Paris!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
First Departure
Tomorrow I leave Los Angeles for New York. I have to say goodbye to California (I place I hate leaving) say goodbye to my parents, and say goodbye to my community. Most things are packed. Logistics have been settled. I am terrified.
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