Oh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!

Trudging around looking for something out in the cold with snow higher than your boots is not how most people imagine spending their Sundays. But this is exactly what Ole, Birgitte, and I did this Sunday, in search of the perfect Christmas tree.

As we pulled up to the Christmas tree farm I was already pretty excited, but the excitement tripled when, instead of selecting a ready to go Christmas tree we headed off into the fields of trees to go find Our Tree. And that is how I found myself trudging through snow past the tops of my boots and enjoying it. One tree was too short, another too big, one too wide, another too thin. It was quite a challenge to find the perfect tree.

Finally we found Our Tree. A tall one that was not too tall, and full but not overly so. After the tree passed the test to be declared The One, Ole took his saw and cut down Our Christmas Tree.

After bringing it back to the farmhouse, and netting the tree, we brought it back home.

Figuring that ornaments and water do not go together, we waited for the snow to melt off the tree before setting it up. We then decorated The Tree in red and gold, candle lights, and Danish flags. I must say, Our Tree is a very beautiful one! Don't you agree?

God Jul Alle! Merry Christmas Everybody!

Crazy Christmas Cabaret at Tivoli, land of Nisser

Welcome to Tivoli at Christmas time, a glorious Christmas inspired Danish theme park filled with wonder at every turn. Complete with mounds of snow, a house of nisser, and endless amounts of Christmas Cheer. If you are ever in Copenhagen at Christmas time, go to Tivoli to absorb this essense of Christmas that is spread throughout the park. It is truly magical! Ole, Birgitte and I went to Tivoli Monday the 29th, the day after getting back from London in order to see Crazy Christmas Cabaret. But along the way we absorbed a good amount of Christmas cheer!

A house full of Nisser! Living in Denmark around Christmastime there is no way that one can avoid an encounter with Nisser. These friendly pranksters are extremely prominent during the Danish Christmas season. In order to keep them well behaved, or for children to receive a present from Nisser, a bowl of the Christmas pudding, similar to our rice pudding, must be left out for the Nisser. These little guys are one of my favorite things about the Christmas season in Denmark! It is a guarantee that I will be bringing some Nisser back to my family for Christmas!

A special treasure of Tivoli at Christmastime is the annual Crazy Christmas Cabaret, a comedy show put on for over 25 years in english at the heart of Tivoli. I think I was almost constantly laughing throughout the whole show. I am so glad that my host parents ensured that I would not miss out on this Christmas time tradition!

Vi Ses!

To London we will go!

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life” Stepping off of the plane in London, only a small amount of time passed before I heard this quote from Samuel Johnson. Despite this being repeated throughout the trip, it wasn’t until arriving back in Copenhagen and I was thinking over things I had done, as well as things I still wanted to do in London, that the meaning really hit me. It is true that if one wanted to get to know London inside and out you would have to remain for a lifetime, and even then I don’t think you would know about all the treats that London has in store for those within its bounds.


My host parents and I left for London on Thanksgiving day and stayed until Sunday evening. With only three full days in London it is incredible how much we saw and got to do. We spent Friday morning at St. Paul’s Cathedral and not only did we see the Cathedral in all its splendor, but we braved the stairs to the top, where there is a spectacular view of the city.

St. Pauls Cathedral as seen from a building across the street.

After an afternoon of strolling through the shops on Oxford Street our day was still not done. Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of Phantom of the Opera, has long been working on a sequel to Phantom. It was just our luck that Phantom’s sequel Love Never Dies has been making its debut in London. Needless to say, by 7:30 Friday evening we were in our ideally situated seats watching this wonderful performance. Not only was the performance absolutely superb, and the music just as catchy as Phantom, but the audience was in for a surprise when it was discovered that Andrew Lloyd Webber himself was attending that particular performance!

Saturday we saw Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, parts of the Royal Stables, and Royal Art Gallery. Needless to say, Saturday was jam packed with experiencing history, which as one who has always had a love for history I thoroughly enjoyed!

Here are two quite similar guards... though one can not stop laughing at the thought that she is on guard duty!

Here is another picture of the temporary royal guard. Yet in the below picture the attempt to look angry is abandoned. Apparently I was not meant to be a guard.

Sunday we went to the Tower of London. Though remembered mainly for its very dismal history as a prison, the Tower of London is something that should not be missed. From the royal jewels, to the stories of past occupants and the armour exhibit, one could easily spend the day exploring the Tower of London, and then still have to go back the next day.

In the picture to my left (your right) is the "Bloody Tower"! Spooky!

After spending the majority of our last day at the Tower of London, we got a tasty meal of fish and chips, and walked along the waterfront before heading to the Airport.

A picture of tower bridge as we walk along the waterfront.

I really can not thank my host parents enough for including me in this trip! Not only was the trip itself amazing but it was fantastic being able to spend the long weekend together!

Our family picture of this trip