Uptown and beyond

Welcome in, 2013! It's been awhile since I've posted much, I suppose mostly because settling down isn't nearly exciting as moving across several continents! But, it is what it is, and the day to day has become the norm. The new norm I guess. Ryan is a month and a half in to his new job, and now that things are picking up (which also means later and later hours), he's finding his lawyer sea legs again and feeling comfortable on his team. I can tell by the way he comes home at the end of the day now, because his recounts seem more and more confident, and he has a bit more energy about it all. Saying goodbye in the mornings is still rather hard, but as I wave to him out the window, I know he'll come home happy.

I, on the other hand, am still wading through the application process for Chicago Public Schools, and honestly, as much as I love Kathy Lee and Hoda, I am just not totally digging the stay at home lifestyle. Job is needed. So, I spend my time working on my résumé, searching the web for all sorts of employment, and hoping that all this work will pay off in a timely fashion.

I am also dedicated to a creating a body that is far more in shape than my current one, so I've taken up a work out routine with Jillian Michaels shouting at me to literally kick myself in the a**, and taking frigid walks to Lake Michigan (just because I can). I've learned to pay no mind to the bums under the Lakeshore Drive overpass, they are just looking for a warm place to rest, like everybody else. I can't wait for the summer when I can just grab a towel and a book and go sit on the beach that is literally just a 15 minute walk from my apartment. Central Park? What's that? I've got Lake Michigan now! I'm honestly not looking back! Also, I just realized that I may never want to get a gym membership to use the swimming pool ever again! Yes! I love it here.

Lets talk about the cold. It is VERY cold here, which I can handle, I think, and perhaps in some sick, sadistic way I was always sort of wanting it in New York, but didn't get as much. What can I say, I fricken love snow. Although, I've actually seen more snow in Michigan, by my parents place in Kalamazoo. I also have been enjoying the fact that I can just pop over there pretty much any time I feel like it. Home for Christmas? Yes, please! Friend's wedding weekend, no problem! Miss my nephew and want to just head home to visit for a day or two? Think I will! So, there is an upside to still being jobless, I guess.

Before Christmas, I also added Las Vegas to the growing list of places I've seen and loved. Man, that place is wicked fun, and even more fun because I got to spend her birthday with my dear friend Kelly and her super awesome friends. Bloody Mary's were the signature drink of the weekend, except for in the random club we got into because clubs like it when hordes of women join them for all night dancing under strobe lights. They literally haveGo-go dancers there that just stay up next to the DJ and it's their job to shake there scantly clad junk all night long. Man, Vegas is crazy. My liver needed a break after that one. What a way to break in Vegas though! Whew!

So, I'm back from Starbucks, where I sat and worked on applications and my resume today. The Earl Grey latte was my treat to myself after my 2 mile walk to the lake. Had to break in my new tennis shoes, which I love, and I really wish is gotten before our trip. Alas, feet are still healing. Now, I shall remove said feet from their resting place on our new coffee table (so domestic, new furniture!), and start the dinner for the hubs! Pintrest, you inspire me with your homemade chicken tenders yet again! Maybe if the recipe is good I'll post it later.

Home making...

Our Christmas tree

Lake Michigan-walking distance :)

A Christmas tree makes a house a home. So does furniture, making your own dinner, and endless boxes that are finally unpacked (well, mostly)!  This new apartment is slowly, but surely becoming home. It's quite a transition, I have to say, and it's not always an easy one, but it's worth it to say that I love being home in Chicago. For the past 7 years I've lived in New York, I've tried to make a Jane sized dent in the New York City mold, but it never quite fit, no matter how much I wiggled and squeezed and tried to wear stylish boots. It's a hard place to fit into fully, and what ALL my other friends who've left there to make a new place home (or gone back home, which seems to be the case more often than not), it's the people you miss.  I miss my friends, my BECA crew, and even my students like crazy. Ca-RAZY! I haven't found a new teaching job here yet, so I have nothing to compare to my past school life and career, but I miss my friends, my happy hours, and I sorta, kinda miss the unpredictability of New York City.  But all that being said, I feel happy in Chicago. I don't know if it's because we found the most perfect of perfect apartments for us (which has gas, heat, hot water, a gas stove that works, and a gas fireplace- all magical!), because this city seems more down to earth, because I live 5 blocks from a beach on Lake Michigan, or the homes with Christmas lights that adorn our street. I can't really pin point it, but I'm much more relaxed.

Shopping downtown Chicago

Ryan has started his new job this week, which was a big change for both of us.  Since we've basically been inseparable since July, we've gotten used to each other in a way that has been very good for us, and learned even more ins and outs of being married to each other. He's been my buddy, my goofball, my helper, my annoyance (and vice versa), and my always available hug for the past 5 months, so it's hard to be separated. But, we both have plenty to do. We've had fun shopping for the new furniture that were must haves for our new place. We went downtown Chicago last weekend, to have a last hurrah date at the Museum of Science and Industry, then shopping in the Watertower shops, then we found a yummy sushi restaurant right around the corner from our apartment. Tonight will be his office Christmas party, so I spent last night finding a new festive top to wear to meet and greet the new firm.  I'm also still busy putting things away, and we just got all the Ikea furniture for the guest bedroom delivered, so that means many an hour with a hex wrench and cartoon pictures showing me how many things I'm not doing wrong.   Sounds fun, right?

Transitioning from the traveling mindset to the nesting mindset has been a little weird, but not as hard as I thought at first. We didn't have much time at our new apartment before we traveled back to New Jersey, visited New York quickly to spend time with our future Godson, Rowen Hexom, and then drove down to Virginia to spend Thanksgiving with the Daniel clan at a rental lake house in the hills of Virginia. There was lots of fishing, eating, and spending time with our nephews Luke and Warren. :) Toddlers have a LOT of energy. It was a good holiday, pretty quiet, and was good Daniel bonding time. The stuffing was amazing.

Thanksgiving with the Daniels

Upon returning to our new apartment late Sunday night after Thanksgiving, we still didn't have heat/gas, but the gas company came by on Monday morning, which was the answer to all our prayers. It was becoming unlivable! Other things that contributed to making this place more homey was the much anticipated arrival of Mama Risdon! She saved the day when she saved our kitchen last week from utter disorganization! It was great to have her here, and it really did make it feel more comfortable. Our new couch arrived from Macy's, which is lovely, light green, and you sink back in to it and never want to get up! Love it!

View into the kitchen

Our mantel

We had a few friends stop by last week, and this week as well, and entertaining at the peninsula in our kitchen makes it feel great! I really love our living room and kitchen. The journey for the Christmas tree was combined with a stop in the grocery store, mainly because the trees were being sold in the Jewel parking lot.  It's real though, and creates a great smell.  I've found my ornaments and decorations, and our mantel is now set up above our fire place. Slowly, very slowly making our new place our home. It's becoming so cozy...I think I'm gonna like it here!

I ain't got no gas

Usually that's a good thing. For me it is a bad thing! We moved to our place on Magnolia St. on Wednesday, and while setting up and unpacking is coming along pretty nicely, it's hard to ignore the fact that the nimrods that moved out before we moved in turned off the gas to this place. I've also come to find out that living in Chicago is a little bit more ass backwards than anywhere else I've lived, and here's why. First, you can't just call and have your gas turned on like, oh, EVERYWHERE else I've ever lived. Oh no, here, you need to call and sign up for your account, then they will tell you you have to go to some ghetto western union type place which also duels as a People's Gas office, where you have to slide two forms of ID under a plastic window, like a convict, to a teller who could care less whether you ever get hot water in your home. Next they have to fax proof that they saw you, and that you are who you say you are, to the official People's Gas office, and within 24-48 hours they will call you to set up an appointment to come to your house and turn on said gas. I went to this office yesterday, they called me back to make an appointment for NEXT WEDNESDAY!! Holy s#*%! Might I add that gas is what powers our heat, hot water, stove, oven, and a useless freakin' fireplace. So, basically we can pee, wash our hands with cold water, unpack, and microwave soup...and then wash our dishes with cold water. It's like camping, but with unending luggage.

So, despite all that, the unpacking process, while huge and daunting, seems to be happening at a steady, if not somewhat chilly pace. The kitchen is no longer in boxes, and the only thing that makes me warm is the view I get of the little makeshift living room that we've set up with an Ikea easy chair, a butterfly chair I've had since my dorm days at MSU, and our Turkish rug, which seems a tad out of place for now. Ryan got the TV all set up, and since we have no cable or internet, we've had about 2 straight days of the entire Harry Potter series on DVD and Blu-ray looping along in The background. I think maybe we should switch it up a little though, years 6 and 7 are kind of a downer.

Slowly but surely, things will get done. I got some shelves that I need to put up in our master bathroom that will make it possible to unpack. We've had to set our toothbrushes on a paper plate... I have only managed to find one suitcase with underwear and bras, which managed to find its way into the only drawer I have filled in my dresser. I had to locate the bin with as many blankets as I could find, since nights are spent huddling together in our bed, which is one if the few things we've actually assembled, for warmth. I contacted the landlord, who was extremely apologetic, but couldn't make the gas company speed up with the process. He did say he'd reimburse us for the space heaters we had to buy, and said he'd discount our rent as well. A silver lining? Luckily, I have a few friends in the city, so I was able to go to Liz Tracy's apartment last night for a shower, and a much needed glass of wine. Might have to hit Heather up tomorrow. Showering is for the weak! And smelly.

We had a triumphant trip to Crate and Barrel, where I think we may have located a couch that won't break the bank, and then the Container Store and Bed, Bath and Beyond did the rest. Now I'm back in my frigid and sparsely decorated apartment. I could say I feel sorry for myself, which it really sounds like I kinda do, but it's not so bad, I love it here! :) For all your foibles, Chicago, I still got the love (just not the gas!!)

The adventure continues...

I've been playing with the idea of whether or not to continue the blog, or whether I should just let it live as an homage to our life and times on the road. I was really leaning towards the later, to preserve the adventure as it was abroad, in new and interesting locals around the world, but then there was the tiny voice, that grew into a larger pull to write again. So, I'll keep thigs going, at least for now, because life is really an every day adventure isn't it? I think so! And I know our course certainly isn't complete. And to be honest, I truly enjoy it. I like it! So, I'm back and happy to keep a good thing alive, even if I'm the only one who will read it, which is totally fine by me!

It's been almost a week since we returned, and we've been settling back in to a life of relative ease, not having to live out of a backpack, grocery shopping, cooking food for Ryan's family(I made tacos tonight!), doing my own laundry (I wonder how soon the novelty of THAT will last?!?), and trying to wake up an hour later each day to combat the jet lag that is still nagging! I made it to 8 am today, but then again, I also took 2 naps, probably undoing all the good work I've done.

The week has been a little surreal, not gonna lie. It felt familiar and strange all at the same time. We have never really been at Ryan's parents house during a regular work/school week due to our own working schedules, so sleeping in the basement room here, and waking up to the footsteps and hushed morning conversations getting Bob and Grace (in high and middle school) off to the bus, Alex off to law school and papa Daniel leaving for work left us with plenty if time to unpack, organize and make breakfast and have lazy morning conversations at the kitchen table with Ryan's mom over tea.

One highlight, of course being to carry on the tradition of a Teacher and friends happy hour at our favorite Manhattan dive bar, Malachy's. can something be epic if it has happened loads of times and is still just that awesome? Well, it was epic. Much love from the NYC peeps, and it just goes to prove that going away always is difficult, but to miss, and be missed- that feels good to reunite.

Back in New Jersey we did grocery shopping, visited the apple orchard (yes- cider and doughnuts!), and I did a bit of stamping with mama Daniel. She and her friends are quite the artists. There is some sort of breast cancer fundraiser coming up this weekend, so I sat in the craft corner punching out Christmas ornaments from multi-colored and patterned paper, and arranging them in a Christmas tree shape as a scrap book page. Creativity- BAM! I like art projects, and I also like benefits, so it was a win,win, as far as I'm concerned.

Ryan picked me up from crafting and we began our search for the worlds perfect car. Yes, it exists out there somewhere! Over the past few days we've visited several dealerships, sat behind many a wheel, and oohhhed, ahhhhed, and clicked our tongues while on the car prowl. It all paid off in the end- car purchased. I'm now big!

I may be partial to our newest family member, but little Lira is a light green Honda CR-V that gets awesome gas millage, has a sun roof, and has more American made parts than the Ford we looked at. :( But, it seems like the right size, has a few bells, though not many whistles, and it drives. Yes, the sign of a great first new car!

Triumph! Now, maybe for another nap.

In the Land of Glaciers and Geysers

It's the last full day of travel! I really can't believe we made it to the end! Not that I can't believe that we did it, just that its actually coming to the end.

Iceland is truly magical. Seriously. So cool. Looks a little like mars, but feels like a mix between Denmark and the countryside of Ireland. Reykjavik is a really charming city, small, northern, simple architecture that looks boxy from the outside, but pretty warm and cozy on the inside. As we were walking back from dinner in town tonight (our hotel is about a 20 minute (COLD) walk outside the Main Street of the town) I was partaking in a favorite pastime of looking in house or apartment windows and noticing their lights, family pictures and one person even had a little gong in their window. There were delicious cafes and restaurants lining the Main Street that gave the feeling of a little town, not so much a city. Cute boutiques and shops selling all kinds of warm clothes, fur mittens, wool socks and deer skin throws. Yeah, and they actually all wear printed sweaters straight out of any LL Bean. It always feels like Christmas!

We walked around quite a bit yesterday, because our travel day before, while not really long, was tiring, so all we really did our first night here was check out the high windowed lobby of our hotel and grab dinner at the restaurant downstairs. The creamy fish soup was really, really good.

So, yesterday we made the best of the time wandering around down town. We had hoped to join a walking tour, but the first time we tried, we couldn't find the right meeting place, and the second time, 2 hours later, I don't think anyone showed up, even the guide. Oh well! We made our own walking tour. Have I mentioned it is super cold(32*), so I already bought a new pair of wool socks, wool gloves (yup, they look like LL bean too!) and a wool hat that I bought from the lady who made it and then stood out on the street in the bitter cold to sell them. She deserved the sale, and I have needed that hat!

We saw their concert hall, down by the harbor, the city hall, on a little pond that was frozen, and covered in ducks and swans (so cute!), and the biggest church in Iceland that looks tall, imposing, gray, and a little too modern looking if you ask me. I saw it lit up tonight though, and liked it better.

We loved the city, and after a long day our feet were very tired, so last night we went to the geothermal pool complex down the street from our hotel. It's like a giant hot tub you can swim in all winter! We enjoyed the outdoor pool most of all. They had a full size, 50 m swimming pool (we did laps), a bigger, but shallower and warmer play area with a basketball hoop and some inflatable tubes that the kids really seemed to enjoy whacking each other with. They had a great big, water park sized water slide that Ryan mastered, and rode several times followed by laughing children. It was Kinda fun, but it was also dark, and I didn't get enough speed, so I watched from the warm splashdown pool after my 2nd try. The opposite side of the lap pool had several 'hot pots',as they call them here(hot tubs at home), that were all varying degrees of hot, a sauna, and a jacuzzi with Atlantic Ocean water (warm too). All were relaxing, except when Ryan made me race him 100 m in the pool, especially because he forgets we are still out of shape and now my whole body aches! It was really fun though, we spent almost the whole night there until about 9:30, then got some dinner and I was so tired I fell asleep with all my clothes on.

Ryan planned ahead by setting his alarm, and we were up early today for a Golden Circle bus tour. We were picked up at 8:30, then whisked away to the larger bus station, were everyone sort of milled around not knowing what bus to get on, but soon we were sorted, and on our way. The views were stunning, the landscape full of lava flows, old and new, Icelandic horses grazing here and there, and plateaus and mountains around every bend. One of the best bends in the road came when we were in site of the second largest glacier in Iceland. So cool, I was so excited to see a glacier, I made up a glacier cheer. Ryan claims he loves me best when I sing and cheer for things, so, it made for a happy day.

We first visited a greenhouse that worked from geothermal power. Actually, about 90% of the power in Iceland is geothermal, which is awesome and super environmentally friendly. I guess the price to pay is always living on the top of a huge volcanic hot spot, but it seems to work here. The greenhouse was most notable (at least to us) due to homemade tomato soup. Tasty, and of course, very fresh. Next we went to visit the Gullfoss Waterfall. It's a two tiered monstrosity of falls, cascading down from the glacier in the distance. Although everything was a bit frosty up there, the mist from the falls created a whole field of ice crystallized banks on either side. We took loads of pictures, squinting into the sun, and slid down a path to get a better view of the lower falls. Totally worth it, and my shoes officially double as ice skates. Can't say the same for Ryan, he may have pulled a groin muscle or two!

We stopped again down the road for lunching and geysering. The Strokkur geyser (we stole the word geyser from Icelandic, along with the word 'saga') is a sight to see, and I haven't been to Yellowstone, so I haven't seen old faithful, but to mine eyes, it was awesome. I even took a video, which I will try to post! People cheered every time, and that's a lot, considering that it spouts every 5 minutes or so!

I checked out a few of the other hot pools around, even touching one to see how hot it was (it wasn't THAT hot!), and we loved the steaming vents all over the area.

After lunch, we went down the road in search of the rift between continents. We stopped at a national park, with more amazing views down a river, leading to a lake with a little rustic church in the distance. We hiked up a hill to view the two sides of the world! At points, one person could stand on the North American plate, while the other could stand on the European side. Sweet. I stood over it and was in two places at once. I've always wished I could do that!

As we drove back to Reykjavik, I watched out the window at the scenery, so foreign, thinking of all the foreign places I've seen over these many weeks abroad, and it kind if hit me that this is it! My eyes have seen so much! They are aching for more, but they are also full up, so while I felt sad to conclude with traveling, the idea of resting and starting back anew, that seemed appealing too. It's like standing on those two continents was a way to split apart, to look down into the rift, knowing that it isn't empty, it is full. For me, it's full of awesome memories, they won't pass by my eyes again, but now they are stuck in my mind, which is even better.

I love to travel. I admit it- I love you, Travel! I guess I can say that it makes me feel so alive, but I feel alive everywhere I go, and I try to take advantage of life, as much as I can, No matter where I am. I guess I love that it sets me on fire, in a way. It makes me love new things, it makes me miss old things, it makes me realize how big and small the world is, all at the same time, and that I want to be a true citizen. I like normal, I like comfortable, but I LOVE feeling the spark of excitement that goes along with adventure.

I don't know when I'll travel again, but I really couldn't have asked for a better partner, and I'm so thankful, that for after all the years that I've wished for a travel partner, that I found Ryan to laugh around the world with. Yes, there were plenty of times we wanted to kill each other, several threats of wanting to just give up and go home, tantrums, fights, disagreements, silences and eye rolls, but for every one of those times, there were 65 sunsets, a thousand hugs and cuddles, shared smiles as we saw something that made us both gasp with excitement, over 100 tastes we shared, smooshed together in planes, trains, cars, boats, buses, and even a hot air balloon, we did it together, and we've grown a lot from all these experiences. I love him more than ever, and thank God for it! I'll speak for him and say he feels the same, because I know he does (he tells me a lot!) Thank you, Ryan, for being my buddy- travel, diving, and life buddy. :)

So, we had a delicious last night out in a foreign country for awhile, and it was a good one! Icelandic lobster is supposed to be one of the best, and now, I'd tend to agree. I will now begin to pack my bag up, one last time (gotta admit, I'm happy about that!), and get ready for one last hurrah tomorrow when we get up and grab another early bus to the Blue Lagoon, another amazing geothermal spot that they made into a spa. It's a lot bigger, and will be more of a natural setting than the pool, and its been on my list for a long time! We will spend the morning there, then take the last bus to the airport. Whooooo. Then home! Back to New Jersey we go. And beyond.

I'm trying to figure out a good way to conclude, but it sort of feels like stalling! I don't want to pack, and I don't want to finish my blog. But, like all great roller coasters, the ride has gotta come to an end at some point. If it was that good, you know you'll just have to ride another one someday soon. Every day is an adventure, and I suppose theses new memories that I share with Ryan from around the world are gonna keep the fire alive until the next time.

It's funny, I always sort of laughed to myself when I was leaving a place, and a front desk worker at a hotel, a shop keeper, a boat captain, a waiter, and many others we met would say something like "See you next time," or "you'll have to save that for next time!" I always wondered how they knew I'd be back some day. I can't say for sure where I will return, but, they were right, there's always a next time. It's in my blood! Hopefully, if you're reading this, its in your blood a little too. So, until next time! :)

The Jubilee Line

London has been short, and ever so sweet. It took forever to get here from Denmark, which it really shouldn't have. The Ryan air flight we took wasn't that long, but the travel from Lena's to my friend Andrea's flat, downtown London took around 8 hours. Too much! Plus, landing at Stanstead felt like a little kid had taken hold of the plane in the sky and jolted it all around before we bounced down the runway. Not cool, but, live and learn: Ryan Air is not worth it!

The touchdown might have been shaky, but London itself has been grand! My friend Andrea, another great girl I met working at Camp Nissokone, was gracious enough to put us up for 2 nights. It's been great to catch up! As far as the sites, I've been here 4 times now, and while I've seen quite a lot, we really liked staying in an apartment and being a bit normal. Yesterday we dropped our bags off at Andrea's posh little place she shares with her lawyer boyfriend, Tom. We strolled down the sidewalk that afternoon enjoying the leafy walk and sunny day. We walked ourselves right across the Tower Bridge, one of my favorites, and around the Tower of London.

We hadn't had lunch, so we found a pub with 3 kinds of cider on tap and scotch eggs. If you haven't ever heard of or tried a scotch egg, run, do not walk to the nearest place that sells them and bring your stretchy pants! We stopped at a grocery store so that Ryan could fulfill another long term dream ( they seem a little weird, I know!) of buying Bovril, which is a Vegemite type paste that's actually more like beef bouillon. I consider it rather gross, but when Ryan gets something in his head like a hankering for Bovril on toast (which you can't get in the States), he won't stop until he succeeds. Mission accomplished!

As soon as we got back to Andrea's apartment, we made ourselves right at home and did the most British thing we could think of, which was make tea and watch Harry Potter! So, a pretty good list of favorites checked off the list for London so far: walk across tower bridge, scotch egg and cider in pub, grocery store, tea and Potter! the night was made complete when Andrea got home with a bag of fish and chips- extra delicious! Once it was doused in vinegar, all dreams were fulfilled! We had a few drinks with Andrea, caught up, and chatted away about camp days gone by. Man, that summer was like the gift of friends that keeps on giving!

Yesterday Ryan I did the LAST load of laundry we'll have to do on the road (hooray!), then went out to see the Imperial War Museum, which was fascinating, super well designed and I really wanted to see and read everything in there. Really great, and I highly recommend it if you are ever in London. We spent three hours there, and I most definitely could have used a few more, as I feel like I didn't get to see enough of their extensive Holocast wing. Moving, and one of the best I've seen.

Unfortunately, Andrea's had to work both days we are in town, but we made the best if it by going out to a really nice Indian dinner last night, walked along the Thames and saw the tower bridge all lit up. Nice! I wish we could stay longer (how many times have I said that?!), but it's time to move on to Iceland before our last stop before heading back home to Ryan's parent's place in New Jersey, seeing friends in New York, and then driving to Michigan and on to Chicago to start the apartment and job hunt to start the next step and chapter of this crazy thing called life!!

This feels like the part of a flight that, right before landing, they hit the gas before making a smooth landing, and while I can feel the travel bug inside me digging in its heels, I am ready to head home, wherever that is, and start the new normal, whatever that is! I'll get right on that, right after I'm wowed by Iceland. :)

Hygge in Denmark

Denmark has a word that I've heard attempts to translate, but no one word gets it spot on. I think that's because Danish people not only love the outdoors, they also embrace the seasons and all weather, and because it's so often chilly and rainy outside , it seems important here to make the inside, and the situations surrounding you, as cozy and warm-fuzzy feeling inducing as possible. Hygge, in Danish is this word, and I really feel like I've come to find out what Hygge is all about with the smiles and warmth and happy times I've had in the short time Ryan and I have been here.

Denmark has been on my 'must see' list for almost a decade now, since I just seem to keep collecting friends from this down to earth country. The real reason to visit, was not just because I love Vikings (they grow on you, you know? After living in Ireland, and now here?), but I met my friend Kirsten the summer of 2002, when we were both lifeguards at Camp Nissokone in North Western Michigan (Oscoda). We bonded over impromptu dance parties in our cabin at night, laying out under the stars, and making up ridiculous relays for kid wearing flippers in the sand. It was probably more fun for us, than it was for them!

After camp was over for the summer, I dragged Kirsten pretty much all over the state of Michigan with me, introducing her to most of my friends and giving her a quick glimpse into the crazy life of college Jane. She still liked me after that, and we've been using Email and Facebook to try to stay in touch and reconnect ever since! I'm so happy it could work out this time!

Ryan and I spent a fast day and a half in Copenhagen, before starting the journey to friends. We liked the city, it reminded me of sort of a mixture between Prauge, Vienna, and a little Dublin thrown in for good measure. We explored all on foot, and wore out a walking map from the tourist information center, which helped me see almost all the sights, my favorites being walking through the main area of the royal palace around sunset and hearing the guards click their heels every time they had to stop and turn. Also, a beautiful park, and the Nyhavn part of town, which I guess added a twist of Amsterdam, with the canals to the Copenhagen mix. Food was a huge sticker shock of price. It's incredibly expensive here, and the one thing that Ryan truly wanted to see in Copenhagen was the Tivoli Gardens, which is a beautifully manicured theme park and garden right in the middle of the city. My roller coaster junkie of a husband was nearly crushed when we went to the gate and realized the sign said "Closed until October 12th to prepare for our Halloween Fest". We left on the 10th. Big huge sad face from Ryan. I hadn't seen him that sad since Thailand! The rain didn't help either, but you know what perked him up!? A true Danish hotdog from the food cart by the train station. We had just enough time to grab one the afternoon we left for Kirsten's in Fredericia, about a 3 hour train ride north east of Copenhagen. Good times were ahead.

I know hotdogs make Ryan smile, but another thing that makes him happy is small children. We met Kirsten and her 2 year old son, Laurits at the train station in Fredericia, and we both fell instantly in love with that kid, and him with us (I think!). It was so wonderful to see Kirsten again, after all these years, we still hit it off and had as much fun as ever, even though we are "old and tired," as she put it. I don't think it's true either, we had a blast!

We made dinner for Kirsten, Martin, her boyfriend and Lauits that night. Since we've been craving certain things, and of course making lists of those cravings in Ryan's iPhone, we had a long list of appetizers, main dishes, sides and desserts for our Danish friends to choose from. We were able to stop at the grocery store, which is, even more than lists of foods, one of our foodie activities we love- checking out the supermarkets of all the countries we visit. Many an hour has been spent wandering around grocery stores in various countries on this trip, but instead of focusing on how nerdy this makes us, we chalk it up to creating a taste of culture in each pocket of the world. In any case, we were able to get all the fixins for a delicious meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. In between catching up with Kirsten in her 70s Danish style kitchen, with the afternoon sun pouring through the wall of windows, and playing trains with Laurtis, we whipped up dinner and were able to finally sit down to a cozy little dinner together when Martin got home from work. Hygge!

We had a great sleep there, and every time I woke up a little I thought, I'm at Kirsten's in Denmark, and I'd feel all warm. It's been too long! Kirsten had to work, so we spent the next day wandering around the little town of Fredericia, enjoying the fall weather, hiking along the ramparts of the old town wall, and having a long lazy lunch in a little cafe under the apartment that Kirsten used to live in. Very nice, calm, Ryan and I had a great time laughing and talking over lunch. We have to start thinking about the next steps coming up when we get home- buying a car, spending a week in New Jersey and New York, driving to Michigan, then finding an apartment and moving to Chicago, and I'll be starting my job search. Hmmmm...lots it plan and think about. A little overwhelming!

That evening we were so grateful to be invited to Kirsten's parents home, about 15 minutes away. I knew it was going to be a good night when, as we were driving, saw the most complete and vibrant rainbow arched across the dark clouds plated by bright sunshine to our backs. It was spectacular! We thought maybe the fact that they were getting a new car that day made them very lucky!

As we drove up the cul de sac street, I'm pretty sure we were in some sort of car commercial, as the parents come out to hug and greet us, Kirsten ran to meet Martin and jumped in her new silver car, while little blonde Laurits squealed with glee as he was kissed by his grandparents and ran around the yard a bit. Sometimes you wonder what it might be like to be a fly on the wall, just to get a glimpse of the lives of others, but sometimes, your lucky enough to be invited to peek! The whole night felt a little like that, maybe a scene out of a magazine or something. We sat drinking pre-dinner beers in the family room by the computer, I had Laurits on my lap, looking through Thomas the tank engine train videos on you tube and Kirsten's dad jovially talking away with us all, translating when Laurits wanted new videos, and checking in on Kirsten's mom in the kitchen every so often to see how the bacon wrapped stuffed pork roast and roasted veggies were coming. It smelled good, it felt good, and it was another travel moment that really can't be duplicated. Really nice to be with a family again. The many months on the road make me truly appreciate those times. They have mastered Hygge in that house.

We ended on a good note, because sadly, that was about all the time we had with Kirsten, since we had to set off again the next morning to see my friend Lena in Aarhus. This is the second largest city in Denmark, and definitely had the Dublin vibe to it.!

Lena is another amazing friend that I met traveling up the East coast of Australia 7 years ago. We hit it off right away, swimming across a little pond, taking dumb pictures across Australia, and web though I was traveling faster than she was, we made it a point to meet up again along the road. What a fun girl! So fun, in fact that we've meeting up around the world ever since! In 2008, she met me in Paris, and last summer she came to Ryan and my wedding, and then a few weeks later after she traveled around the US a bit, she came to stay with us in New York the same weekend Rainstorm Irene hit. Needless to say , Lena and I have been through a lot, and I couldn't wait to see her in her home environment.

Again, another apartment that had true Danish style and a warm sense of Hygge. A darling little apartment that was actually the top rented portion of a house, with a backyard balcony, a cozy kitchen, and candles everywhere, creating a glow to the place. We live it here! She was even sweet enough to give us her room for the 4 nights! That Lena, what a gal!

More delicious food galore in Aarhus, with Lena. Friday night was spent out with her friend Nia at a French restraint that Lena had a free meal promise to her by the owner (she designed his website). Saturday found us examining the lives of the Danes in the olden days at the Old City, which was a town of transplanted homes from various centuries that showed a real life version of Denmark's history. Quite impressive, and very quaint. The Danish butter cookies from the little bakery were the best!

Sunday we took the bus from Ye city center(after we missed the first one, it was a debacle, don't ask). We took in rainy day views of the countryside as we made our way about an hour north to the little town of Ebletoft for the Apple Festival. Despite the somewhat drizzly weather, we enjoyed the crafts, meeting Lena's woodworker uncle, tasting the cheeses, breads, spreads, goat sausage,fish cakes, apple fritters, cider and glugg, a Danish mulled wine. All perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Once we returned home and dried off, I made Lena my mom's famous Hamburger soup and Ryan made deviled eggs. Two more off the random list, can you tell?! All was Hygge then too! Oh Denmark, you are so cozy!

We slept in a bit today, and Lena was able to make all things right with the world when she told us that the Tuvoli of Aarhus was OPEN! They also decorated for Halloween, therefore, all Ryan's hopes and dreams were fulfilled by riding roller coasters and visit fun houses at Tivoli after all! Yes! And, yo tip it off, Lena made us a traditional Danish meal tonight as well! If I were a cat, id be purring!

So, luck and Hygge have found us in Denmark! I hope to take it with me on to London and beyond. Thanks to everyone in Denmark who has made us feel so welcome and loved and cozy/warm!