Peeking outside our little box

First world problems in Copenhagen

Posted on by Jules & Verne
Reading time 3 minutes

Four thirty in the morning, the alarm clock goes off. In the dark, it takes me a few seconds to remember where I am. I’m at home, in my own bed, but I need to be somewhere else. Over the last two months I had rarely spent more than two nights at the same place. Lisbon to London. To Lisbon. To London. To Lisbon. To Munich. To Lisbon. To Copenhagen. To Munich. To Lisbon. To Copenhagen. To Munich. To Lisbon. To Oslo. To Lisbon. To Copenhagen. To Munich. To Lisbon. To Munich. To Lisbon.

Five Circles Pedestrian Bridge, Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f1.4, 1/5400s, ISO 200)
Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f1.4, 1/45s, ISO 6400)

It takes me a few more seconds to I realize where I’m going next. Ah, back to Copenhagen. I briefly contemplate hitting the snooze button, but that would be cutting it too close. The recent flurry of early morning flights has optimised my routine to the point where sleep is maximised but contemplation minimised. A quick shower, a few mouthfuls of Jules’ homemade granola, and I’m out the door, through airport security and into the plane.

Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f6.4, 1/420s, ISO 200)
Five Circles Pedestrian Bridge, Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f5.6, 1/280s, ISO 200)
Five Circles Pedestrian Bridge, Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f16, 1/50s, ISO 200)

The meetings in Copenhagen take longer than expected. By the time I’m done with the final one, that last plane back to Lisbon has already left. My first reaction is frustration. Friday evening, away from home and stuck in a suit. My next reaction is embarrassment. Poor little Verne and his first world problems. Then comes opportunity. I am in the dead-center of town, the sun is out, and I have my camera with me.

Subway station, Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f1.4, 1/60, ISO 320)
Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f1.4, 1/140, ISO 200)
Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f16, 1/60, ISO 320)
Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f16, 1/40, ISO 200)

I get out of the hotel and walk along the waterfront. The entire city seems to be out, enjoying the glorious weather. A kid, wearing a baseball hat and a Snoop Dogg t-shirt, takes quick shy glances at the two nearby girls enjoying a bottle of white wine. An Italian couple, bikes set to the side, look intently at a map, perhaps deciding what to see next. It is hard to find a piece of waterfront without a few friends chatting and enjoying the last hour of sunlight.

Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f1.4, 1/60s, ISO 1600)
Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f1.4, 1/60s, ISO 1600)
Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f1.4, 1/60s, ISO 1600)

Jules and I walked these very same streets two years ago. I wish she was here now.

Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f6.4, 4s, ISO 200)
Copenhagen, Denmark (16mm, f1.4, 1.3s, ISO 200)

Verne*

 

56 thoughts on “First world problems in Copenhagen”

    1. Thank you David! I try to cram my camera onto my bag whenever I can (often at the expense of arguably more important things), you never know when you might get a chance to use it 🙂 -Verne

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      1. Ohh, Milan! Why? Go south, young man! 😉 I was only in Milan once when Olimpija Ljubljana basketball team went there to beat Stefanel Milano and proceed to the Final Four in Euroleague that year where it landed 3rd. I hear there is a cathedral there… If you ask a Roman man (since I have one right here), Milan is already in Austria. 😉

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