We are in our second week of living here in Copenhagen and each day we become more and more acclimated to our new surroundings. We are getting on a more regular schedule after the jet lag which makes such a difference! Something we are getting used to is the morning sun rising before 5 a.m.! It makes for long summer days as it doesn't get dark again until around 10 p.m. I do love the long summer days here & every bit of sunshine because I know that all too soon the days will become short and dark. The weather this summer in Copenhagen has
been unseasonably warm from what some Danes have told us. We have enjoyed temps. in the 70's and sunshine most of the days since we have been here! I just love being able to throw open the windows (no screens needed---no bugs other than an occasional friendly fly passing through) and enjoy the cool breezes that blow. The street noise isn't such a big deal during the daytime so it's all good. :) It may seem crazy but I see God's blessing in the fact that we get to see the morning sun on one side of the apartment, but then also get the afternoon sun on the other side. That actually was one of my prayer requests when we were seeking a place to live here---I wanted to have as much natural light as possible. It goes to show, there is no prayer request too small or too insignificant for God!
The first few days of this week were spent getting the apartment set up a bit more like we wanted it and just 'settling in'. Mike had a meeting or two at DIS and has been preparing for the start of his classes in a few weeks. The girls and I have become acquainted with 'The Stroget' (believe it or not, pronounced "Stru--ul)---Europe's longest pedestrian shopping street. Many familiar stores to browse in, lots of entertainment on the streets with jugglers, singers/musicians, etc. and certainly LOTS of people! The Stroget is conveniently located just one block from our apartment---nice!
We haven't used our bikes too much yet---the girls are getting used to riding the bikes before going out into the streets (though it is much easier riding bikes here because it is such a bike-friendly city). In time, I suspect we will use them more often than not! Mike and I have ridden our bikes around a bit and after walking so much, it feels like being in a car in that you can get to where you want to go so much faster!
One of our discoveries this week was a cute, quaint bakery on a little side street not far from DIS. It has big cinnamon rolls for a discounted price on Wednesdays and it just so happened to be Wednesday when we went there--good deal! Best cinnamon rolls I've ever had.
We also took the train out to a suburb of Copenhagen called Frederiksberg, to visit the Frederiksberg Gardens, which is over 300 years old. It is one of the most beautiful gardens/park, a very romantic sort of place and so peaceful. Many interesting things to see with every turn along the paths---bridges, gazebos, swans and ducks swimming. One quirky thing we came across was the pacifier tree. Hundreds of pacifiers strung up in the tree, along with coloring book pages and written notes from children. Kids hang these things up in the tree when they have given up their pacifiers for good! :) It was a great outing on a beautiful summer day.
This coming week we will ease into more of a daily schedule as Sophia has placement testing at her school on Monday, followed by the start of school on Tuesday! We would appreciate your prayers for her as she begins the school year---Tak (thank you)!
(Left) Sophia standing in front of the door leading to our apartment. Our place is where the 5 dormer windows are on the top floor of the white building.
Sophia practicing her bike riding!
Beautiful Frederiksberg Gardens
A duck dock?! (How they would get in and out of the water.)
(Right) The building off in the distance was once the summer
palace of King Frederik of Denmark.
The "Pacifier Tree" in the garden.
Time for a lunch break! Went to a Danish hotdog stand where there are quite a few variations of the typical hot dog. When I ordered my hotdog they asked if I wanted bread with that? Uh, sure. I had to laugh when I saw the size of the hotdog bun. However, this is typically how most of their sausages are served---without bread and lots of ketchup/mustard for dipping. The girls had a "frankse dog" which is like a hollowed out baguette filled with ketchup/mustard and then the sausage is put inside. 
