Kopenhavn

Like many diaries and journals, I seem to have abandoned this one as well.

I thought of using blogging simultaneously to my journals especially since I spent three quarters of my time in front of this screen. Yet there is still something which keeps pushing me away. So here I go again, my attempt to write, to break away, to come out of the inhibited blog-free life I have been leading.

And what made me think twice about this blog was last weekend. I was in Copenhagen. It was the first time I was there and despite the few days and little time I had to actually see the city, I liked it. I would go again.

I had an ILGA-Europe Board Meeting linked with a World Outgames Networking Day. The next World Outgames are in Copenhagen, July next year.

We stayed at the Clario Hotel Neptun, a few steps from the brand new theatre, just across from the Opera House. It's in the port area of Nyhavn which is characterised by the many bars and cafes along the canal.

I miss the outdoor cafes and the big squares! There are no squares in Dublin...no open spaces where people would just walk across, sit and drink tea or coffee...sun and light penetrating the dark streets.

This was a weekend of meetings. It wasn't only the ILGA-Europe Board attending; there was the Chairing Pool and the new Elections Preparations Committee. That meant I was able to see Gabi and Jasna, too..and that made me very very happy! I miss those two lots!

The Outgames networking started on Friday, where we had a reception at the Town Hall. We were told it was a 15-minute walk from the hotel. After half an hour walking in the pouring rain, we gave up hope anyone of us will be in the jovial-networking-mood we were expected to be.

However, between the grandeur of the Town Hall and the Mayor, and the tradition of serving pancakes to guests; as well as the Outgames organisers and the sporty queers...our mood has been definitely changed! After the Town Hall some of us walked to Steffen's place..a gem of a place where we were served Brut and crisps for a couple of hours..and then we were off to our diner...

RizRaz - a Mediterranean restaurant (yeah, of course...a good restaurant HAS to be Mediterranean!) - where everything was to the Vegetarian's taste and therefore, Ruth was happier. Prices affordable (remember it's Copenhagen) and nice decor..even though disappointedly Malta did not feature on the Mediterranean mural :(

Jasna and moi, together with Julia and Catherine from GLISA headed to Vela, a lesbian bar - an ex-brothel with oriental-style decor in the trendy neighbourhood of Vesterbro. We were told that the place is 'friendly to guys' even though our little gay map's little script read "Mostly lesbians". It was cool and relaxed when we got there but left when it got busier and annoyingly smoky (despite the smoking ban in Denmark, the lesbians don't seem to have noticed it yet).

The following day we had to be at our Outgames Networking spot at 8.30am .. very early! The morning dragged along with introductions and presentations. I was there as ILGA-Europe and ILGA, so I had a presentation to do on the World organisation. After lunch it was the smaller meetings and I found those to be more productive and relevant. At around 4.30pm, after the meetings were over, some of us 'sneaked out'..We couldn't stay there for dinner as well, the day was too long and we had a board meeting to look forward the following day. Took the train back to Nyhavn and had a lovely relaxing evening with the girls (Linda, Gabi, Jasna). Sunday was Board meeting all day long.

Unlike most meetings, this time I was leaving the following day. This meant that I had Sunday evening and Monday morning all for myself..no meetings. So I played Tourist on Monday morning..took a boat tour from Nyhaven port, which took us (Gabi and I) around the main spots of Copenhagen. Through the canals we saw the Theatre, Opera House, the famous Mermaid, the Black Diamond, old defence structures, Custom Houses, statues.. and it was simply pleasant.

Did I mentione the weather? After miserable rainy Friday, we simply had 3 days of gorgeous weather..bright and blue! After boat tour, I went to this shopping centre and bought a couple of Menu 'accessories', packed my luggage..and headed towards the Metro. With my blue clip card, I clipped my way to the Metro and headed to the Airport. 7 stops or 12 minutes later I was standing in the airport.. unreal Nordic efficiency! :)

The shops at the Copenhagen Airport are many, diverse and to a certaine extent some of them are affordable too. A few good restaurants, designers clothes and furniture, bookshops, jewellery, IT and accessories..It's worth going there earlier to stroll around. I was flying with SAS, all was punctual and in a couple of hours I was back on irish soil..having to wait 35 minutes for the luggage and another half an hour for a taxi. Vive l'Irlande!

All in all my trip to Copenhagen was very nice. I would love to go back with no planned meetings but simply to walk around and see this city again.