NAVIDAD EN COPENHAGEN-CHRISTMAS IN COPENHAGEN

En 1964 estaba estudiando en Paris y residia en una residencia de estudiantes de la Rue de Naples donde compartia habitación con otra estudiante danesa, Kit Findergaard, con quien hice gran amistad pero que con los años he perdido todo contacto como me ha pasado con muchos amigos muy queridos desgraciadamente debido a todas mis mudanzas. Ese año Kit me invitó a pasar las navidades en su casa de Copenhagen. Fueron unas fiestas inolvidables! Su casa muy acogedora con un arbolito lleno de velas y decorada profusamente con temas navideños. Copenhagen me encantó! Con sus tranvías que me recordaban a Toronto, su limpieza, los bares del barrio marinero, Nyhaun (perdonad el deletreo que seguro que está mal) donde una noche, Kit, sus amigos y yo cogimos una buena con el Schnapps!! Todo el mundo se saludaba con un cantarín "Gledly Yul!" (Feliz Navidad!) y "Got Ny Taw!" (Feliz Año Nuevo!) (una vez mas disculpad el deletreo). Los deliciosos sandwiches abiertos de cuyo nombre ahora no me acuerdo pero que son muy populares en Dinamarca. La famosa sirenita me decepcionó un poco porque creía que era mas grande de lo que es. Es pequeñita y está sentada encima de una roca. Muy mona. Un dia fuimos de excursión a la casa de Hans Christian Andersen que se encuentra a las afueras de Copenhagen. Me gustó mucho, una típica casa danesa con su "thatched roof" (tejado de paja), muy pintoresca. El famoso parque de Tivoli no lo vi porque en invierno estaba cerrado. Pasé unas fiestas maravillosas en la compañía y con la hospitalidad de Kit, su familia y sus amigos. Un año de estos tendré que volver a Copenhagen, una ciudad preciosa.

In 1964 I was studying in Paris, living in a students' residence in the Rue de Naples, where I shared a room with another student,a Danish girl, Kit Findergaard who became a very dear friend but with whom, through the years, I've lost contact, unfortunately. That has happened to me with many good friends due to all my travelling moves. That year Kit invited me to Copenhagen to spend Christmas with her family. Her home was very welcoming, there was a beautiful Christmas tree decorated with candles as well as other Christmas decorations all over the house.

I loved Copenhagen! With its streetcars, which reminded me of Toronto, its cleanliness, the colourful bars in Nyhawn (sp?!) the port area where Kit, her friends and I finished up quite tipsy one evening with all that Schnapps! Everyone greeted eachother with a tinkly "Gledly Yul!" (Merry Christmas!) and "Got Ny Taw!" (Happy New Year!) (excuse the spelling once again). The delicious open sandwiches, which name I cannot remember right now, but are very popular in Denmark. I was a bit disappointed with the famous mermaid, though, because I thought she was bigger than what she is. She's quite small, but very cute, sitting on top of a rock. One day we went to see Hans Christian Andersen's house on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Lovely house, tipically Danish with its thatched roof, very picturesque. I liked it very much. I didn't get to see the famous Tivoli Park as it was closed during the winter. All in all I spent two unforgettable weeks with Kit, her family and her friends. One of these years I must go back to Copenhagen, a very beautiful city.