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„We are legally allowed to hit Swedes who come to Denmark over the ice with a stick” was the first sentence on my trip to Copenhagen that made me realise that a) Danes either have a serious problem with Swedes or simply a good sense of humour and b) this was an interesting city and a good destination for my first solo trip. The nervous feeling in my stomach when boarding the plane not knowing anything about my destination quickly turned into a sensation of adventure and freedom when I set foot on Danish ground. I had booked a bunk bed in a hostel along the harbour and as my suitcase rattled down the cobblestone street lined with colourful facades on one side and rustic boats on the other, I noticed the many neatly arranged, elegant and very much alike-looking bicycles in every street – not one of them being locked – which instantly gave me a warm and safe feeling and sparked my curiosity of what else this picturesque city would have to offer over the following days. After a surprisingly good first night’s sleep I started my quest to find the best cinnamon bun (or as the Danes lovingly call them “Kanelsnegls”) in Copenhagen the next morning. Stopping at the corner of every street nervously looking down both sides of the roads multiple times to make sure I won’t get hit by one of the many bicycles, I wandered the streets inhaling the subtle scent of freshly baked delicacies in the air and listening to locals on their way to work, trying to understand fragments of words and comparing them to familiar languages in my head. After several hours of walking, sightseeing, drinking coffee and devouring numerous Kanelsnegls, I stumbled over yet another café on a picturesque little square that I felt drawn to. Having discovered and ordered what looked like one of the finest bakery goods I had seen, I sat down and observed the world around me. Suddenly everything seemed a little more relaxed, as if someone had hit the slow-motion button. It was that moment when I realised that Hygge (a mood of cosiness and comfortable conviviality) was actually a life choice for most Danes that was slowly infecting me too. Suddenly it was apparent that nobody was shouting down their phones, rushing from A to B or even looking stressed. The city and its inhabitants had seemingly created this stress-free bubble creating a calming atmosphere that led me to consciously relax the muscles in my body and feel content. Overwhelmed by the epiphany-like experience I had just had, I finished my cinnamon bun and somehow saw the city in a new light. Rather than visiting sights and taking pictures, I felt urged to blend in and live a little more serendipity-ly. “Are you the girl with the parrot?” – Confused, as my peaceful daydreaming was interrupted so suddenly, I looked up and my gaze was met by a friendly-looking man in his mid-20’s. Dazzled I went over his question in my head again and then slowly shook my head. “Oh, I must have confused you then, sorry,” he said, smiling and walked off. Later that day I saw him again, talking to a girl with a bright blue talking parrot on her arm. “What an interesting city”, I thought to myself, before I closed my eyes that night. Moral of the story: Do take a leap into the unknown every now and then. Discover. Explore. Blend in. Take a step back and really feel your destination – because who knows what can happen if you just open your mind and see things from a different perspective – you might just end up having an interesting conversation with a talking parrot.