Here is the second edition of the top 10 of amazing bikes (here was the first one).
Today's theme: "extreme bike tuning". Be careful, I have to warn you, your eyes might sting a little bit.
10.
To begin smoothly, some entirely repainted, more or less successfuly.
9.
Arg, the mad striper struck at least twice.
8.
Yes, bicycles are a green mean of transportation.
7.
Made in Christiania.
6.
This one is actually is a sign shop.
5.
Pimp you bike yourself.
4.
Unidentified dead body, lying somewhere in Christiania, I would be unable to find it again. But is it a sculpture, or the remains of something that really drove?
3.
Nice idea.
2.
The stuntman, seen at the demonstration of COP 15. To measure up with that event, some have let their imagination go, and by putting two like this, you get the number 1:
1.
I was assured that both had indeed demonstrated that day.
As I was saying the last time, within Christiania is hidden an incredible alternative cultural life that a non-informed tourist wondering through the aisles couldn't suspect at first sight. Despite the fact that this zone is the third touristical attraction of Denmark, a lot of visitors ignore that it is a fantastic place to go out by night.
Indeed, there are actually concert halls, bars and even restaurants! They all have a special atmosphere unique to Christiania, and that's why I love them. So I will give you an overview of the key spots.
Let's start with the Loppen (the Flea). It's the easiest to find: the first building at the entrance.
It's reached through a very dark hall, and then you climb those weed-flavored stairs:
Upstairs is the Musikloppen, the concert hall with candles inside and exposed beams, one of the most popular concert venues in Copenhagen.
And at the second floor, you push a door with just black graffiti on it and then, this is magic:
You are in the Spiseloppen, an excellent organic restaurant. I tested it twice, I assure you that the food is delicious (no so cheap, but it's still reasonable). There is an exhibition gallery in the opposite room.
Going up on Pusher Street, you find the Børneteatret (Jazz Club). It was a children's theater at the beginning as its name indicates, then it was transformed into a stage dedicated to jazz, blues and hip hop. Famous jam sessions.
A little bit further, my favorite, Operaen. It does cafe, bar, concert hall and theater and its decoration is really lovely.
But I never go to Christiania without hanging out at the Woodstock:
(image spiseliv.dk)
It's a kind of crazy place, it looks like an old bistro, and it gathers all kinds of people: old, young, pure Christianites, foreigners, a bunch of Greenlanders, hippies, students ... They drink, smoke, get high, play backgammon and wiggle after nightfall.
In a different style, you have the Månefiskeren (the Moon Fisher). It doesn't serve any alcohol. In fact, you go there especially to enjoy a good coffee, eat cakes, and enjoy the cool atmosphere. And sometimes to play billiards.
From time to time I also go to the Nemoland café. It is less warm than the others in my opinion, but it has a beautiful terrace that makes sense in the summer, with an outdoor stage.
(images nemoland.dk)
And there are still others that I have not yet had the opportunity to test!
Den Grå Hal (the Grey Hall) for example. It is the largest concert hall in Christiania, but it also hosts theater performances, meetings, the Christmas market ...
Or the Morgenstedet (the Morning Place). It is a very small restaurant, a little bit hard to find, which serves organic vegetarian cuisine from around the world, and ironically, opens at noon.
Phew, and I didn't even mention all of them. And I didn't say either that you can find in Christiania grocery stores, a bakery, a bike shop, a shoe store, another one for clothes, a movie theater, art galleries, recycling workshops, sculpter and painter's studios, a horse-riding club, a school, a common bathroom, a yoga center, a radio station, a post office ...
In all, there are about 120 companies registered as such in Christiania (source christiania.org). Here is a non-exhaustive list of them.
To finish, I have selected a video if you want to learn more:
In the next episode I will tell you the story of Christiania and the daily lives of its inhabitants.
Here comes finally the first article on the definitely most unusual place of Copenhagen, Christiania. Perhaps you've already heard of it even if you have neer been in Denmark ... It is actually a giant squat, which has the singularities of being tolerated and being located right in the middle of the city. Even more than just a squat, it is a village in the city, a kind of hippie self-governed community, I would even say a semi-independent micro-state. The Danes call it "Fristaden", "The Freetown".
Let's look at the map to get an idea of the place:
Christiania is located on the island of Christianshavn (hence its name), and occupies much of the ancient city walls built by King Christian IV in 1617 (the odd pins).
34 hectares still
As you can see, the area forms a green enclave, naturally isolated from the rest of the city. However, there is a surronding wall along Prinsessegade street :
And there is the famous main entrance:
(photo Alex Rosa)
This is how it looks from behind:
And that's the small entrance at the corner of Princessegade and Bådsmandsstræde:
Once passed over, we enter in another world. The buildings are former military barracks rehabilitated by the Christianites themselves, or constructions of their own. Absolutely everything is covered with tags, some really beautiful. The contrast with the neat and middle-class city in which we were just 5 minutes earlier is striking. a very short walk and we arrive in Pusher Street, the main arterial road. There is a small market square at the entrance where they sell souvenir t-shirts, various trinkets and all the accessories needed for ...
... making cones. And scattered along the street, small stalls providing the stuffing. At this point, taking pictures is absolutely forbidden as numerous signs everywhere remind, the sellers do not really appreciate that. Though, oh my God, it itches tremendously.
So I've found a picture from Wikimedia Commons
The vision of this exhibition of substances, these extraordinary murals, these shady guys, these pitbulls and all this in a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere has something fascinating. But most tourists, frightened by this scene sometimes murky I admit, dare not venture further. Even many Copenhageners have only that image in mind.
This is a pity because Christiania is not (only) a haunt of marginals, even if it attracts them a lot, and certainly not a slum. It is a perfectly structured society of people people who have chosen to live an alternative life. It is as if everything subversive and wild in Denmark were aggregated in one place.
The residents have adopted a flag, displayed everywhere:
The 3 dots symbolise the 3 dots on the "i" in "Christiania"
There is some regulation
Cars are banned
Garbage is meticulously sorted
There is even guided tours (never tested)
Every time I stroll there, I discover new funny details.
Then of course, because one article on Christiania is not enough, I'm going to tell you more about it in the future episodes:
Part 2: Guided tour of the village (no, it's not just crumbling and yucky shacks, there is an astounding cultural and social life stashed inside)
Part 3: But how on earth the Danish authorities could tolerate such a mess?
I know that you like the tops 10. Everyone loves it (and me especially). Therefore I present you this day the jewels of my collection of bikes, carefully selected. Uhh, well, photos of bikes, to be more precise, that I have catched through my random strolls in Copenhagen (*). It would be such a shame to keep them for myself.
The topic of today's anthology is: "I don't like being alone on my bike."
10.
To start, the trailer for children, dogs and stuff ... but covered! What a luxury. Aimed at those who don't want to purchase a special bike, or just for the drags at DIY things.
9.
The double-seat for babies. For those who cannot make up their minds to leave their twin babies to the nurse when they are out for shopping. Or those who consider that a pram is definitely too slowly. Note the unusual length of the luggage rack.
8.
The trailer tandem-like. Sure that when they get bigger, there's no reason for them to continue to be transported effortlessly, eh.
7.
The trailer really made for kids. Because it is never too early to develop the good reflexes.
6.
The pedal-drawn carriage, because the merry-go-rounds suck.
5.
Something indefinable. A kind of retired carriage. Real home-made creation.
4.
The kitsch carriage for adult, aka tourist-lugger, front and back.
3.
Another model of corny carriage, but this is one I like. Not for tourists, and I know it because I pass by every morning. It is parked always in the same place on Amagerbrogade.
2.
The tandem with a cool design. Yes, Denmark is the country of design, nothing more to say.
1.
And on the first step of the podium, my favorite: the psychedelic tandem . It deserves two pictures! Apparently, the disproportionate love the Danes have for bikes makes them giving birth to senseless creations.
And what about you, what is your favourite model?
(*) All the pictures have been shot in Copenhagen, except the #9, taken in Amsterdam.
Just a remark: if like me, you hunt the cycling treasures in CPH, the good spot is of course Christiania. 3 of them come from it.
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To start, the trailer for children, dogs and stuff ... but covered! What a luxury. Aimed at those who don't want to purchase a special bike, or just for the drags at DIY things.
