Frozen city

Winter has finally come to Copenhagen. The lakes in the middle of the city are frozen, which gives the city a whole other look. It is now safe to walk on some of the lakes, but not all of them. Look for signs saying it's safe - or ask people around you. There is an official list of which lakes are safe to walk on, but it's only in Danish. "JA" means safe, "NEJ" means not safe.

Even if you don't dare to walk on the ice, a walk around the lakes is just as pretty.

If you get cold walking around in the Nordic winter, treat yourself to a cup of hot coffee. Near the lakes we recommend:

• Kaffesalonen, Peblinge Dossering 6, Nørrebro (find on Google Maps)
• Vinyl Bar, Sortedam Dossering 81, Østerbro (find on Google Maps)
• Den Franske Café, Sortedam Dossering 101, Østerbro (find on Google Maps)

Funny bicycles in Copenhagen

Merry Christmas! Today we just want to share some photos of some of Copenhagen's many awesome bikes!

Bicycle in Frederiksberg

Bicycle in Frederiksberg

Bicycle in Islands Brygge

Bicycle in Islands Brygge

Bicycle in Islands Brygge

Visiting Copenhagen Zoo - sharing our love for cute animals!

This picture features Daddy Bear in his nature-like environment... rooaaarh!

In Copenhagen, near to Valby Bakke, you'll find the Copenhagen Zoo which is one of Europe's oldest zoos and dates back to 1859. It features a tower with great views of the surrounding area, Frederiksberg, and on clear days you can even see all the pretty spires in centre of Copenhagen from there. In 2008 the elephants got their own up-scale designer pad designed by Norman Foster. 

This is Mommy Bear with her three cubs. I think they are unbearably (get it?) cute.

The zoo features a so-called "Nordic Corner" which is where you can find the cute brown bears in these pictures. In this part of the zoo there are also polar bears, seals, reindeer, muskox, wolfes and long-eared owls.

Naturally, the barrel contains honey for hungry bears!

There is also an area featuring animals from the African continent. There's lions, hippos, zebras, ostriches and a whole variety of other exotic animals. One of my personal favourites are the giraffes!

This is what I'd call a teenage giraffe. Isn't he cute?

 The giraffes live with the rhinos and zebras, resembling real animal life in Africa.

The zebra looks tiny next to the rhinos and the giraffe.

If you ask me, the baboons are the most entertaining part of the zoo! They look like little kids, as they eat, play and fight with each other. Definitely a must see!

Unfortunately, the majestic polar bears are close to crazy.  As you can see in the photo, one of them is trying to eat the plants on the stone - while jumping up and down. It looked rather silly - don't they feed them?

Anyway, the zoo is building a large, new home for the polar bears which will be very exiting.
 

A curious giraffe.

I love the lion family at the zoo. It's so... royal!

The Copenhagen Zoo is located in Frederiksberg:

Roskildevej 38
DK 2000 Frederiksberg

Visit their homepage for opening hours as they change a lot: http://uk.zoo.dk/VisitZoo.aspx

Here are the prices:

Children (age 3-11)
November - February		DKK 50
March - October		DKK 80
Adults
November - February		DKK 110
March - October		DKK 140

Bogforum - books and people in Frederiksberg

Interesting presentations and discussions take place at the book fair, Bogforum.

If you're in Frederiksberg in the beginning of November - any November any year -  you might wonder why there are so many people around the exhibition centre and concert hall 'Forum'. The reason is 'Bogforum' - a large fair featuring books, writers, publishers - and of course: readers!

Book worms filling the fair.

Every year busy lovers of literature flock to this two day fair, which takes place on a weekend. This year it is this weekend and it's open from 10 to 6 both Saturday and Sunday. The entrance fee is 110 DKK.

There are lots of great offers and discounts to enjoy - and often also free reading copies and catalogs from the publishers.

No book fair is complete without writers, critics and journalists presenting and discussing, so you might be lucky enough to bump into one of your writer heroes. Only downside is that all discussions and presentations are in Danish, but perhaps you can sneak yourself a greeting or autograph.

The pretty poster for this year's book fair in Forum, Copenhagen.

This year's poster is so pretty and attractive - enough to lure me in - so I went by there today. It is a nice place if you enjoy books, but prepare yourself for lots and lots of other book worms joining in on the fun, so it can get quite crowded.

Visit their website here: http://www.bogforum.dk/ - and the address for Forum is:

Julius Thomsens Plads 1
DK-1925 Frederiksberg C