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My impressions of Copenhagen, Denmark (2004)

Copenhagen

Domz
2004-04-06 17:32:13

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In early 2004, I'm minding my own business in my office, when I get a call. It seems that an architecture professor at the University of Florida has heard that I know a fair amount about bicycling, and he is leading a studio of students to prepare a bicycle master plan. Part of his studio is to take groups of students to see model communities for bicycling. He asks if I'd be interested in joining a group going to Copenhagen-he'd pay my air fare out of the grant money he has.

I can assure you that he did NOT have to twist my arm. Indeed, I nearly leapt out of my chair, as I was so delighted over such good fortune.

I had heard a number of stories over the years about the cosmopolitan wonders of Copenhagen, and suddenly, shockingly, I'd actually be there to see it with my own eyes...in less than a week.

In the three or four days before the trip, I was so convinced that the trip was too good to be true that surely something would come up that would terminate this dream opportunity. My employer would deny my trip or my vacation request. The professor would change his mind about taking me along after hearing more about my high-octane bicycling views. The US would cancel flights to Europe over terrorism fears. I'd come down with a terrible cold. The airline would go out of business.

But the day arrives. I find myself sitting in the Toyota Forerunner of the professor and his students as we drive to the Orlando airport.

Along the way, we chat about effective and ineffective transportation strategies, and go into the details of our planning philosophies.

At the airport, we are amused to find that despite what our tickets tell us, our flight is NOT on Continental Airlines. Instead, we are to board VIRGIN Airlines. More so than my trip companions, I am especially amused because I've recently learned from an old high school friend (a guy that owns ...