a blog by Peter Leonard
Copenhagen rewards a brisk walk through the city, from the independent enclave of Fredericksberg to the island of Amager, a southeast journey of about 40 minutes in the light rain. Starting at 8, by the time you arrive the light has dawned, though no sun as such has appeared. You pass by two bodies of water, which the two dimensions of the map flatten out into seemingly similar arcs encompassing the main part of the city. In real life, the first is a series of lakes divided by land dykes, whereas the second is an actual river crossed by bridges.
On the way, a latte is $6, with the accompanying copy of Politiken and cozy atmosphere thrown in for free, at a kind of Starbucks-clone. Otherwise, if you're content to have a machine rather than a human being draw the drink, and consume it in the university's large two-story cantina rather than the private coffee bar, the latte is $1. No newspapers here for free, except the institute's PR material announcing professorships and promotions.
VI GØR SOM UNIVERSITET, we do as the universe does: expand. This is the advertisement placed by KU in all the major papers; it heralds the assimilation of the Royal Veterinary College into Copenhagen University. As usual, the merger is not without some casualties: the net number of professors and students will be smaller, even if the University grows as a result.