Super-Short-Notice Work-Trip to Denmark
[Photos from 15-18 September 2015, online on 24 November 2015-ish. Joy!]
On Monday I was asked if I could travel to Denmark the day after for a four-day work trip (very Icelandic planning!). The job was a relatively simple one, daytime-hours only, so it turned into a wonderful me-time trip.
Yes, I’d just returned to work after a five week long summer vacation, but the vacation apparently only lowered my stress levels, but didn’t replenish much energy. I blame the constant chorus of mommy-mommy-mommy!
So, after I’d gotten over my initial nerves over the job at hand, I had a lovely couple of late afternoons, and evenings, where I could wander around in peace, do some shopping, eat dinners in silence, and read a book I’d been putting off reading for a month. Did I tell the world I’m an introvert already? (54 images total)
Tuesday 15 September 2015
Me walking along the terminal at Keflavik airport.
Rewinding back to the morning, a coffee house was opened at work. Everybody got one free cup (hence the line), otherwise it’s heavily discounted stuff prepared by a professional using a professional machine.
Leaning from past visits by the professional coffee people, people could choose slots to visit the stand for their free coffee.
Good stuff to be had on the side. Oh, and Dunkin Donuts just opened in Iceland for the first time. A guy in line told me all the donuts are imported frozen, and stored in huge underground freezers.
It was a beautiful day to fly.
The capital area between the clouds.
Denmark!
I stayed at the Bella Sky hotel. It’s rather bizarrely designed.
Plain hallway, fancy room number display.
Weird windows!
Comfy bed.
Built-in bathroom.
Nicely modern.
I wouldn’t mind having an open shower like that at home. Hmmm…
About to enter one of the hotel restaurants, just past the greenery.
Not a lot of people there.
Scallops were good.
The salmon was ok, nothing spectacular.
The night-time view from my room.
Wednesday 16 September 2015
The same(ish) view out the window in the morning. I wonder how long until that green space will be all houses and hotels…
The view to the left.
Work-clothes on. Need to work on my posture!
The hotel is two towers, with a sky-bridge between them on the top floor.
More views, this one from a window by the elevators.
Breakfast!
The hotel was pretty crowded. There was a conference going on, and there were also a lot of Asian-looking tourists.
More people looking.
After I got back in the late afternoon I hit the gym to make good on my promise to the Boot camp trainer to row 500 m in less than 1 minute 50 seconds. Mission accomplish (1:48), but it almost killed me. I’ve done better, so that was frustrating. (And now, with my shoulder injury, I’m nowhere close.)
I decided to walk to a nearby shopping center. This is a part of the convention center next to the hotel. Notice the tip of a wing intruding from the left…
Walking further away… The hotel is next to a huge wind turbine! Just for kicks, they have a windmill-blade lying across the parking lot (the wing edge from above).
Modern and newish housing on the way.
Lovely outdoor space!
My dinner restaurant was a little further down along the water-feature.
After shopping (next to the restaurant building) I made my way over to Rambla and ordered too much food.
Nice restaurant. My waitress turned out to be Icelandic, although I almost didn’t dare to ask her (very accent-low English), and I was laying the American on so thick that she didn’t suspect me.
Food!
Clams. Always a favorite. I’ll skip the sausage next time.
Arty?
Stalling, trying to decide on dessert.
Ok fine, melon gazpacho it is! Good thing I was walking back!
My hotel from the distance.
The sky-bridge connecting the 23rd floors is fine to walk along until…
… you look down and see how high you are. Structural civil engineers are crazy!
Thursday 17 September 2015
I returned from work around 5 pm, and went straight to reading my book. When I felt hungry, I went downstairs to try the other hotel restaurant.
Great soup!
Good meat!
After the dinner, I went up to the 23rd floor to try out the sky-bar. They were low on comfy seating because the conference had booked most it, so I hung out by the window and read my book on the phone.
My very yummy pina colada kept me company as I read, until I decided to retire back to my room, and read some more. Such a wonderful life!
Friday 18 September 2015
After short work-session in the morning, I went to the airport, and got myself checked in.
I’m sure these get photographed A LOT!
People hurrying to and fro. I sat down to eat a late lunch, and then it was time to get going.
These are cropping up more frequently. I’ve not gotten into a habit of using them though.
There were so many people at the Keflavik airport in Iceland that the free WiFi was maxed out. No free WiFi for me!
Meanwhile, I had this lovely lady waiting for me. I think the general consensus was that I was a much less cranky mom, at least for a few days, after my lovely re-charging trip! 😉
