Danish taxidrivers and their rules

Typical conversation with a Danish taxidriver at the end destination. Me:"thanks, how much do I owe you? Taxidriver:"198 kroner" Me:"can I pay with creditcard?" Taxidriver:"no, you should have told me before getting in the car" Me:"I am terribly sorry, I did not know, but you do have a credit card terminal, don't you?" Taxidriver:"yes, but it is a rule that customers tell in advance, now you are too late" Me:"but I don't have cash money with me" Taxidriver:"Then I will drive you to an ATM, but that will cost you extra of course" Me:"I give up..."

Real Scandinavian kitchen - Julefrokost instead of NOMA

Just came back from a fantastic traditional Danish experience; a proper Julefrokost on a lazy Sunday afternoon! Cafe Gammeltorv offers a good old fashioned style interior, real Scandinavian food (no that's not NOMA) and very kind Danish staff. If you expect visitors from abroad and you would like to show them some Danish traditions, think about a Danish Christmas Lunch. Treat your guests on a local snaps (Akvavit) and a Julebryg (Christmas Beer), that's life in Denmark! All traditional Christmas dishes served in small portions on beautiful Royal Copenhagen plates taste perfect. I am sure they won't recognize any of it; you won't get karrysild or leverpostej in any other country. No posh, just old traditions. Your friends from overseas will love it! Skål!

Restaurant reservation system workaround

Imagine it is 10 o' clock in the morning, and you think about planning a diner for 4 at your favorite restaurant. They are not open yet, so you go to their website, enter the dinnerbooking system and try to select 4 people at 19.00. Oh no, there is only a table for 3 left at 18.30. Very annoying, those bloody rigid IT systems! What to do? Try this workaround: Book the table for 3 at 18.30, you will get an email confirmation, reply by writing that you have made a mistake and that you would like to come with 4 at 19.00. 95% chance that you will receive this confirmed! You have just helped Denmark to improve their service levels!

How to spend tax money?

While crossing Kongens Nytorv this morning it was almost difficult to walk, the ground felt somewhat bumpy. Know why? Because the municipality of Copenhagen has decided to start early this year with salting roads! It felt cold yes, but there is no need to start doing this when the temperature still shows +5 C. It is good service though, isn't it. They obviously care about their citizins. That is why Danes love to pay so much tax, to enable the government to supply free services. But there is no such thing as a free lunch...