Christianshavn was pretty slummy when I was a kid, but now all the old houses have been restored. For reasons unknown to me old houses in the Copenhagen area tend to be painted yellow.
As you may notice in the background most of the streets on Christianshavn are still cobbled stones – so consider your footwear when you visit!
On the day in early September I walked around Christianshavn with my camera, the hollyhocks were in full bloom. They grow freely on the streets against the old houses and in the back yards. I chose them to illustrate the unique feel of Christianshavn. This series has a hollyhock in focus in the foreground and together the shots add out of focus impressions of the city scape.
No words needed, I think…
Two pictures in the same post? Here’s why: This next series is from Christianshavn, a small, artificial island made from landfill located between the island Amager, where I live, and Copenhagen City, situated on the island Sjælland.
Christianshavn was founded in the early 17’th century. In my childhood most of the area was badly kept, but now it is a charming, renovated neighbourhood – attractive both because of the old buildings, the canals and the proximity to the city, yet with almost a village feel to it. The only problem is finding ways to photograph Christianshavn!
How can that be? Well, it’s almost too pretty and so it gets to be boring. I did find a way, a kind of kaleidoscopic puzzle, but before I post those pictures I wanted to give people not familiar with Copenhagen some idea about what the place looks like. Thus the two traditional tourist shots in this post.
I was on my way from Café Tranquebar to Nyhavn when I glanced inside a restaurant and saw the mirrored column. I asked if it was okay to photograph it, and they told me I was lucky. It was due to be torn down the following week.
Sorry I didn’t post last night – had guests for dinner. But I’ll do two today! I keep by my commitment to post a picture a day, though at times it is an avarage.
I’m not going to tell you what this picture is. I’ll show you in the next post instead. Let me just say that I did not do any manipulation of the picture. I didn’t even crop it.
Nepal? Tibet? A temple?
What would be your guess?
Well, it’s none of the above – just a row of lovely bells hanging from the temporary scaffold outside Café Tranquebar in the middle of a busy street. The eye sees what the eye wants to see…
It seems that Tiffany lamps are back in style – or perhaps they never left. Even as an adult I love the coloured glass lamps for the same reasons that I love stained glass windows.
These lamps were a resent addition to what you can buy at Café Tranquebar besides coffee and books. If the background looks dark it is with good reason.The whole room is black, ceiling and floor included. I would never have guessed it but it actually make the large room feel warm and cosy.
You may have noticed by now that I have a weakness for patterns repeating themselves. This fondness, as you might also call it, is often catered to at Café Tranquebar in Borgergade, Copenhagen – along with the best brownies in town.
Isn’t it just one of nature’s wonders?
Karins Fotos 