It's was 11pm in Copenhagen and 3pm in Colorado or 35 hours since
getting up in Colorado. During those 35 hours I at most slept 5 hours
because for some reason airline seats are designed for people a lot
shorter then me. Thus the thought of sleep was very exciting even if
we were in a hostel room with six other snoring travellers.
I fell asleep quick but by 2am I was up. I had not drank any water
since the airport 12 hours previous. I tried to ignore the thirst
because I had no water with me and I did not know where to find any.
Eventually the thirst won and I left the hostel looking for something
to drink.
Unlike Colorado, Denmark does not shut down at 9pm or even 2am. So
even though it was after 2am, the streets were still abuzz with bar
goers and bikers. After a couple quick blocks I came to a 7-11 and
bought myself some juice and water to drink. The next 15 minutes I
stood outside 7-11 enjoying my drink, watching the people and checking
my iPhone.
I then headed back to the hostel and that is when things went from
amusing to embarassing to vengeful. While walking back this short
little guy with dark skin and hair grabbed my arm and started
talking. He pretended to be drunk while he confused me with his
jibberish and stumbling. I continued walking and soon enough he let
go and was gone. Then 10 steps later I felt my pockets and noticed my
iPhone was not there. I quickly checked my other pockets but it was
not there either. In desperation I turned around hoping to see the
guy who just confused me but he was long gone and all I saw was a
street full of drunk bar hoppers.
Now let me ask you. Have you ever been swindled, taken advantage of
or down right robbed? If so, what kind of feelings ran through you?
I can tell you the feelings that ran through me. First it was loss
because something I owned was gone. Second it was embarassment for
being so foolish. Third it was vengence for being taken advantage of.
With vengence on my mind it was impossible for me to head back to the
hostel. Instead I walked up and down the street I had just been
robbed on. I looked in the bars, the restaurants and side streets but
pickpocket was no where to be found. I had no idea what I would do if
I found him but I had a similar experience in 2005 at the Zurich train
station which resulted in me confronting the local forgein pickpocket
who the police then arrested and found with almost $2000 in stolen
property.
However in Zurich, the theif only attempted and nothing of mine was
actually stolen. So while I was also vengeful in Zurich, my vengence
in Copenhagen reached a new unseen level. I was ready to confront the
guy on the street and fight him if necessary. But after several laps
up and down the street an hour had passed and I was convinced the guy
was long gone. I started heading back to the hostel and on my way I
flagged down a Danish police car. I told them what happened and
preceded to give them a description of the guy in hopes they might at
least prevent future pickpocketing. While I was doing that, I saw the
guy who robbed me cross the street and enter the 7-11 where I bought
my water and was later robbed near.
I pointed him out to the poilce and they followed him into the store
then brought him back out. I stood to the side while they questioned
then frisked him. It was not long before they started pulling things
out of his pockets and making a pile. Once they were done, they
called me over to look at what they had found. In the pile of stuff,
there 6 phones plud several IDs and credit cards. Obviously I was not
the guys only victim but I was the only one who knew what he did and
was not willing to let it go. So even with me standing there, the guy
still claimed my phone was his. But after unlocking it and showing it
to the police they believed my story and gave me my phone back. I
then hung around until the police arrested the pickpocket and hauled
him off.
With my iPhone back, I headed for the hostel hoping for some sleep.
Unfortunately I was so wound up from the nights events that I never
did go back to sleep. But to night, I am hoping to sleep well from
either complete exhaustion or the satisfactionn having my iPhone back
and helping the police arrest the pickpocket.
Many thanks to the men and women of the Copenhagen police. You ROCK!!!
=====================================
Mark B.
Software Engineer
Java, #C, Web Services, ...
Adventurer
Snow, Dirt, Travel, ...
oklacolo@gmail.com
=====================================
Brian and I arrived in Copenhagen yesterday afternoon from Denver.
Both of us were tired from the flight but we wanted to see Copenhagen
before heading to Sweden. After some initial confusion and the
purchase of three train tickets from the automated machine we were on
the train from the airport to Copenhagen city center.
The trains run every 10 minutes, allow bikes and got us downtown in 12
minutes. Both of us commented on how cool the train was and how we
would ride a train if Colorado had something similar.
Any reservations I had about bringing my bike were instantly
eliminated on my first step outside the train station. In every
direction you looked there were bicycles. There were new bikes, rusty
bikes, strap bikes, cart bikes... with equally unique riders. However
my favorite riders were the ladies in skirts, stockings and high heels.
Once my excitement from all the bikes subsided we made our way to the
CPH hostel. By the time we were checked in it was 5:30. I took a
quick cat nap then joined Brian on a four hour self guided tour of
Copenhagen. First we hit Christhaven which is a STRANGE wanna be
hippie commune. Second we walked the canals which were lined with
side walk cafes and people drinking beer. Third we walked through the
Kings fort which is a cool walled fortress surrounded by a huge water
filled moat.
After all that walking we were hungry and started looking for food.
There are a ton of restaurants but finding something to eat was
somewhat difficult. Many of the restaurants were to swank and
expensive for us. When we finally found one we ending up leaving
because the service was so bad. Then the next place we tried was
closing. Finally we found a popular mediterainan buffet with salads
and pastas. We ate our fill there then headed back to the hostel for
some much needed sleep.
Well you can imagine my disbelief when checking in with United and I
was told it would be $200 each way. I argued, then I cursed and
eventually I walked away I was so pissed.
What do you do when the airline has you bent over the barrell? I
called SAS and then United but they were no help. Both told me the
shipping costs depend on the airline checking your luggage. So even
though I booked through United, SAS was checking my luggage and thus
the fee would be $200.
For several minutes I debated my options. Is biking in Denmark really
worth $400? Do I leave my bike and try renting? Do I forget biking
altogether?
I eventually decided I had done to much and come to far. So I went
back to the ticket counter hoping my return trip would be $100 since
SAS would be checking my bags.
Lucky for me, another ticket agent was now working the bike counter.
Her name was Joi and she booked my bike for only $100. Thanks Joi!!!
You saved my bike and made my day.
Everything seen in the picture is going in my "custom" cardboard box from Peak Cycles in Golden.
Boxed items include: 1) bike, 2) wheels/skewers, 3) pedals/wrench, 4) seat, 5) locks, 6) tools/pump, 7) camelback, 8) helmet/head gear, 9) gloves, 10) shoes, 11) spot?, 12) tape, 13) tent, 14) sleeping pad, 15) sleeping bag, 16)1st aid kit
36 hours to go... I am so READY!!!
In case you can not read the postcard, this is what it says.
"Lindstrom's brewery, due west of Empire, made beer from hops imported by ox-team brom St. Louis. The brew was dispensed in five gallon kegs. These kegs, weighing approximately 60 pounds when full, challenged brawny miners and loggers who worked nearby at Lindstroms's saw-mill to lift them from the ground with only their teeth gripping the bung. Competition was keen. But Paul Lindstrom was the champion keg-hefter. He conditioned his small, but strong, teeth for the sport by using a carptenters's file to keep every tooth at the same level."
