Just wanted to make it clear for everyone not present in Copenhagen this weekend that you missed out on something good. OTOH, being the only EuroDoper of the male persuasion to escort the charming trio of tatertot, Scarlet Pimpernel & Yellowdot certainly had its moments. (Yes, ColdFire, that was for you!)
Tivoli in springtime, riding the rides, drinking (probably)the best beer in the world, throwing up in wastebaskets and generally having a good time - even writing the 500 (or thereabout) postcards had its moments. The minutes will probably be posted (then again, perhaps not) in the near future.
And to tatertot, Scarlet & Yellowdot: Thanks! - that was a great week-end. We WILL have to do that again!
We had a blast! I think that Scarlet is going to post the full notes tomorrow. I’d do it, but I rode the Party Train back home (woo! woo!) and I’m not sure if I’m up to writing in complete sentences. There were accordians, somehow I think they are obligatory on the night trains.
Ladies (and gay men), Spiny Norman is incredibly cute and very, very charming. Alas, he is involved with someone (and straight), but if that changes I’ll be sure to let you know. Anybody remember the show, “The Greatest American Hero”? He looks just like that guy, esp. in a he-man costume.
I think I need to go to bed now, my brother & an old friend flew in today, plus it was my father’s birthday. And I’m still incredibly sore from riding the Dragon.
Scarlet, I’d like to publicaly thank you for your hospitality - you’re the best hostess ever! Norman and Yellowduck, we’ve got to meet again sometime.
Norm and tater (and yellowduck if youre reading this), you guys rock!
Here are the minutes as promised…feel free to fill in blanks, guys.
It is now firmly established that the Northern European contingent throws the rockingest DoperFests in the world (let’s take a moment to rest on our laurels). As mentioned, present were Spiny Norman, tatertot, the Scarlet Pimpernel and a lurker introduced as yellowduck.
It started quietly enough – the Queen sent her personal carriage round to Scarlet’s lakeside apartment, to take us on a tour of Copenhagen’s sights. Okay, it wasnt her personal carriage. But we did spend the morning sightseeing (the Little Mermaid is not small, she’s life-sized). And I do live by a lake. We also did some shopping and ridiculed the Eurotrash styles. tatertot nearly got us thrown out of H & M when she took pictures of the mesh-lined sheer parachute pants with one long zipper-pocket across the butt. Oh, trust me, we’re going right to the sewing machine to rip off that style.
The three female types met Spiny Norman at Tivoli at 6. Spiny Norman is the new crush of the EuroDopers – good-looking, intelligent, and a great sense of comic timing – plus he showed up [ahem! Coldfire]. Unfortunately he’s not single, but as he said, “You cant have everything - and where would you put it, anyway?”
We all got ride passes and rode the amusement rides pretty much non-stop (fasterrr!!). Scarlet is an unabashed Tivoli-addict and dragged everyone from one ride to another. One of our favorites was the Golden Tower – a 60-meter freefall that shoots your stomach out your eyeballs. Another good one was Valhalla Castle, where the entire room does a 360 and giants break down the walls.
Norman was a stud! He rode on every ride - some twice! - and didnt even puke! One of the others did, though, but weve been sworn to secrecy as to who it is. She managed to wait til we were off the coaster and standing by a wastebasket. That took self-control, and the others were very appreciative.
Dinner was at an open-air Italian restaurant. Tivoli’s prince and princess drove by and waved to us from their carriage, and we sang the Danish birthday song to tater. We checked out the karaoke bar afterwards but decided to do our drinking at the Beer Cave instead (gee, wonder why?). Danish beer is possibly the best in the world. Apparently the Germans mix their beer with banana nectar, and the Americans theirs with berries. This idea actually almost did make Norm puke.
While eating ice cream cones as big as a baby’s head, we watched a Chinese acrobatic troupe on Tivoli’s outdoor stage (included in the entrance price, thank you very much). One woman juggled an end-table and a huge ceramic planter - with her feet! Oh, and we got a photo taken of the four of us dressed as super-heroes. tatertot’s going to figure out how to post that photo and the one of the parachute pants. At midnight we watched the fireworks display and rode a few more rides. That’s where the puking episode came in, and we decided that anything after that would be anticlimactic, so we went to our respective beds.
Next morning, not hung over but pretty stiff and bruised, we met up again for some more sightseeing. We climbed the outside of the highest church spire in Copenhagen - the one the architect did not hurl himself off of - and took a tour through Christiania, Copenhagen’s independent hippie settlement. We gawked at the stalls selling hash from different parts of the world (just like a wine cellar!) and thought of Coldfire. We ate lunch in Newhaven, at the Thai equivalent of Fawlty Towers. Then we wrote postcards to fellow Dopers over coffee.
EuroDoper II is going to be chez tatertot, but Im not sure if the date is established.
Thanks, guys, for an absolutely awesome time!!! We had the best Doper party ever, and you all should be jealous. Forget Vegas - Tivoli is where it’s at!!!
Ladies, PLEASE! - I’m blushing. But obviously, in such charming company, one does one’s very best to leave a favorable impression.
Coldfire:
No idea, but your name just popped up in the conversation - and there were no windmills, clogs or tulips around. Something else must have jogged our collective memories, right ?
Urgh, the Banana Nectar & Beer story, I’d almost managed to repress that memory. I’m going to keep trying.
Scarlet, tater & yellowduck - we WILL meet again, I insist.
Shhhhh Chief, my husband is already suspicious! Anyhoo, I’d be happy to ride the Dragon with you anytime. I can’t guarantee that there will be fireworks, like there were for me and S.Norman, but he’s Danish and knows how to do these things…
It was one of the best weekends of my life. My trip started at the Heidelberg Hauptbanhof, where I was unexpectly granted a first class cabin due to some mix-up. Wow! I got this totally awesome little room all to myself, with the cutest little bed and breakfast delivered to my door in the morning; ya’ll have got to try it sometime. During the night, they switched the train around, and I got seriously lost looking for the dining car. How embarrassing! To get to the island of Zealand (where Copenhagen is) we crossed this incredibly long bridge and through a chunnel
At the Bahnhof, I had no problem picking out Scarlet, who is just as busty and redheaded as could be. We immediatly clicked, and went to go pick up Yellowduck. They showed me around town, and after I saw most of the sights we decided to do a little shopping. Yes, I did get reprimanded for taking pictures in H&M, but how could you see a zip butt pocket and not take pictures! My only regret is that I didn’t get a snap of the silver knickers.
Tivoli was just as described. I totally shocked myself by going on the freefall 'o death. Everybody was really nice and held my hand, but it was somehow scarier than I imagined so I declined a second ride. I did ride everything else and had a blast.
And banana beer is so good! Don’t listen to them, they’re just jealous cause they never had any. Just a minor correction, they drink raspberry beer in Berlin; I think in America they drink tomato juice beer. Mmmmm…beer. The Danish beer was very good indeed, even though every Dane I’ve meet (all 6) confided in me that they secretly preferred German. Except for one confused soul who preferred Budweiser, and not the kind from Czech.
The next day we all went up to the tallest Church spire, like Scarlett said. Since I’d ridden the freefall the day before, I thought I was up to the task. Big mistake! I did okay up until we got up to the part where you go outside…my knees immediatly buckeled and I broke out into a cold sweat so I thought it better to turn back. Bigger mistake!!! It was even more frightening going back down these impossibly narrow and steep steps, and the disembodied voices chanting “one two, freddie’s coming for you” didn’t help any! By the grace of God, I am here to tell you this tale.
Christiana was an interesting experience; I wasn’t sure what to expect…thought there would be all these junkies but there weren’t. Just a bunch of Hippie types, enjoying life. Didn’t get to sample the wares, but the smell reminded me pleasantly of high school and college (and Coldfire).
It was very sad to say goodbye to Norman, who had to leave early, but I’m talking the hubby into taking a weekend trip up to Hamburg to meet him. Afterwards, we went up into the round tower, which wasn’t nearly as scary as the first tower. I managed to get all the way up, though I stuck pretty close to the inner walls!
Afterwards, we went to church, and I got to hear Scarlett sing (very lovely!). We left after she took communion as the two of us just couldn’t help giggling.
Then it was time for me to catch my train back. Alas, this time it was back to 2nd class for my poor self, but I had a great time. There was a huge band of Albanian musicians on board and they managed to block all the aisles with their speakers and instruments. Then the accordian came out! I met tons of really nice people, all of whom shamed me with their excellent English skills. BTW, if any of you are going to UMass Amhearst, you are about to get an absolutely gorgeous German exchange student. I stayed up all night, which was just as well, since I had the third and top bunk in our cabin.
I am very much looking forward to EuroDope 2. Heidelberg would be great, but we can talk it over and see what works for the most amount of people.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, at Tivoli Norm took a turn at the shooting gallery and managed to hit every single target!
And tater, hush with the church thing - youll ruin my reputation! I like that church - it’s full of big 'ol marble statues and has an absolutely glorious pipe organ. I think we pissed off the people who really wanted to listen to the sermon - we were playing hangman and passing notes and trying to keep from giggling (not too successfully).
although you’d only be “Princess”, I’m sad to say. Then again, the promotion possibilities - “Queen Swiddles”, think about it.
From what I hear from my lady friends, the Crown Prince is considered quite a catch. And you would be able to host EuroDoper conventions in one of the royal palaces, that has to count for something.
Here’s the problem, Norman. When one attempts to ensnare a celebrity (even a minor one like a Crown Prince) they’re automatically labeled a “stalker.” I mean, you root around in someone’s trash and you’re AUTOMATICALLY unbalenced? Where’s the justice? Sheesh.
