After dinner stroll around Christiania

Christiania is an area in Copenhagen separate from Denmark, and from the European Union for that matter.  It's an area that started in the 70's as a social-experiment for a community to live free from Danish rule (also free from the famously high Danish taxes).  This community thrives on free-trade, arts and music.  This alternative "new society" took over abandoned military barracks and created a separate, self-run community.  For a more accurate look at the history of this area, I suggest doing your own research, perhaps here or here. 

There are absolutely no cameras allowed down the main "pusher" street within Christiania, which is really too bad, because everywhere you turn is a great photo opportunity filled with the local characters, street entrepreneurs, lookouts, marijuana plants growing randomly among the weeds, elaborate murals and miscellaneous street art. 

I like visiting this community for the people watching, eclectic coffee shops, delicious vegan food, absolutely yummy falafels and for the music venues.  

The other night, we had a nice sushi dinner in Christianshavn with Chris and Rikke, new American and Danish-American friends visiting from Los Angeles.  We all took a little stroll around the lake and local housing.  Photos were taken at our own risk.  I'm a real rebel.  But not actually rebel enough to take photos on the pusher street.  

The community behind the main area is actually quite stunning, with amazing (tax-free) lake front properties.  Each one of the houses we saw was special in it's own right.  One of my favorites resides across the lake and is made with scrap materials, including dozens of windows clearly taken from other homes.  It's created a striking house which, I'm sure, has incredible views from the inside. 

 

Partial view from the top

Pedro pointing to a sign saying "looking for a wife"

house of windows