We awoke to cool temperatures and grey skies on Friday, a stark contrast to the sun we enjoyed on Thursday. Michael was still not feeling very well, so we decided to keep things local and headed for the Danish Design Center which was just a five minute walk from our apartment. This small homage to the genius that is Scandinavian design occupies three floors, but doesn't have a lot on display and so it's easy to cover in an hour or less. In addition to their permanent collection, there are rotating displays focused on various aspects of design - the current one highlighting innovations in food packaging. As lovers of Scandinavian design, this museum was on our "must do" list but I don't think it was quite as comprehensive as either of us had hoped for. Still, it was an interesting and affordable way to spend an hour on a rainy day.

Lobby/cafe of the Danish Design Center, where we enjoyed some good cappucinos.

Afterwards, we stopped in briefly at a natural pharmacy across the street and inquired about getting something to help with Michael's cold. I can't remember what the stuff was called, but the shopkeeper recommended some kind of substance that bees use to plug small holes in their hive. We figured it couldn't hurt, so we bought a little bit and headed back to the apartment to contemplate our next move. The weather was getting progressively more awful with thunder, lightning, and buckets and buckets of rain. It was probably just as well, as M really needed to take a nap to combat his ever-worsening symptoms.

I tried to content myself with reading and my iPod, but soon grew stir crazy and headed out into the monsoon alone, umbrella in hand. I smiled to myself as I watched all of other tourists huddled under the eaves of shops on the usually clogged Stroget. Amateurs! Yes, I was getting wet but I knew I would eventually dry out, so I pressed on despite the fact that the entire bottom half of my jeans was now soaked with rainwater. I was on a mission - to visit a vintage clothing store called "Kitcsh Bitch" that had received a good review in a local shopping magazine that I picked up at the Design Center. I eventually located the little shop and worked through the racks of retro clothing, most of which was too outlandish for me. I did find two tops that I really liked, so tried both on and selected one that was sort of "boho chic" and in a great shade of green. I was pleased, as my favorite souvenirs from our trips abroad are those that are wearable —- it's like having a little piece of vacation with you all the time.

I returned to a great surprise - a husband that was feeling much better! Perhaps it was the nap, or maybe it was the weird beehive wax remedy, or maybe it was the fact that the sun had finally appeared. Whatever the reason, we headed out to explore Nyhaven - the colorful Dutch-style town houses that line the historic canal are one of Copenhagen's most recognizable sights:

Hungry, we headed back towards our apartment, stopping to have dinner at a Mexican resturant in the so-called "Latin Quarter". I was a bit apprehensive of what Mexican food in Denmark might taste like, but was pleasantly surprised by plenty of spice, and a dish that wasn't as heavy as I had feared. The view from our sidewalk table was great too, as it was Friday night in Copenhagen and the human parade was decked out to party. In fact, if it wasn't for table of four smoking constantly right next to us we probably could have sat there and gawked for another hour. An early night as we had a 7:00am alarm and still had to finish packing for Stockholm.

See you in Sweden!