Copenhagen – The Princess of Cycling

Posted by Rachel Edwards on 28 August 2012

As I write this I’m sat on a tour case, stage left with the band playing Princess of China, hence the title inspiration. Tonight is electric, I turn to my left and look out onto the 50,000 people that fill the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. As the white spot light highlights the boys, the full moon provides a natural spot light on the stadium and the avid fans that sing along to the mixed vocals of Chris and Rihanna. I’m back on tour and what a wonderful place to start my European adventures spreading the GROW word and engaging people in a new way of thinking about their food, a place where sustainability starts with a capital S.

As I met the volunteers today they jumped off their bikes and let them rest with the hundreds of other bikes that were propped unsecured around the stadium walls. Ever the vision of the future! I didn’t want to feel left out so I too jumped on a bike and rode to Christiania, a freetown in Copenhagen that derived from a squatted military site where residents grow their own food, live in sustainable and create their own rules. As you wind down the small paths through the village every wall is covered in Danish design and art work. There are falafel stalls and tea shops, art studios and music spaces. Although the place has some demeanour of the late squatters and the freedom hippies that are still there, it is still a place of learning and a place where everyone can take something from. I took inspiration from the squatter’s ability to fight back and keep their own space, create unity and provide sustainable and creative lives for themselves. So this blog is an introduction to my commitment for the rest of the tour to make life style changes small and large such as is suggested in the GROW method. Wish me luck! I’ll keep you all updated.

But back to the tour case, where Coldplay are singing Paradise. I had forgotten how memorizing the sight of thousands of wristbands glowing in the night sky is, moving like a ocean as I scream too, “para, para, paradise”, it would be rude not to right?! The Danish crowd have created their own paradise right now, singing the lyrics and rocking like pop stars. They are cool, stylish and together are an entity on its own, moving with the band or creating their own version of viva la vida. Copenhagen you sure set the bar high for the first gig. Europe can you do any better?