Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen
Posted September 4, 2007 on 2:08 pm | In the category Uncategorized, Canada, Europe | by Mackenzie BrothersThe rankings for most livable city on earth have been led by the usual suspects, in differing order, for the last decade: Vancouver, Zürich, Geneva. This year a couple of other European cities began to make inroads, not old favourites Paris or London – too expensive, too overdeveloped and too prone to violence – including Copenhagen, the beautiful Danish capital immortalized by Danny Kaye as Hans Christian Andersen in the most absurd film biography ever made. Hans Christian Andersen had as many dark sides to his ultra-neurotic personality as anyone you could imagine and it is precisely these descents into a threatening and dangerous underworld that characterize his greatest works, apparently simple fairy tales that are full of deadly threats to any kind of attempt to discover a kitschy Disney paradise in Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen.
On the weekend wonderful Copenhagen erupted into the kind of social violence that you could never imagine happening in other leading European pretenders to the most livable city throne, Stockholm and Munich, cities that my brother and I would be happy to place in competition with Vancouver. They would certainly lose due to the unmatchable splendour of the wilderness within easy reach of Vancouver, not to mention its own waterfront, but they have plenty to offer before they fall behind, one of those things being the relative serenity of their societies. Citizens of Stockholm and München do not find it necessary to challenge the police in ritualistic semi-warfare, as do the citizens of Berlin or Paris, but increasingly such events are becoming established in Copenhagen. On the weekend it was 1000 youths once again engaging the undermanned Copenhagen police force in a running battle featuring tear gas and non-lethal weapons. And once again, the Danish police could not really control crowds looking for trouble. This time it was once again demonstrations recalling the anniversary of the tearing down of a youth centre. Previously it had been violent, even fatal, bouts with the motorcycle gangs or neo-Nazis, and then there are the ongoing semi-violent confrontations concerning the somewhat off-limits alternate settlement of Christania. Copenhagen’s most unruly group may in the long run however turn out to be its large Muslim minority, which is feeling increasingly alienated in a way that is not the case in neighbouring Sweden. If this nasty uneasy relationship continues to sour, Copenhagen will end up light years away from the Danny Kaye version of it.
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Although,Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it is rapidly becoming one of the most popular (ie:overpopulated) and expensive to live in. Although it is a much more scenic city that its closest southern cousin (Seattle), it is heading down the same path as her. Traffic is increasing, and more and more people are having to move further and further away to the suburbs. It would be too simplistic to say that Vancouver has become more popular, because it is so beautiful. If that was the only reason, then Vancouver would have become the LA of the North long ago. What really put Vancouver \”on the map\” was Expo 86. That is the year Vancouver \”grew up\”. People from all over The World, who had never heard of Vancouver, saw first hand the potential for Vancouver to be a major player on The World scene. With the winter Olympics quickly approaching (opens 2010), Vancouver is going through its next metamorphis. Will Vancouver really become The LA of the North? Vancouver\’s nickname is already \”Hollywood north\”, because of all the film projects that are produced in and around Vancouver. Every growth to a city has its pros and cons, it is a necesary evil. Vancouver is no longer the \”little city\” that I knew in my youth, she has entered the \”big leagues\”. I currently reside in Portland,Or and I can honestly say, that Portland is a much more liveable city than Vancouver. Portland is the Vancouver of 30 years ago. Does tthis mean Portland is better than Vancouver? Not necessarialy, it just means (for me) a more affordable a less crowded city to live in. Portland is currently experiencing a growth of its own of some sorts, but nothing like Vancouver. Who knows maybe in 30-50 years Vancouver,Seattle and Portland will become one megalopolis in its own country of Cascadia. I hope that day does not come too soon.
Comment by Preacher992 — September 25, 2007 #
The Preacher makes his point and does not speak with a forked tongue, but, as the Mackenzies say when in Vancouver, \”chacun a son gout\”. And we lift a Molson\’s to that. We\’ll be checking the next Michelin Guide to see if Portland has gotten that third star and is poised to make a challenge for the five star status currently enjoyed by its northern neighbour.
Comment by Mackenzie Brothers — September 25, 2007 #
I know for a fact that the Mackenzie Brother(s) are former Americans (now, disgruntled Americans), thus any comments will of course be totally biased in favor of their adopted City (and Country)
Comment by Preacher992 — September 25, 2007 #