Oh dear! I seem to have gotten hopelessly behind on my blog. Things started getting busy in the spring, and I just didn't take the time to blog. I would want to blog but I didn't want to move onto something else before I blogged about the previous. So I am going to attempt to play catch up.
The first week of May, we visited Copenhagen, Denmark. Denmark consistently ranks at the very top of life satisfaction and standard of living surveys, a fact that I find very intriguing. I have done a little non-scientific research, mainly on the Internet, to try to find just what it is that makes the Danes so happy. Most surveys I saw, rated the perceived health and happiness of individuals which seems to be in direct correlation with the unemployment rate, access to health care, education and even the length of the typical work day. While the unemployment rate in Denmark averages 4.5% (compared to 8.3% in US), it is surprising to learn that Denmark also ranks on top with the most generous unemployment benefits. Unemployed Danes have a cushy 2 years to look for a job, all the while receiving benefits. Conversely, many states in the US provide up to 26 weeks and unemployment funds in many states are running low. Also, Danes have one of the highest tax rates in the world at over 40% and yet they are still smiling.
Another interesting statistic I came by, despite the many church spires rising into the clouds, Danes have among the lowest attendance rates for religious services worldwide and a 2005 Eurobarometer Poll found that only about 31% of Danes believe in God.
It is with this information in mind, that we headed to Copenhagen to see first-hand why the Danes are so happy.
Maybe it's...
Tivoli Gardens
If you asked my kids, Tivoli Gardens is why Danes are so happy. Tivoli Gardens is a whimsical amusement park that dates back to 1843 and is where Walt Disney got his inspiration for Disneyland. Although the Disney parks are much grander, the similarities are evident. Our family agreed hands down that Tivoli was definitely a happy place.
Maybe it's...
The Fountain of Charity in Old Square
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| O.K. maybe not, but it got a chuckle out of us, hee! hee! |
The canals of Nyhavyn
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Many Danes and tourist line this canal with beverage in hand, purchased from the kiosks, turning them into one long bar. It is very expensive to drink in actual bars in Copenhagen. Even the local brew (Carlsberg) cost us the equivalent of $10 a pint!!! We found eating and drinking in Copenhagen to be the most expensive that we have encountered in Europe. This did not make us so happy :( |
Maybe it's...
Hans Christian Andersen
Everyone loves a great story. With such fantastic stories as "The Ugly Duckling", "The Princess and the Pea", and "The Little Mermaid" it's no wonder the Danes are so happy.
The bottom line: We definitely had some happy times in Denmark, but we are still unsure about the secret to their happiness. I guess we will continue to find our own. For me, I am most happy spending time with my family, whether its traveling the world, or at home on family movie night. I think a fellow American summed up the secret to happiness best: "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln
"The Little Mermaid"
Behold! One of the most overrated tourist attractions.
Sorry folks, you only get her backside. We opted out of the long walk or a tour to see her up close so this picture was snapped as we cruised by on our canal tour.
The bottom line: We definitely had some happy times in Denmark, but we are still unsure about the secret to their happiness. I guess we will continue to find our own. For me, I am most happy spending time with my family, whether its traveling the world, or at home on family movie night. I think a fellow American summed up the secret to happiness best: "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln
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