How much?

After the wedding Mr Swift and I spent a couple of days in Copenhagen, which is about all most mortals can afford without taking out a second mortgage. It’s by far and away the most expensive place I’ve ever visited.

This shouldn’t have been such a surprise as I’d recently read in the Economist that Denmark fares poorly on their ‘Big Mac Index’ which allows you to judge if a currency is over/undervalued by comparing the cost of a commonly available item, the Big Mac.

Being a vegetarian this didn’t resonate with me so I’ve developed my own version - the ‘how much is a pint?’ index. A 400ml beer in most bars and restaurants in Copenhagen is 50kr which at today’s exchange rate is £5.76. Extrapolate that up to 568ml and you’re looking at £8.18 a pint. Over eight quid for a pint!

Despite the obvious financial drawbacks Copenhagen is a lovely city and i was very impressed with its prioritisation of cyclist and pedestrian. The vast majority of roads have six foot cycle paths and practically everyone, young and old, are cycling around. I was very taken with the Christiana bikes (essentially a tricycle with a box at the front for carrying round children/shopping). As someone without a car they appealed to me greatly, however, i suspect their quirky Scandinavian charm wouldn’t translate well to Croydon.

The Christiana bikes get their name from the Freetown of Christiana, which is for all intense and purposes a long-established squatter’s commune on disused MoD land in the middle of Copenhagen. Barely tolerated by the authorities it is a 1,000-strong community that governs by consensus, has its own rules and even its own currency. I had a wonderful time wandering around looking at the amazing homes and gardens they have fashioned from next to nothing. Unfortunately their existence is under renewed threat as they occupy some pricey real estate and pay nominal rent. Let’s hope the Dane’s well documented spirit of tolerance will ensure Christiana’s safety.