Off The Beaten Path

One of the things I wanted to prioritize when studying abroad was getting out to see places that aren't typical tourist attractions. Places and things that I wouldn't have the opportunity to see if I was only in Copenhagen for a week. This past weekend and opportunity arose to go on a solo adventure out of the city. Determined to find a forest, I boarded the regional train to Roskilde, Denmark.

In the little bit of research I did, I found a small forest just 20 minutes outside of Roskilde. Once arriving in the old Danish capital, I boarded a bus to Boserup Forest. As I approached the entrance of the forest a sense of calm washed over me. Hearing birds chirping and leaves rustling in the wind brought me a sense of peace that is often lost among the hustle and bustle of city life (even in a very calm city).

I immediately noticed two children and their dad building a stick fort. There were already many built in the area. Thinking about the many families who have came through this forest to experience the joy of building stick forts made me smile.

After walking for about 1.5 miles I got my first sight of a Danish deer. I thought I had just gotten lucky seeing one deer until a little while later I came across an entire herd! Some of them had antlers and I watched them quietly as they stared back at me continuing to munch on whatever snack they had found.

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Continuing on, I came across some camp sights overlooking Roskilde Fjord. There were lean-tos, picnic tables, firepits, and even a rope swing. I found myself wishing I had brought my sleeping bag so that I could plan a future camping trip. However, I'm not sure how practical it would have been to bring a sleeping bag for just one trip.

After walking for about 5 miles, I found a nice spot to sit and enjoy my lunch. Another reason I wanted to come out to the forest was to spend some time in solitude to journal and process my thoughts that are sometimes hard to hear amongst the city. Listening to the birds and the trees brought me a sense of peace and calmness that I hadn't really felt since moving to Copenhagen. It felt so nice to be able to get my thoughts out of my head and just sit in silence, enjoying the moment for what it was.

As I left the forest with a clearer and calmer mind, I felt better prepared for the week ahead of me and had a new excitement to continue working towards the goals I had set before leaving home. To end my day, I decided to stop at Lakagehuset for one more piece of happiness - a delicious cardamom bun and an iced tea!