Almost A Night At the Museum
'A 66-bed dorm sounds pretty intense.'
'Yeah, you probably won't get any sleep there.'
- a conversation between my sister and me, at which point I decided that I did in fact want the 66-bed dorm experience, for good or for bad.
*
It turned out to be one of the best hostel experiences I've ever had. City Public Hostel was one of the strong highlights of the time I spent in Copenhagen (Dopenhaven, for the Freetown frequent flyers). A youth club during the rest of the year, the hostel is open only during the summer months of May-August, when it hosts both short-term travelers and long-term dwellers in the form of employment seekers, or seasonal artists and performers.
Superior to many other hostels I've stayed in, City Public has the chill and charm of something between a student residence and a summer camp. One of the dealbreaking features was the extra large and superbly functional kitchen boasting enough fridge space for all its 200 dormers. Another was the ample hang out space in the main lobby, the 'auxiliary lounge' on the second floor, as well as the spacious front yard and romantic back patio, in which one could always make easy connections, take a nap, play a late night game of chess with a drunken Austrian former junior grandmaster, or simply sit back and watch the comings and goings of all the passengers of this Scandinavian city-ship. The superbly friendly and groove-savvy reception staff were the icing on an already layered cake. I credit the several extensions of my stay to how personable and funny those guys were, day and night.
Eli from Colorado, was one of several wonderful people who defined my experience at City Public Hostel.
This is a hard place to leave.
*
I spent ten days in Copenhagen, three of which were with my family - a party eighteen people large and splitting at the seams with the kinds of shenanigans unique to Chinese tourist groups (see How to be a Chinese Tourist). The rest were spent happily here at City Public Hostel, pretty much the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of travel experience.
One of the most appreciable things about Copenhagen is the abundance of free museums and art galleries. The Danish National Museum proved to be one of my favorites, and I ended up visiting it four days in a row to get everything in.
On my last day there, I was up on the top floor exploring a not so popular exhibit near closing time, when I heard a door slam and keys turning in the lock. Yes, I had gotten trapped by an impatient guide who didn't thoroughly complete her round.
After some minutes of walking around the floor and checking all the emergency exits (locked!), I descended the spiral staircase in the middle of the floor, only to find myself caged in by a metal grille. Not a good situation. And I had to go to the bathroom. I considered trying to use the spotty wifi to Skype call the front desk, but my battery was running out. I envisioned myself spending 'A Night At the Museum' with the samurai armor and stuffy cosplay costumes. Possibly soiling myself. Keeping friends who were waiting for me wondering what the hell had happened to me. Forfeiting my onward ticket to Stockholm early next morning.
I went up and down the stairs in an effort to discharge frantic energy. And then I heard a door click. It was the guide! She had made it to the floor below, and I called out to her, I don't know how loudly, from inside the staircase grille like a bad museum visitor jailed for misbehaviour.
She approached me with exquisite annoyance, and I recognized her as the same guide who days earlier, again at closing time, had walked by me and without even looking at me, instructed, 'You have get out now.' Naturally she blamed me for not heeding the announcement to vacate the exhibits, and while I tried to argue the point that she had not thoroughly checked everywhere, I was just glad to not have to explain why there was a pool of urine in a corner of the third floor the morning after.
*
Despite this incident which could easily have turned out much differently, my time in Copenhagen has been phenomenal, mainly due to the people who unbid, came upon my path and turned it in unexpected, and better directions. Following my time in Sweden and Norway, I will head back to Copenhagen for a few days to enjoy the city and its inhabitants again. This time hopefully without becoming an exhibit myself.
The Danish National Museum, where I will NOT be featuring as an overnight exhibit.