Monthly Archives: January 2014

Things to do in Copenhagen

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Cool and chic, Copenhagen is my kind of city. For food, drink and design this city is hard to beat and at Christmas the Danish capital is alight with festive fairs and events.

Eat

Geist – try stylish and artful Danish food created by celebrated chef Bo Bech. The menu is refined and concise and filled with genius tapas-style dishes. Cauliflower and black truffle was particularly memorable; both tastes and visuals are spectacular.

Era Ora – the talented team here provide the ultimate Italian food and wine experience. Expect a banquet and spend an afternoon indulging in the finest culinary creations.

Cocks and Cows – voted best burger in Copenhagen a few years ago, this joint still excels at American classics. Any variety is possible (bun, sauce, fillings and toppings) and the results are faultless. Chips receive top marks too: homemade, thin, crispy with a sprinkling of sea salt.

Ricemarket – from the founders of Kiin Kiin (the only Michelin starred Thai restaurant in Europe), Ricemarket is a delicious casual alternative, easy to get a table and less threatening to your wallet!

Drink

Ruby – established in 2007, Ruby soon became a popular choice for the discerning Copenhagen cocktail drinker. Masters of mixology, the bartenders will create any drink you desire. I chose the off-menu strong but brilliantly balanced Brooklyn.

The Union – concealed completely on a quiet street in town, we almost interrupted several private parties before eventually discovering the inconspicuous black door. Truly outstanding cocktails, we loved the Pinky and the Roscoe.

See

Louisiana – venture out of town to the staggeringly beautiful modern art museum. Currently on show: a passionate Jorn and Pollock exhibition and an exploratory show about the Arctic.

Christiania – take a stroll around this freetown built on a dream of freedom and the notion of a place governed by its residents. An alternative, anarchistic area – definitely worth exploring.

Shop

Playtype – letters of all shapes, sizes and forms fill this tiny eclectic shop.
Pick up an alphabet poster or buy your very own special Playtype font on a memory stick.

Acne Archive – a haven for Acne lovers, this outlet store sells past seasons’ rejects for a fraction of the price.

Finders Keepers – an occasional, very special fair celebrating the best young designers on the Scandi scene. Bring cash.

Do

Tivoli Gardens – one of the world’s oldest amusement parks – during the festive season experience the warmth of Christmas with the festive stalls, rides and restaurants.

Canal tour – tick off all the sights in 90 minutes on this informative and picturesque tour. The impressive opera house, little mermaid and black diamond are all en route.

Many thanks to the Copenhagen Tourist Board for their help with this trip, more information here.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 192

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January is a good time to change and refresh your daily beauty routine. I’ve scoured the best brands around, and here’s my top selection for the winter.

Face

Finding a brand that offers a range of products to cover your whole face routine is a revelation. Murad Daily Cleansing Foam, Balancing Moisturizer and T-Zone Pore Refining Serum is on offer as a set for £99 when you buy all three and they compliment each other and your skin so you don’t have to worry about any other products. I love the easy-to-use cleansing foam, it is very light and fresh and tones the skin while also washing away all dirt and impurities. The serum is particularly good to use on more problematic areas of your face, whilst the moisturizer can be applied liberally and will hydrate and protect.

The luxuriously organic collection from Thalgo is faultless. Made from a concoction of the finest ingredients, these formulas are a a joy for every skin type. Both the Freshness Exfoliator and Relaxing Cream are light and yet hydrating. The silky touch of the cream makes it a pleasure to use, night and day.

Those days your skin needs a little extra boost, Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream does the trick. This rich and creamy moisturiser smells divine and feels even better. Presented in a retro turquoise glass container, it is a facial cream for the most glamorous girls and will keep your skin glowing long after application.

I have always been a fan of Jurlique, the floral and girly ranges are great for maintaining even tone and complexion whilst scenting the skin with delicious perfumes. The Balancing Cleansing Lotion is a gentle product made with rosewood and lavender, to cleanse and hydrate the skin. Once the skin is clean, a few pumps of the Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum will combat any dullness and leave your skin radiant. I notice the wonderful effects of Jurlique everyday.

Body

I can’t get enough of the indulgent Cocooning Body Butter from Sanctuary Spa, it soaks so easily into the skin whilst softening and tightening. It can be used on the whole body and is the perfect remedy to unwind at the end of a stressful day. Another great product, the brings the spa to your home, is the Warming Sugar Polish. This self-heating scrub deeply cleanses the skin with the crushed organic sugar and crushed walnut recipe removing any dead skin to leave your body feeling bright and fresh.

For bronzed skin all-year round, there is only one brand to go to. St Tropez is a godsend, and in summer the shelves of Boots are emptied as girls rush for these precious bottles of tanning lotion. My favourite is the Bronzing Mousse which is easiest to use and very natural. But before tanning can commence the skin must be smooth and soft, which is where the Tan Enhancing Polish comes in. This scrub preps the skin and helps ensure the best tan. For your face, St Tropez Bronzing Lotion gives the best results.

Hair

Charles Worthington is an affordable and reliable haircare brand. These three products (Moisture Seal Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Masque) work well as a set, intensely nourishing the hair from root to end. Enriched with argon oil, when dry the hair appears shiny and glossy. Use the masque occasionally to add strength to weakened hair.

In my opinion Philip Kingsley is the king of haircare. His Moisture Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner is proof of this, these carefully formulated products are ideal for medium-textured and wavy hair, giving bounce and shine. As well as improving quality, this shampoo and conditioner makes hair manageable and easy to style, adding moisture to dry split ends and ensuring balanced roots.

When it comes to hair styling it is important to have products that you know work for your hair. Joico is a fashionable American brand with sassy styling products, I can particularly recommend the Styling & Finishing Spray and Ultra Dry Spray, with a light and lovely smell and medium hold, they will prepare hair perfectly for a night out on the town.

Vinterpark Skiing, Oslo

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Many would assume there needs to be snow falling to make possible a skiing trip. But at Oslo’s Vinterpark the ski season doesn’t pause because of unsuitable weather, here they have snow cannons to create snow so you can ski everyday without fail.

This winter Norway is experiencing the warmest weather for over 100 years… there is no snow on the streets and temperatures are way above zero (tropical considering -20 is normal for January here). Locals are craving the picturesque white winter they have come to know and love. For Oslo’s residents, skiing is a sport they can enjoy after work or at the weekend, it is just as accessible and affordable as anything else. Work finishes at 4pm, then with a metro card, in just 20 minutes, you can travel by tram from central Oslo to the Alpine slopes, ski for two hours and be home in time for dinner… it is a luxury no other European city can boast.

Vinterpark is Oslo’s largest ski resort, consisting of 18 slopes. The area has 11 lifts, of which two are four-seaters and one is a new six-seater express chairlift. The ski resort is open from November to April, everyday except Christmas Eve with floodlights illuminating the slopes for evening skiing. When spring comes, the site is used for extreme sports… downhill mountain biking, zipwiring, canopying and other activities. The slopes have an interesting history, they were opened in the 1930s after a portion of the mountain was swept of all trees following a storm, ever since they have been used for skiing and grow in popularity every year.

The instructors at Vinterpark are friendly and helpful. As a first timer I needed extensive help, luckily Jonathan was on hand to teach all the basics, demonstrate the ‘snow plough’ and build my confidence when it began to falter. All the necessary ski and snowboard equipment is available to rent at the resort, though warm under-clothing and gloves must be brought along. All kitted out, we travelled by ‘magic carpet’ (a conveyer belt for people) to the nursery slopes to join the children and adult amateurs. Wowed by the talented toddlers, who seemed to be gracefully flying down the steep snowy hills, I was encouraged that this sport could not be too challenging. Wrong. After 20 minutes my leg muscles ached and burned, I’d fallen over in a pile of mud (off the course) and was feeling rather shaken. Jonathan patiently continued to give tips and advice, and gradually the technique became more natural.

The Vinterpark has imaginative routes for people of all ages and abilities, from beginners to professionals, so everyone can learn, enjoy and be challenged by the snowy slopes on offer. After the two hour lesson, Jonathan took us to the proper adult slope, a green run for the first experience of real skiing! It was terrifying but exhilarating, exhausting but wonderful, and just so, so beautiful. Travelling back up in the steep chairlift, I began to understand the thrill and adrenalin, and the addictive nature of this sport.

Oslo is the only capital city in the Europe where you can ski so conveniently, and this is a real selling point for the destination. Vinterpark gave me the perfect introduction to this sport… hopefully I will be able to fit in some more snowy adventures in 2014.

More information about Oslo Vinterpark here: oslovinterpark.no

Many thanks to Oslo Tourist board for their help with this trip. More information here.

www.visitoslo.com

www.visitnorway.com/uk