Skaabala Danmark (or However It's Spelled)

During our brief sojourn in Denmark about 30 years ago, we learned these things:

1. Danes love a party

2. Danes drink a LOT, and can really hold their liquor

3. Danes smoke a lot too

4. Danes leave their babies outside in the stroller when they shop

5. Visit Denmark and you'll be hungry--Danes love herring and red cabbage-- oh yeah, and eels

6. "Best thing since sliced bread" has real meaning

7. Denmark is cold

8. Danes are very eco-conscious

9. Danes don't love tourists

10. Danes love a drinking slogan (or two)

According to Helen, Denmark hasn't changed a whole lot in the last few decades. Charming, quirky, somewhat rigid, the Danes are proud of their country and their traditions. This book is charming, too, and lightly outlines the peculiarities that make this a great country, and the home of the happiest people. She gives lots of reasons this may be so, and plausible though they are, she leaves out the one that she glosses over pretty quickly--Danes take more antidepressants. Interesting. But her writing style is light, the anecdotes entertaining, and you may find yourself wanting to visit this country way up north. Just maybe pack a box of cookies for emergencies.