Day Four - Christiania

Wednesday, April 16 - We had a free morning before flying to Billund, Denmark and Legoland so we had to check out what Christiania was all about. 

Excerpt from Wikipedia:
Christiania, also known as Freetown Christiania (Danish: Fristaden Christiania) is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood of about 850 residents, covering 34 hectares (84 acres) in the borough of Christianshavn in the Danish capital Copenhagen. Civic authorities in Copenhagen regard Christiania as a large commune, but the area has a unique status in that it is regulated by a special law, the Christiania Law of 1989 which transfers parts of the supervision of the area from the municipality of Copenhagen to the state. It was closed by residents in April 2011, whilst discussions continued with the Danish government as to its future, but is now open again.

Christiania has been a source of controversy since its creation in a squatted military area in 1971. Its cannabis trade was tolerated by authorities until 2004. Since then, measures for normalising the legal status of the community have led to conflicts, police raids and negotiations which are ongoing.

We walked around a lot of Christiania and through the Green Light District where residents nicely made sure to let you know it was not okay to take photos... cameras had to be put away and vendors had their lower faces covered with scarves. I'm happy to report that the girls were uncomfortable and didn't enjoy the experience.  I wonder how long the impression will last?!  I found it all kind of sad. 

a lot of colorful murals and graffiti decorate Christiania

outside the Green Light District

I had the feeling from some of the houses that these were people who never outgrew the building-a-fort phase of their lives!

a nice house on the lake

Christiania's flag - the 3 dots represent the dots in Christiania's 'i's

photos not ok in the Green Light District!

some of the original buildings in the area