What are the Danes so damn happy about?

According to the World Happiness Report by Colombia University, Denmark is at the very top of the list of happiest countries (along with the rest of Scandinavia, Canada and Switzerland) .   Political freedom, social security and lack of corruption are key drivers - thus, maybe not surprising to hear Ukraine is 91st! (the US 11th).

Seeing for ourselves what all this happiness is about (plus the allure of the "birthplace of Legos") led us to Denmark for the holiday weekend.  We found:

Short work week: Ukraine has adopted the American way of round the clock access - but not Denmark...

These store hours were fairly typical: short during the week and forget Sunday - the day of rest they still take seriously!

Sporty galore: the outdoorsy-ness reminded us of Seattle.  People walking and running all over, distinct bike lanes filled with bikers on every street... 

....apparently over 40% of Copenhageners ride their bikes daily!  

That stat alone makes me ready to move there!

Cool design: everything was pristine and "design magazine looking". This stairwell donned dark wood stairs and sleek steel rails....

...and it was a low-traffic, interior stairwell to the basement bathrooms in the airport!

Silly prices: I'd heard that Denmark was pricey - but damn!  A 20oz. bottle of Pepsi went for 22dkk (~$4)!

.....and that was at 7-11!  

(That said, given our long standing love affair with 7-11, being violated by the prices didn't overshadow our excitement of the reunion)

The toll over a bridge to Bilund (home of Lego) was almost $40 - - EACH WAY!

No wonder they can afford such fab design!  (Given they already collect 43-63% income tax AND 25% on basically every purchase, they're rolling in it!)

Tivoli Garden: fancy and clean amusement park / concert venue / beer garden smack in the heart of the city.

Fun food: the only cheap meal we found - hot dogs from trucks - were delish and all over the place.  

Turns out my fave (loaded on a bun) is considered "American" (can take the girl out of America.......)

Our other favorite was a "conveyer belt sushi buffet". Stuff yourself silly of a typical buffet + sit on your duff while food comes to you laze & entertaining = perfection!  

Legos: who wouldn't be proud to share citizenship with Legos, the original Lego land plus the worlds largest Lego store?! 

Given the mad Lego fever that has hit our house, we did not walk away unscathed......

...the kids forward spent their entire May allowances!

Minnesota friendly: To top it all off, we didn't encounter a single Dane who wasn't smiling and ultra friendly. It's like the whole country took congeniality training.

So while we all felt the pinch of the prices, the other fabulousness more than makes up for it.  

Here's to Denmark!