Located 4,883 miles away from Miami lies my family’s homeland: Denmark. Growing up, my Scandinavian culture was never distant from me, mostly because of my Mormor, Danish for grandma. From reading traditional Danish fairy tales to eating classic holiday foods like Christmas goose, which always seems to shock people for some reason, my culture has always been a huge part of my identity.
But before I even talk about my trip itself, the real reason I went matters more.
My grandma grew up in Denmark with four older siblings, a comforting mom and a dad who was literally knighted by the King of Denmark. Family shaped her entire childhood. Eventually, life took its course, and she traveled the world before finally landing in Miami. Although she built a beautiful life here, she never visited home as much as she wished. Over time, her parents and siblings passed away, leaving her as the last of her generation. Her nieces and nephews would later visit the country, but returning herself felt too overwhelming for many years.
But in March 2025, something changed.
My grandma decided she was finally ready to face her fear, and brought my sibling, my mom and I with her.
Needless to say, I was thrilled. Not only was I reconnecting with my culture, I was also traveling to one of the most unique cities in Europe: Copenhagen. Known for colorful architecture, incredible fashion and a calm yet vibrant energy, I was determined to fully embrace this Scandi experience.
When I first arrived in Copenhagen, I was honestly jaw dropped. Everyone looked like they had just stepped out of fashion week while casually running errands. Somehow, every single person was tall, effortlessly stylish and wearing the coolest outfits I had ever seen. After about five minutes of people watching, I immediately knew one thing: I needed to go shopping.
So I went straight to Strøget, one of the most famous shopping streets in the city. Vintage stores, Scandinavian brands like Gina Tricot and even the dreamiest home decor store ever: HAY House. I was pretty much in Scandi heaven. After spending hours there, I can confidently say Copenhagen has some of the best shopping locations of any city I have ever visited.
And yes, I truly did shop until I dropped. At a certain point, my bags were heavier than my ability to keep pretending I had self-control, but honestly, in a city like Copenhagen, how could I resist?
Aside from shopping, we explored palaces, neighborhoods and museums across the city. If you ever go to Copenhagen, Christiansborg Palace is a must-see. There are several royal palaces, but this one is by far the most beautiful and is still actively used today, which makes it feel even more surreal. Nyhavn was also unforgettable. Yes, it is touristy, but the colorful historic buildings along the canal are genuinely magical. Boats, restaurants, lights; everything looks like a postcard that somehow became real life.
One of the most unbelievable moments of the entire trip happened at the Royal Ballet in the Old Stage. The theater itself is stunning, filled with baroque details and a massive chandelier that makes the whole room feel dramatic in the best way. The ballet we saw was Don Quixote, performed by incredibly talented dancers in a theater packed with excitement. Right before the show started, everyone around us suddenly stood up. My family stood too, although we were all whispering, confused and trying to figure out what was happening.
Then, the Queen of Denmark casually walked right past us to her seat on the balcony.
I have never been more shocked in my life. Seeing literal royalty on a random night at the same ballet I was watching felt completely unreal. It was one of those moments that feels almost fictional while happening, like I had stepped into a scene instead of real life. Honestly, it was just so unbelievably cool.
Moments like the ballet and seeing the Queen made Copenhagen feel magical, like a dream I did not want to wake up from. But as incredible as the city was, the most meaningful part of the trip was still waiting for us, and it had nothing to do with fashion, shopping or even palaces.
It was about my grandma going home.
We reunited with cousins, aunts and uncles, surrounding her with the next generation of her family. But the most emotional moment came from my uncle Yence, who drove us two hours to her tiny seaside hometown of Hasmark, a quiet place with about 5,000 people.
I had heard stories about her childhood home my entire life, but standing in front of it was completely different.
We knocked on the door of her old home, and the people living there welcomed us inside for a tour. For some reason, I just started crying and could not stop. Even now, I cannot fully explain why. Maybe it was imagining my grandma as a little girl in those rooms. Maybe it was realizing how fast time passes. Maybe it was understanding, all at once, how important family and memory really are. The look on my grandma’s face at that moment said everything without words. It reminded me that life is fragile and that every memory deserves to be cherished.
We visited her school, her church and the streets she once walked as a child. Seeing her hometown through her eyes is something I will carry with me forever.
This trip was never just about traveling somewhere beautiful. It was about returning to where a story first began.
Denmark did not just show me a place. It showed me a piece of myself.
