In June 2012, I left for a grand journey to explore Scandinavia: 5 countries, 8 cities, and a countless numbers of boat rides and road trips. I ate strange foods, hiked mountains and glaciers, and met up with friends old and new. This post is from part of that trip.

If I could pick one Scandinavian city to call home, it’d be Copenhagen. From a history of Kings and colorful buildings, to well-dressed Danes and a culture of bikes, the city has it all. I fell in love with Copenhagen on my first day in the city, during the Royal Boat Tour that took me through the canals. As I cruised on the water, I snapped photographs furiously from the boat, not wanting to miss any of the city’s picturesque sights.

I hope you'll fall in love with this city too: