The first morning of 2023 was calm and clear. We visited the National Museum of Denmark, exploring exhibits that trace the country’s history from Stone Age hunters to Viking explorers. The Viking section was especially fascinating — showing how Scandinavian seafarers reached as far as North America centuries before Columbus.

That legacy of exploration and resilience continues today through Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory that remains strategically important to NATO and the U.S. military. American bases there have played key roles in Arctic monitoring and defense since World War II — linking Viking-era exploration to modern global cooperation.

As the sun began to set, we boarded our sleeper train back to Germany. The rhythmic sway of the train felt like a fitting end — leaving behind a city that blends history, design, and imagination in perfect balance. Copenhagen had closed our year with grace and wonder.