I was transiting through Copenhagen \u2014 just for an evening, so even though it was New Year’s Eve, I had arranged a hotel near the airport.<\/p>\n
At passport control, a friendly immigration officer asked how long I was staying. Just the one night, I told her. Still, she said, I had to see the fireworks.<\/p>\n
“Fireworks?” I asked.<\/p>\n
“Yes,” she said eagerly, and in perfect English. “People set off fireworks all over to celebrate.”<\/p>\n
“But I’m staying near the airport,” I said.<\/p>\n
“You can see them from here!” she said. “Just be careful walking around.”<\/p>\n
“Really?” I asked. “People can set off fireworks anywhere they want?”<\/p>\n
“Yes!”<\/p>\n
Even near the airport,<\/i> I thought. Is that safe?<\/i><\/p>\n
“Thanks,” I told her. “Happy new year!”<\/p>\n
“Happy new year!”<\/p>\n
I wasn’t planning on heading out. I’d seen fireworks before. And I didn’t have any shoes, just sandals. (Thanks, Heathrow Airport.) <\/p>\n
But from my hotel I could hear the fireworks, so I got curious and decided to take a stroll.<\/p>\n
And sure enough, people all over were shooting fireworks into the sky from wherever they pleased.<\/p>\n
Here you can see a random street with a random passerby lighting up the sky:<\/p>\n