It was described to me as a magical town where cannabis is sold freely in the streets and hot, girly-looking boys frolic about giving people blowbacks. Also, being a squatter, I feel a strange affinity with other squatters the world over. I wanted to be close to my people. Freetown Christiania is a self-proclaimed independent state of about people, spanning 85 acres.
It was founded in by a group of hippies, anarchists, and idealists after they squatted an abandoned military barracks in Copenhagen. The authorities tolerated this for over 30 years, but since there have been constant efforts to try and normalise the legal status of the community.
The main cannabis trade in Christiania takes place on the centrally located Pusher Street yes, really. Many of the houses in Christiania were built by the inhabitants themselves. Some fail to meet health and safety standards, lacking things like water and electricity, but whatever. Later that evening we went to a place called Spunk Bar. Apparently, I have a very stunted sense of humor.
Inside, we made friends with some locals. This is basically how all the cool kids dress in Copenhagen. I took this photo of a drain outside Spunk Bar. This was only a few footsteps away. All the hard drugs and violence made me wish I was back inside the peaceful, loving walls of Christiania.
I lived in Copenhagen for a year and Christiania was certainly a sanctuary for me. My mates and I were there almost every weekend. The whole no hard drugs thing and the fact that everyone respects the rule placed my respect for the human race a little higher.
