Chillin in DK with the Dutchess & DK


the dutchess & DK in Copenhagen, DK


One of the things that I enjoyed a lot this summer was the close proximity in which I live to Christiania. Christiania, as I've written before, is a "free state" within the state of Denmark, and has been so since around 72 or 73. Anyway, it's an old military base that was taken over and squatted, and now offers a stunning array of houses and nature right in the middle of the city.
Christiania attracts all sorts of people and many come for the free hash market. Not that the smoke is free, but since Christiania is a "free state" the sell of hash has been tolerated there for quite some time. This doesn't mean that the place is immune to the periodical police raid, or that Christianshavn, the neighborhood Christiania happens to be located in, is not a stop and search zone.
But again, it continues to attract all sorts of tourists, and boasts a few pretty good restaurants, concert halls and bars.
The other day I decided to take a early before-work walk. I often find that taking walks through the back roads of Christiania to be soothing. With the water, dirt roads and lush setting, I am often reminded of the beauty that exists here.  While there I bumped into a young lady, who ended up being The Dutchess from Miami. She was traveling here with her manager DK, and we had an interesting time exchanging ideas and thoughts on everything from our interpretations of the Adam and Eve story to the current Ferguson, MO debacle in the U.S.
What was particularly interesting about them both was the passion they both displayed for travel.  Throughout my own travels, it's something I often hear from people no matter their station in life. Whether it's a clerk at Whole Foods on Columbus Circle or a soldier I met in Hawaii, or the bartender in a bar in Trinidad or the lady you meet on a bus in New Orleans - one thing is clear : it seems like a lot more people actually want to travel than actually do. This only tells me that in general, human beings are intrepid folk, and if traveling was more accessible, there would be a whole lot more people traveling. And the profound thing about traveling is the spirit in which you endeavor to meet the world. When you travel out of the sheer need to see other places, experience cultures and meet your fellow human being, I think it adds an expansive view to how we view one another. I would even go so far as to say that it should be a part of every education.
It was a delight for me to experience the wisdom these two artists encompassed and the extent to which they have thought about their lives and their presence in it.  In them I saw that very thing that I too possess - and that is to pursue life in the spirit of art and creation.  DK spoke of how powerful the force of music was for him in his life - from his childhood in Haiti to moving to Florida and The Dutchess displayed an uncanny ability to interpret and define many events currently taking place in this world. It was refreshing to experience.  A shout out to The Dutchess & DK!
www.kbzlive.com
www.thedutchessmusic.com



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