Right now, everything may seem white and gray but it is still hard to not see the fact that Copenhagen is a pretty city. Copenhagen was founded in 1167 by a tough-as-nails Bishop Absalon, who erected a fortress on Slotsholmen Island, fortifying a small and previously unprotected harbourside village. This village is still the life and identity of Copenhagen. The medieval part of the city features back-to-back historic buildings and streets. Still, it wasn't until the reign of Christian IV, in the first half of the 17th century, that the city was endowed with much of its splendor. A lofty Renaissance designer, Christian IV began an ambitious construction scheme, building two new castles and many other grand edifices, including the Rundetårn observatory and the glorious Børsen, Europe’s first stock exchange. This city is full story telling. This week Copenhagen stole my heart in the way it mingles history with architectural tradition, urban planning with cultural backdrops, and its story with my own.