Something is surreal in the state of Denmark

From my trip journal:

Tonight we decided to venture off the beaten track for dinner. The woman at the reception desk recommended one of her favorite restaurants, where she said that traditional Danish food was served.

At this point our evening started to feel like a surrealist play:

We arrived at a little hole in the wall. It was packed with people singing a song about Denmark (to the tune of Lehair's Merry Widow, of all things) and drinking aquavit while waving Danish flags. The waitstaff were wearing hats with Christmas trees on top of them. And the bartender, who looked like a blond Danny Kaye, was wearing a Santa suit. We sat at the bar, waiting for a table to open up, and Mel Gibson walked out of the men's room.

Yes, it was really Mel Gibson. My mom said hello, and he was NOT happy at being recognized.