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Published: October 31st 2006
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Okay, so on the train from, the last stop in Sweden was Malmo before crossing a bridge to Denmark. On the map it looks a long way, but when you travel it, before you know it your on the other side. I guess when we read maps back home anything that looks small is actually big!
So arriving in Kobenhavn (Copenhagen) in the afternoon, I checked into a 5 star youth hostel, and for such a quality place then what more apt name should apply ... Danhostel! Good work. I checked in along with a guy I met on the train, Jeremy from Atlanta. We headed out for a Mexican and few drinks, before wandering around the town of Copenhagen at night, and without maps I think we traversed almost most of the main areas of town. We settled into a few pubs along the way, eventually finishing at Nyhavn canal, which looked amazing at night.
I spent most of my time exploring Copenhagen with Jeremy, we walked the streets including a walking tour past Radhuspladsen, through the many shopping malls, past many fountains. We got on a canal tour at Nyhavn which was well worth it and got
Near entrance
The giant elephants have saddlecloths and one had a nazi symbol. It was prevelant throughout as it was used during the 1800s, due to the Indian meaning of the symbol and not for what the Nazi's stood for. some good shots along that. Nyhavn is the more affluent area and probably one of the more famous areas, many bars and restaurants line the canal and all the buildings are different coloured. From here we got a canal cruise, and travelled down a few of the more fancied routes. Past the new Opera House, Little Mermaid and near Christiania, back across - it was absolutely freezing while on board but good experience.
From Nyhavn we stopped at Hans Christian Andersen'S house, which is by Nyhavn canal. A further stroll up and we came across the Royal Palaces (Amalienborg Palace), based around having 4 distinct palace buildings creating a diamond shape around a statue. Wandering into the palace rooms as I purchased my ticket the lady asked where I was from {in perfect English - all Scandanavians speak amazingly good English}, as I mentioned Australia she mused ''welcome to our Royal Family'' -- now I don't know whether I was personally being officially entered into the royal family, or due to our Princess Mary's ties. I am guessing it was the latter. It also seems news was filtering through that Aussie Mary is expecting her second child, so good
place to be as the news was coming through.
Wandered around and into a chapel, then made our way towards the little mermaid statue. Not a striking statue, however I had been warned well in advance, so it wasn't a let down. But got some photos - Japanese tourists love a mermaid statue! But she just looked upset.
We continued around taking in the city. It is a very attractive city and has a buzz to it, I would say its probably my favourite major city in Scandanavia - there is definetly something to it. Which brings me to our next area - Christiania. This place is basically its very own self governing city. It is based on the hippy sort of Woodstock feeling and they have their own rules, taxes, schools etc. all that sort of stuff - which of course means a bit of anarchy and drugs. I was offered hash 3 times before I could even open my mouth - but according to Lonely Planet all the drugs have been eradicated from the place - sure! This was even more noticeable when we saw a bunch of police walking around checking on things and then
Little Mermaid
A little depressed I would say basically right in front of them, the shops seeing everything to do with hash are lighting up bongs inside their caravan shops. Interesting.
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Christiania here. So we had a few really cheap drinks here and had this Chinese/Indian guy pass out on us, which was pretty funny. From there it was away for a few more drinks before calling it in.
Next day our first stop was the Carlsberg museum. Quality! Great museum, much like the Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam, however you get more bang for your buck with the free drinks they give you. The largest collection of botlled beers is housed here and you check out all the history behind Carlsberg and how its made. At the bar I had a Tuborg Gold first and then a special edition Jacobsen's Christmas special. Both very nice and the Christmas special was just about the best tasting brew I have ever had! So we stayed a bit longer than anticipated and enjoyed the surroundings.
From there it was a stroll back into the main part of town, across all the shopping precincts, through the floods of people before getting to a museum near their
Radhus
City Hall botanical gardens. It was called the Statens Museum for Kunst and had basically every part of their walls covered in art. Some interesting stuff in there and well varied. We then made our way back to the shopping precincts and just sat around and observed, it was pretty cool to see the Danes going through their everyday lives. Oh and also happened across some Danish pastries that went down very well! That pretty much did us in for the day, and ended up back at the hostel for a fairly early night.
Next day I hopped on a train bound for Berlin. It was a pretty good train journey, on an absolutely fantastic day. As we travelled through some very pretty sights we boarded onboard the train onto the ferry to take us to Germany. That was pretty interesting staying on board a train as it enters onto the ferry. Back on another ferry just seems right nowadays and we say goodbye to Scandanavian money and prices and hello to the Euro.
But unfortunately goodbye to the most amazing women!! the Scandanavians!
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Doc, your blog is impressive but could be improved with pictures of you and five Danish models in a spa bath - one of them a royal. See how you go. NEXT!