Days 12 and 13 - Copenhagen, Denmark

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Apologies in advance for the long blog entry.

Thursday 30 August 2018

We woke to a wet Copenhagen, the first real sign of rain since we've been in Europe. Vicki has a pretty nasty cold and Wayne is still getting over his. After breakfast at the hotel we caught a taxi to a laundromat in suburban Copenhagen, nothing within walking distance of the hotel. Once there we had a crash course in laundry the Danish way as well trying to break the Da Vinci code that is the Danish language and nothing in the laundromat was in English.

Once the washing was on Wayne went for a wander to find some water. Eventually finding a pizza shop with an Italian owner who spoke Italian/Danish but not a word of English Wayne got some water and headed back to the laundromat. Vicki then went exploring for a chemist to take the edge off her cold and returned some time later with some medication, a couple of Danish cakes for morning tea and possibly the worst "cappuccino" we've ever tasted. During Vicki's escapades the washing machines had finished and Wayne was left to his own devices to work out the driers. By the time Vicki returned the clothes were all but dried and we were ready to continue our journey.

Vicki, by this stage was fading fast so we headed to a supermarket and got some cheese, cold meat, bread and sparkling water and then tried to crack another Da Vinci code that is the bus and train timetable and ticketing. While we were waiting at the bus stop, without a ticket, a taxi dropped off a passenger right next door. A glance at each other and Wayne was off to get the taxi to take us back to the hotel. Around this time we agreed, given the weather and how Vicki was feeling today would be spent in the hotel resting up. Dinner was the cold cuts we bought at the supermarket, so another hearty European meal was enjoyed.

We're doing a two day in one blog entry as we have few pictures to tell the story of today except for the dinner.



Friday 31 August 2018

We woke to a fairly clear sky compared to yesterday so went downstairs for breakfast at the hotel. The buffet is very well done but as is the norm for Denmark not exactly cheap at around $40 each per day.

After breakfast it was off to work out the metro train system and gee it takes some working out. It is nowhere near as user friendly as to what we experienced in Frankfurt or Paris but we eventually made our way to Copenhagen's equivalent of Central Station in Sydney via the metro and S trains. It is a very busy station, as you'd expect where the majority of travelers each day either ride a bicycle or ride/catch a train/ride in their daily lives.

We board our hop on/off tour bus, definitely the best way to get around Copenhagen. Our first tour was on the Little Mermaid Tour. It was fantastic and the little mermaid is just such a beautiful place. Around the site of the little mermaid is a royal fortress. Having no stone to build a fortress the Danes at the time used their engineering skills to build earth defences that were designed to absorb the enemies canon balls and do no harm to those inside the fortress. The busy port in the background and this little tourist attraction with tourists hovering like bees to a honey pot. Everyone simply waiting their turn to photograph her. The Carlsberg Brewery were the financers of the little mermaid and she has lived on the shores in Copenhagen for centuries and has only once left her post. During a recent World Expo where she was sent as the Danish "Ambassador" at that event. In her place at that time she was replaced by technology in the way of a live feed from the World Expo back to her site in Copenhagen.

After the little mermaid tour we were taken on a drive past royal buildings including an area where Danish Navy personnel once lived. The story goes that the Navy wives would line their model dogs facing each other which indicated a heart. However they would put the model dogs facing out if their husbands were away and their male suitors could come calling. If the husbands were home the dogs faces would point inside. Around this time we were close to the main local government buildings and were quite surprised by the scene in front of us. Two men who were obviously very much in love expressing a long goodbye, repeatedly. When they finished there were cheers from the bus and a wave from the men.

Lunch today was at a Danish take away, for want of a better description. It had three seats inside and about 15 outside so it was not a big place by any stretch. Wayne enjoyed a Danish hot dog, it was great covered in mustards and sauces with cheese and a dried onion mix. Vicki had a salmon sandwich with a sweet dill sauce. Both meals were very fresh and pretty tasty.

After lunch it was time for the Carlsberg Brewery Tour on our hop on/off bus. The brewery would be a blog in itself. It was an amazing story of how the Carlsberg Corporation are building a city within a city. One of their main objectives with their new work is to retain the history of the buildings that are remaining. By the look of it they are not only doing that but doing it extremely well. Like we said it could easily be a blog post of its own. Wayne enjoyed a Carlsberg made from the hops dating back to 1883 which is only served at the brewery. It was a beautiful beer, no other way to describe it.

After the tour we thought we'd missed our bus and had a fair wait. While waiting Wayne chatted with a couple who thought they were in a similar position to us. It turns out they were originally from Iran but now living in Vancouver, Canada. I mentioned our cousins in Vancouver Island but they said they lived in the CBD of Vancouver. It was then we found we had not missed our bus as it arrived. When we boarded the hop on/off bus Wayne saw the driver of the bus and it reminded him of his long deceased Grandfather. A wiry built gentleman with greying hair and his face looked so familiar. We mentioned it to the driver who smiled a graceful smile as he was appreciative of the compliment.

We travelled on the bus back to Copenhagen Central Station ready for the trip back to our hotel as Vicki's cold had now taken hold of her again and she was ready for a rest. Not before Wayne went off an adventure. We'd bought some muesli yesterday for breakfast but there is absolutely nothing to eat it in or with at the hotel. So off Wayne went looking for two bowls and two spoons. It was like something out of Crocodile Dundee (I was going to say Russell Coyte but anyone outside of Australia wouldn't know Russell Coyte) minus Wayne walking on the heads of the commuters. In to one shop nothing but he did come away with three cinnamon scrolls so that was not a wasted effort. While in the shop he did ask one of the employees and he said down the road about three minutes and you'll find a bowl and a spoon. So down the road our intrepid adventurer goes with a determination in his stride. That enthusiasm lasted all of the prescribed three minutes and on spotting a 7/11 across the road thought here is my answer. Wrong! 7/11 don't have such luxuries in Denmark, just fast food. At this point Vicki was waiting outside of Copenhagen Central with a sore back and sore chest from coughing so Wayne thought he should go back, a little empty handed but hoping the cinnamon scrolls would be well received. On walking up the road Wayne spotted a homewares shop and found a couple of nice hexagonal bowls just a good size for a bowl of muesli, 66 Danish Krone later (around $14AU) he was on his way minus the spoons. Wayne eventually found the shop the young employee at his first stop mentioned, what he didn't say was it was across the street. Called in there and not a spoon in site, plastic forks by the box load but all out of spoons. On leaving this shop, and with his Crocodile Dundee inspired adventure coming to a close minus the spoons he had a brain wave. Let's go to Starbucks, we can get a coffee and load up with their spoons, so that is what we did.

And this is where the story ends for today. Like I said at the start this is a long blog post but hope you like it.

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Photos

Danish Laundromat
Ours was not as flash as this but you get the idea!

Dinner the European Way
Cheese, meat and bread. Including some hommus, cured salmon, sundries tomatoes, and olives.

AC Bella Sky Copenhagen
Our home in Copenhagen

Bicycles double stacked at Copenhangen's equivalent to Central Station
2 bicycles for every resident in Copenhagen and they plan to be carbon neutral by 2025.

Hop on/off bus
Highly recommend as the simplest way to get around Copenhagen.

Carlsberg
Great beer

Little Mermaid in Carlsberg Facility
It was the Carlsberg corporation that funded the original so why not have a replica near your brewing infrastructure

Efter Badet Sculpture
After the Bath

One of the royal forts
Moat in the foreground but these banks must 20 or more feet high

Copenhagen Harbour
Note the wind turbines

Near the yachts
Not sure if these maybe dry docks?

Bicycles
They are evrywhere