Our visit to Copenhagen didn’t feature in our original travel plans, but, as a consequence of our preference not to fly over the Middle East to reach Norway and the resulting change in carrier, it was an accidental two night destination. It was therefore not such a great disappointment when things didn’t work out as we had hoped.
Arrival
We were welcomed into Denmark after our 21 hour flight via Singapore with a mass of impatient travellers that progressed at the speed of a snail though passport control. After an hour in this queue, my lack of sleep generated grumpiness was increasingly difficult to contain. However, with a smile and a thank you to the passport control officer, we broke through to find the train platform that our Air BnB host had kindly described to us. Except there was no train to the destination he suggested. Undaunted, we took a train to the main city station and a taxi to the accommodation.
By the time we explored the immediate neighbourhood, we had walked 10km – no wonder I had sore feet. We visited the botanic gardens, Rosenborg Castle and the local train station. It so happened that this was a public holiday on account of the Royal Run. It also coincided with warm sun shining out of a blue sky, a beautiful day. These two factors resulted in any patch of green grass being occupied by scantily clad white bodies catching highly valued and scarce vitamin D.
Our visit to the train station was to find a train schedule back to the airport, but we left empty handed on account of no readily available information and no railway human to interrogate.
Our day in Copenhagen
After an early night and a great sleep in a real bed, we woke with great expectations of the ‘hop on hop off’ bus and boat tour we had booked the previous evening.
A short walk took us to one of the nominated stops on the bus route. Making it to upper deck, we gradually realised that everyone else had earphones, easily sorted. Our plan was to complete the full circuit, hop off at the city square for a brief visit and hop on in time for our boat tour at 12:15.
By the time we completed the circuit and hopped off, time dictated that we walk across the river for a quick DIY snack next to the boat terminal. Once again, we witnessed scantily clad bodies sunbathing on the grass next to a swimming pool sectioned off from the river.
The boat tour was a highlight of the day, made more memorable due to our boat breaking down mid-way. The tour was conducted in a small boat accommodating nine sightseers. The boat was electrically powered, making it very easy to hear our tour leader’s knowledgeable commentary.
On disembarking, we walked back to the City Square and entered the magnificent City Hall. The elaborate building structure and decoration were breath-taking. The highlight, however, was the Astronomical Clock. Designed by Jens Olsen and completed in 1955, it comprises twelve movements with the fastest gear rotating every 10 seconds and the slowest every 25,753 years. Unfortunately, Olsen died ten years before his life-long work was completed.
After a quick refreshment stop at the Scottish Pub, we walked along to catch the next bus with the intention of alighting once before returning to our accommodation. However, the traffic had other ideas. It took us so long to drive through the traffic that we didn’t get off until our stop.
Dinner was a pizza at a local café followed by suitcase packing and another early night.
Departure
On setting up an account for ‘Bolt’ (an Uber equivalent), we were offered a 50% discount. Taking advantage of this, we booked a taxi for 06:30 to take us to the airport for our Oslo flight. As the car turned into our narrow street, the driver managed to knock over a concrete block with the front of his car – he was outwardly very composed about it, but I am sure he was pretty upset.
The airport was another drama. Having conquered the DIY check in (with assistance), our cases were added to a multitude of similar cases, packed like sardines into rapidly expanding area. Clearly the baggage handling system wasn’t working. Despite this our cases thankfully arrived in Oslo.
Copenhagen
Our next couple of days were essentially transiting towards one of the main events – our Fjord cruise so there won’t be much to report. In the meantime, here are a few thoughts about the city.
- There are bikes everywhere (5 for every 4 people)
- We had to negotiate wide bicycle lanes as well as car lanes
- Most cars are EVs
- The people did not come across as being friendly
- Public transport and eating out were expensive
- There were many parks with small lakes and waterways
- The Danish pastries were delicious
However, its shortcomings can be compensated by some of the best product, furniture and building design, I have had the pleasure of coming across, including such names as: Georg Jensen; Bang and Olufsen, Arne Jacobsen and Jørn Utzon.
10 Responses
Wow great post re Denmark Martin ✔️✔️😀
Thank you, Tony
The name Utzon sounds familiar – racking my brain! 🙂 The Astro clock sounds amazing – 25,753 years rotating gears. Sounds like my mountain bike! Enjoy the trip you both….
Thanks Graham. Utzon was the Sydney Opera House architect.
As I remember it, but your photos are much better !
Thanks Katherine, more photos to come
Enjoy your travels with all the ups and downs. Looking forward to other posts when you can.
Yes the downs make for interesting stories. Thank you
An eventful trip. Enjoy.
Thank you, Ruth