Copenhagen Day 2

Headed out for breakfast about 9/9:30, thinking we were a bit late for the breakfast menu we found that we were a bit early with the cooked breakfast not available until 10. We had some nice coffee and muesli with yogurt and headed off to find a European adaptor for our charger which we’d forgotten to bring. This was just meant to be a short trip out to get the adaptor, some groceries and head back to the apartment to plan the rest of the day….again we got distracted, all part of the fun of being on holiday. We went up to the Carlsberg Brewery elephants and the old buildings which we so ornate, so lovely to see such variety, then we saw a huge open space/park that we had a wander in, then I have no idea where we went but we passed a few nice churches, some shops (not the grocery shop we were headed for mind) and then walked alongside a train line for a few kms. This was at the back end of a very posh part of town and the houses that backed on to the train line were enormous! Again after spotting the Carlsberg brewery we headed that way. Had a bit of a look around there and then found the grocery shop (after a bit of help from more friendly people) and headed back to the apartment. Some observations so far… bikes are everywhere! Separate lanes for them on most roads, rarely a lycra clad cyclist in sight but everyone seems to ride as if they are on a mission! No starting stopping tourist pace, so we decided to walk…lots as it beats getting killed on bikes, they already get frustrated with us when we get in their way. They also have a multitude of ways to carry toddlers from the little trailers at the back and seats on the back to seats attached to the ‘boy bar’ and huge box type looking arrangements at the front which I’ve seen up to four toddlers in. Second observation, they LOVE the sun! People don’t sit inside coffee shops if it is sunny outside, they sit on the steps, they sit on some benches or they just stand outside and drink their coffee. Anywhere there is a pavement with some sun someone brings out a chair and takes up residence, the people working in the little shops stand outside in the sun, not to tout for business but they don’t stay inside. Huge centre islands have been turned into picnic areas and they are crowded! They have also added basketball and soccer courts on the islands with mesh surrounds, every piece of land that might get some sun! We headed out to Christiansborg Palace, there was no tours running this week as the Queen’s sister is having a party on Saturday so it is closed for cleaning. We did have a look at the courtyards though and also underneath at the many layers of ruins. This current palace is the third with this name built on this site, the two previous palaces burnt in 1794 and 1884. The tower on top of the palace is the highest in Copenhagen at 106m. The King’s Gate section is from the second palace. Underneath we went on a self guided tour of the ruins of the two building previously on this site, Bishop Absalon’s Castle and Copenhagen Castle, from about 800 years ago. Started walking down to picturesque Nyhavn or New Harbour, it is just as lovely as the postcards. 17th century townhouses and wooden boats run the length of the canal. This has been the entertainment district for a very long time. Again people perched on every piece of sunlight available. We had dinner at Nyhavn 37 which was really nice and then a cruise along some of the canals. Some of the bridges over the canal were really low and if the tide is high sometimes the tour needs to go another way. We saw many waterfront buildings including the new opera house and also the statue of the little mermaid. We strolled home along Stroget, the longest pedestrian mall in Europe apparently, about 2km. It was about 10pm by this time so window shopping only. Fell into bed around midnight, then up again at 5am because its so light!