First Trip to Copenhagen

Our three day visit to Copenhagen could be considered more of a “dash” than a trip. The experience was also another round of adventures focused on figuring out transportation from downtown Stockholm to the airport and then navigating public transportation in Copenhagen.

We took the subway to the central train station early Sunday and caught the nonstop 20 min. train from Stockholm to Arlanda airport. By 1pm we were at our hotel in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen is a wonderful city, but has a more utilitarian feel than Stockholm. There were also many sidewalk detours where the street was torn up or the sidewalk was under construction.

We hopped on a sightseeing bus that offered a narrated city tour and opportunities to hop on and off at selected sights. The bus was overcrowded and because the standing people didn't have headsets they talked to each other and it got so loud we couldn't hear the recording. We did get a chance to see more of the city and Copenhagen’s famous Little Mermaid that’s been sitting in the harbor since 1913.

The statue is based on a fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince. It’s one of the biggest tourist attractions in Denmark.

On Monday and Tuesday, Jay was off to his business meetings and I continued touring. My first stop was the Royal Palace (I missed seeing the changing of the guards) then off to a tour of the beautiful grounds of the nearby Rosenborg Castle. Thanks to the advice of Lynn, new American Women’s Club friend, I found Strøget Street, the main walking boulevard that runs east and west.

Walking from one end to the other of this commercial district, there are large intersections with beautiful fountains in the middle. At the east end is kongens nytorv, King’s New Square, a beautiful little park with lots of trees, benches, and a view of the canal where you can get on a boat and take harbor tours. All along the canal are trendy new cafés in an area called nyhavn, New Port.

Tuesday was spent at the well-maintained Botanical Gardens. What an impressive place! The east side functions as a public park with a small lake, but the majority of the grounds has marked specimens and about a dozen greenhouses. One was a tropical rain forest visitors could walk through. There were spiral staircases to climb to the top of the canopy. I was surprised at how hot and humid it became with each step up. By the time I got to the top my glasses were fogged up and I could hardly breathe it was so humid and hot. I had no idea! By the time I took the last step off the ladder and put my feet on the ground, it actually felt cool. I never would have believed it if I hadn't experienced it myself!

By 2:30 Jay’s meetings were finished and it was time to take the train to the airport and head back to Stockholm.

Slide Show of our Trip to Copenhagen