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Home  >  Blog  >  Mum’s Going to Copenhagen

Mum’s Going to Copenhagen

Trish Burgess Posted on11/03/201107/04/2016 Copenhagen, Denmark 20 Comments
Hotel Kong Arthur, Copenhagen

We’ve been debating for some weeks now about where to go during the Easter holidays. Last year Rory went skiing in Italy with the school so Dougie and I had a romantic break in the Cotswolds and it was heaven. But we love holidays together, the three Musketeers exploring the world, or at least the contents of the mini-bar.

We asked Rory if he had any thoughts of where he might like to go and surprisingly, rather than a teenage grunt and shrug of shoulders, he announced, “Scandinavia”. Ok, if the Little Prince fancies Scandinavia, then that’s worth considering.

I didn’t do anything more about it until last weekend when I started to read through my dad’s memoirs which he wrote some years ago. I’ve only picked them up again since he died recently but they have been so enlightening as I’ve been able to think about the boy and the young man that he was and not dwell on the old man in a wheelchair.

Reading about his student days I learned about two trips he made to Denmark at the end of his second and third year. He was studying architecture and his thesis was on multi-storey housing, something which was still unusual in the 1950s in Britain but fairly common elsewhere in Europe.

He had cadged a lift from his sister’s boyfriend through France, Belgium and into Germany, before taking the ferry to Denmark and then a train to Copenhagen itself. His recollections of Copenhagen mention the clean, efficient lines of Danish design, the beauty of the city surrounded by waterways, the party atmosphere of the Tivoli Gardens and developing a taste for Danish lager.

He continued his trip into Sweden and Norway but returned the next year, this time with a Danish girlfriend in tow. He had met Else in Cambridge; she was acting as an au-pair to one of the Cambridge dons whilst studying English for a year. Having enjoyed her company in his final year of University, culminating in attending a May Ball together, he travelled back to Denmark with Else, so he could carry out further studies of Scandinavian architecture and she could return to her family. They had arranged accommodation for him in a small apartment just off the quayside in Copenhagen so he had a few weeks on his own there to explore the city once again.

As my dad was moving to Newcastle in the September to continue his studies and Else was staying in Denmark working as a journalist, they decided to go their separate ways and, thankfully for me, Dad eventually met my mum a year or two later and a romance blossomed.

So, what better way to follow in my dad’s footsteps than have a few days in Copenhagen. I did some research, found some reasonably-priced EasyJet flights from Stansted and pored over TripAdvisor before settling on the Hotel Kong Arthur. Kong is Danish for King so it looks like we are continuing the Spamalot theme of recent weeks.

So Easter in Copenhagen it is then. Wonderful.

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20 Comments

  1. Sarah Reply
    11/03/2011 at 9:53 am

    How lovely, hope you have a great holiday!

  2. Michelloui | The American Resident Reply
    11/03/2011 at 11:10 am

    I would LOVE to travel more through out Scandinavia! I had a Finnish boyfriend which meant i stayed in Finland for a while, and I spent a day in Stockholm, but there's so so so much more I'd love to see. Iceland too. Have fun!

  3. Michelloui | The American Resident Reply
    11/03/2011 at 11:12 am

    Oh, and I actually meant to say as well, that your reasons for going are great, especially to honour your dad. How cool that he has memoirs. I know my dad thinks about writing some but I hope he actually sets about doing it.

  4. Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
    11/03/2011 at 1:25 pm

    Sarah – I hope we do. Only three nights but enough to get the flavour of the city.

    Michelloui – We got the bug when we visited Iceland so I think after this trip we will hopefully visit Norway and Sweden. I had a holiday in Norway as a child but neither my husband or son have been.
    I just wish I'd started typing and reading the memoirs earlier then I could have talked to him about them. Thankfully many of the stories I had heard from him before so I'm trying not to beat myself up about it.

  5. Very Bored in Catalunya Reply
    11/03/2011 at 1:54 pm

    Sounds fab, I've always fancied it myself but haven't got around to it yet. All the better for having a connection for your Dad though. Hope you all have a great time. x

  6. Steve Reply
    11/03/2011 at 2:01 pm

    Sounds a terrific idea and I like your reasons for going. Already looking forward to seeing the pics.

  7. Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
    11/03/2011 at 2:27 pm

    Very Bored – I'm getting excited just looking at my little guide book: I drive the boys mad, keep reading out bits!

    Steve – I will try and come out from behind the camera now and again so I can soak up the atmosphere, but I promise there will be some snaps for you.

  8. libby Reply
    11/03/2011 at 5:02 pm

    The whole thing sounds wonderful…..your inspiration for going, the link with your dad, still being a 'travelling trio' and visiting a part of the world that I am so looking forward to seeing…looking forward to the post visit post!

  9. Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
    11/03/2011 at 5:13 pm

    Libby – I realise Rory is such a lucky boy to have had so many interesting holidays in his young life so far. We love being a little trio!

  10. Emma Reply
    11/03/2011 at 7:21 pm

    Give me a shout if you need any pointers! Emma
    http://www.scandinaviansojourn.blogspot.com

  11. Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
    11/03/2011 at 8:53 pm

    Emma – I remember popping over to yours for The Gallery. That's great, thank you! Any ideas for teenagers?

  12. Emma Reply
    12/03/2011 at 6:06 am

    Have sent you an email! Emma

  13. The Dotterel Reply
    12/03/2011 at 8:20 am

    … It's a lovely old girl of a town, apparently. And I hope you'll be singing that when you get there!

  14. Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
    12/03/2011 at 8:44 am

    The Dotterel – but of course! I have a habit of doing that when we're away: Arrivederci Roma, Y Viva Espana….all the old favourites!

  15. Lottie Reply
    12/03/2011 at 3:59 pm

    Aw lucky you….we'll be spending Easter at The Building Site, down the bumpy lane, Somewhere in deepest darkest Sussex…

  16. Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
    12/03/2011 at 5:38 pm

    Lottie – have heard good reviews of The Building Site: hope you have a lovely time!!!

  17. Funky Wellies Reply
    14/03/2011 at 7:21 am

    Love the fact that you will be spending time in a place linked to your Dad.
    Easter should be safe, I would not recommend winter! We went to visit Santa Claus in Finland one February, it took us two days to get back home due to weather conditions… Funnily enough we ended up somehow in Copenhagen but all I saw was the hotel we finally ended up in at 2:00 AM and the airport, so cannot really recommend any places to visit!
    Looking forward to reading about your adventures.

  18. Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
    14/03/2011 at 8:48 am

    Funky Wellies – well you're no use to me haha! Thankfully Emma (see comments above) has sent me lots of information about the city which is brilliant.
    I'm hoping the weather will be okay but will wrap up warm!

  19. Hotels in Copenhagen Reply
    30/03/2011 at 10:30 am

    So lovely!!This will the best place for your holiday!!Enjoy your time with pleasure!!

  20. Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
    30/03/2011 at 10:38 am

    Hotels in Copenhagen – thank you! So looking forward to coming: it won't be long now.

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