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Mum’s Gone to Copenhagen – Part Two – Danes just wanna have fun.

Trish Burgess 28/04/201107/04/2016 Copenhagen, Denmark 14 Comments

Nyhavn – harbour in Copenhagen

After the odd sleeping arrangements of the previous night (see last post ) we were grateful to be back together again for breakfast. The number of families with small children in the dining room gave us some indication of why our request for connecting rooms seemed to have been forgotten. Thankfully after a gorgeous buffet of Danish pastries, Danish bacon and probably Danish smoothies we were pleased to discover Rory’s new room, nearly opposite ours, had been prepared. It was bigger than the previous one and although it wasn’t connected to ours, I could see that they had done their best to put things right.

Emma, my new blogging buddy in Denmark, had suggested a cycle tour as probably the most fun way to explore the city. She obviously doesn’t know my family that well so, after I’d explained that I couldn’t see cycling on proper roads equating to fun with my lot, we opted for her second suggestion of a canal tour. Well done that woman. This was a fantastic way to see all the best bits of the city and not get stroppy with each other once the tiredness set in. We were able to hop on and off at certain points to see the following:

Copenhagen’s new Opera House. The impressive Skuespilhuset theatre, on the opposite bank, echoed the architecture of this magnificent building.

The Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue). She had just returned from a jaunt to China where she had been in an exhibition for a few months. I think I’d have been rather disappointed if we’d come to visit her in Copenhagen, only for her to have been replaced by a video screen. The guide told us she had heard from a Chinese man that the queue to see the statue in Shanghai was over 8 hours long. I can see why he decided to hop on a plane for Denmark instead.

After we’d climbed the 400 steps to the top of Our Saviour’s Church (no mean feat in itself) we took a peek inside as I’d been told I could see a huge organ on two elephants. Indeed, I could.

We returned to Nyhavn where the sun had beckoned all the workers to the pavement bars and cafes for their lunch. This is where we observed hygge, the Danish expression which explains their attitude and lifestyle. Meaning ‘cosiness’ it conveys the laid-back attitude, their love of life and yet their acceptance of rules, order and a realisation that the sun might not be out for long! Everyone had their face turned upwards to catch the rays yet many cafes had throws or blankets neatly folded over the backs of the chairs – some colour co-ordinated with the tablecloths.

A walk down Stroget, the main shopping street, followed, starting with Upper Stroget and the stylish boutiques of Gucci and Louis Vuitton, and ending in Lower Stroget with Macdonalds and Foot Locker. Isn’t that the same all over! Away from this main street, the boulevards were wide, spacious and very attractive: the buildings a similar height with a symmetry to the shape and number of windows. Nothing looked out of place and even the modern architecture didn’t upset the balance.

A couple of bouncers guarding Tivoli?

Evening is probably the best time to visit one of Europe’s oldest amusement parks, Tivoli Gardens. It’s rather small but very pretty and sparkly, enjoyed by all ages. The boys had done their homework on where to eat and had plumped for a steakhouse, Hereford Beefstouw. It wasn’t cheap but in our opinion the steaks were thick, juicy and tasted fabulous. We were seated at stripped wooden tables and given a little ticket and a pencil. A quick look at the menu before ticking which steak, how we wanted it cooked and whether we wanted potatoes or chips. Pop your initials and table number on the card then hand it to the waiter. I loved that. My steak arrived and I was so excited that I forgot I wasn’t “RB” and happily accepted Rory’s plate. Dougie shook his head and, unable to hold the cast iron plates, swapped the steaks over with two forks, setting fire to his arm hair on the candle in the process.

We weren’t up to going on the rides after that, which was just as well as Dougie and I have an innate hatred/fear of most of them and Rory would happily go on them but apparently not with us as we’re embarrassing. We spent some time just absorbing the happy atmosphere before I wandered off to a stage where an orchestra was playing pop classics. The boys weren’t keen so I left them to sulk on a bench. As Riverdance was being played I ambled back to the menfolk and, as they came into view, I treated them to a little Irish jig. They fell about laughing which I thought a touch harsh until Dougie explained that two seconds earlier he had warned Rory, “I bet you anything your mother will come back doing a Michael Flately”.

As Day Two came to a close, we happened on this video screen showing previews of films for the festival. Not sure this one would be top of my list:

Friday Update

28/03/2014
The Gallery: Morning in Copenhagen

16/05/2012
The Gallery – Vintage – The Mystery of the Danish Dish

20/07/2011

14 Comments

Emma Reply
28/04/2011 at 6:09 am

Nude Nuns with Big Guns??!? Hilarious! Would you believe that having been here almost two years I haven't been brave enough to climb the 400 steps of the church yet… Just so happy it was warm and sunny for you, temperatures due to drop over the next few days again! Looking forward to part III! Emma 🙂
Kelloggsville Reply
28/04/2011 at 6:42 am

This is really interesting. Hubby wants to go to Denmark for a visit. I have written it off as my brother described it as the most boring place on earth! Will there be a part 3?
Steve Reply
28/04/2011 at 6:49 am

Nude Nuns With Big Guns? I assume we're not talking about weight lifting sisters here? Still, worth the price of a plane ticket alone I would have thought…!
Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
28/04/2011 at 6:55 am

@Emma – it was quite a tight squeeze inside the tower but not too bad once the steps reached the outside. We hadn't planned to go up but, having got off the boat in Christianshavn, Rory seemed keen!

@Kelloggsville – we all thought it was one of the friendliest cities we'd been to. Lots to see, good mix of restaurants, clean, attractive streets. We were lucky with the weather but I'd go back tomorrow to see the inside of all the fab buildings we saw but didn't have time to explore.

Part Three coming up soon!
Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
28/04/2011 at 7:05 am

@Steve – I should really have found out when it was on and bought a ticket. I got the gist of it from the preview: plot didn't look too complicated and their guns were loaded.
Sarah Reply
28/04/2011 at 8:10 am

It sounds a lovely city, especially the river tour. I went on one in Amsterdam and Bath – it's a great way to explore.

Not sure I'd put that film on my must-see list either!
Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
28/04/2011 at 9:02 am

@Sarah – I can recommend it, so much to see and do. We did a river tour in Berlin but couldn't get off it: this way was much better
Expat mum Reply
28/04/2011 at 4:53 pm

I keep meaning to pop over to Copenhagen when we're over that way in the summer, but there's always so much to do….
libby Reply
28/04/2011 at 5:16 pm

Knew you couln't resist the lure of a huge organ….
Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
28/04/2011 at 5:25 pm

@Expat Mum – it's a great city and easy to get around: not too big.

@Libby – you know me too well!
MadameSmokinGun Reply
28/04/2011 at 11:54 pm

I couldn't think of a better title for a film ever! Fantastic!
Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
29/04/2011 at 7:01 am

@Madame SG – I keep thinking of some of the nuns who taught me at school and, quite frankly, this is giving me nightmares.
EmmaK Reply
29/04/2011 at 4:31 pm

Okay lovely views yada yada just one more quesion: are Danish men insanely hot or is that just a personal fantasy of mine due to watching one too many Danish blue movies?

Also talking of cheese you are tagged over at mine to reveal the contents of your fridge.
Trish @ Mum's Gone to... Reply
30/04/2011 at 9:27 pm

@Emma – Did you read any of this or quickly scan for pics of hot Danes?? I should just put bullet points and photos!
I rather liked the Danish men: there was something very chilled and yes, quite sexy about them and an intelligence which I'm sure comes over in the movies you've been watching (maybe 'comes over' isn't the right phrase).

I may have something Danish in my fridge – cool and thirst-quenching….