The adolescent Merman |
Getting lost can often be a good thing. We decided to return to the city centre via a different train station, Hellerup, as the Bodyworlds exhibition (see Part Three) was equidistant between two. We took a right turn and then, for the hell of it, carried on walking down a residential street to see where it took us. A minute later we were on the beach! Where did that come from?
The sea was calm, the sun was actually quite hot and we really weren’t dressed for a day at the seaside. The Danes seemed equally surprised and there was much rolling up of trousers and unfurling of scarves. A few brave souls walked out onto the jetty and took a dip, for all of five seconds before coming out blue and shell-shocked. Rory did his Little Mermaid impression on the rocks and we found an ice-cream hut next to a park, selling Mr Whippy-type cones. It was just like Whitley Bay.
We asked directions to find the station (well I asked directions: Dougie would have walked for the rest of the day hoping for divine navigational inspiration). Had a bit of a domestic as Dougie thought I’d dragged us onto the wrong train then later, as we approached our stop, we suddenly had to make a dash for the doors: we were convinced we’d stopped in a tunnel but it was only dark because we were still wearing our sunglasses. Felt like proper chumps.
Ten minutes later we were supping a Danish lager, lounging in the comfy chairs in the hotel’s courtyard. As the world’s best restaurant, Noma, was fully booked, we plumped for a meal at the nearby Spanish gaff, Pintxos. Not doing very well at experiencing the Danish cuisine. We should have dined on pickled herring and foraged fungi during our trip but had so far eaten pizza, sirloin steak and tapas.
Our final day was another cloudless one. Before heading to the airport we visited a very cute castle, Rosenborg Slot, looking like something out of Hans Christian Anderson folklore. The highlights? The huge silver lions in the throne room, the crown jewels in the basement and the glass tableware, including, bizarrely, glass cutlery. Ouch.
This was Good Friday so the nearby King’s Gardens were packed with Copenhagen’s families enjoying the day off. What was so lovely was the lack of shrieking and yelling you might get elsewhere. How do the Danes do it? Their children played happily but quietly: no whinging, no raised voices from adults or children. Must be all that cycling they do: exercise and plenty of fresh air. Though I know it’s more than that – it’s just their nature and I’m envious.
A beautiful airport where, for once, we chose to eat before we went through security. Where that might have been a good idea in Madrid or Montreal, here in Copenhagen it was a bad move. We could have dined in noodle restaurants, cavier bars, pastry shops and all manner of gorgeous eateries: too bad we’d had a pizza and coke meal deal at the 7/11 before checking in.
Flying our plane home was a female co-pilot: rather nice, for a change, to hear her fabulously jolly-hockey-sticks voice over the tannoy. At Stansted we pulled up a few yards short of the bay. Supposedly a problem on the ground but Dougie and Rory chuckled about the female pilot’s parking difficulties. I had to put up with comments like “Oh the pilot must be saying: move over darling, I’ll take it from here” and “Good job she doesn’t have to reverse”. It was like sitting between Richard Keys and Andy Gray.
As we were about to leave the plane, Dougie couldn’t find his passport. He swore blind I had it in my handbag and if there wasn’t so much rubbish in it I’d be able to find it. I swore blind that I didn’t have it, it was in his bloody rucksack. The argument continued through clenched teeth until everyone else had left the plane.Then I heard the words, “Oh it’s in my pocket”. My heart was still pounding as I had to restrain myself from punching his lights out. The poor steward stood nervously by the exit saying, “Hope you’ve had a good flight” as I stomped down the steps, hissing at my shame-faced husband, “You absolute f**ker”. Which is so unlike me.
I’m sure you’ve all given up on this post already as I know it’s too long but, for my own purposes, I want to remember everything about this holiday: we experienced so much in such a short space of time. And we still didn’t see everything we wanted to. Next time I’d like to visit The Black Diamond (the new granite extension to the Royal Library), the Royal Palaces of Amalienborg and the Danish Design Centre.
I also missed seeing the Carlsberg Glyptotek which is a shame because it’s the best art gallery in the world…..probably.
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You should actually put "Final Part for Now" as it sounds like you still have a lot to see here and NOMA is definitely worth a visit too!! Funnily enough I visited Rosenborg for the first time yesterday, and will blog about it shortly… Now that's what I call a summer house 😉 Emma
@Emma – Definitely a city to return to – all three of us agreed that we'd had a fantastic time. Thanks again for all the suggestions x
Nope, didn't give up, made it all the way as I was absolutely loving the fact that another family has 'moments' like ours. Sort of gave me a sense of 'oh that's alright then' !!! Does Rory know he is now posted as the little mermaid?!!
@Kelloggsville – pleased you stuck with it and it gave you some comfort!!
Rory never seems to mind how he's portrayed in the blog – such an accommodating young man.
No holiday is complete without Carry On About The Passport. It's as British as Sid James.
@Steve – I think you're onto something here. Never mind 'Mum's Gone to…', I think Carry On Copenhagen sounds just right.
You've done a great sell on Copenhagen/Denmark and have certainly wetted my appetite to visit. Its only a hop down the road for us to the ferry there from Harwich ("Harwich for the continent, Frinton for the incontinent") so we really ought to do it sometime soon.
I was also seriously considering visiting the Spalding festival last weekend. It was only the fact that it clashed with an Ipwich Town home game that made me defer it.
@Troy – We enjoyed the Spalding Flower Parade but it was a lot shorter then other years so lacked a bit of oomph. Mind you, I think I miss being on the floats: I was on the SADOS music float for three years and it was brilliant fun.
For both the parade and Denmark we were lucky with excellent weather which can colour one's view of a place. Even so, a big thumbs up for Copenhagen as a city break destination.
Give up on reading? You must be kidding, enjoyed all four parts! I was so entertained that I have to admit you made me want to discover this city… Very happy for you that you had a great holiday!
PS: loved the passport incident…
@Funky W – You deserve a medal – did you do it in one sitting?
The passport incident – AAAGH – I just knew I didn't have it but I still searched and searched. I could have happily throttled him.
Hello you! This trip is on my wish list for sure. Besides Denmark I'd love to visit Sweden too. For a bit of shopping besides sightseeing. xoxo
'Divine navigational intervention..'…made me smile, that is exactly what the mister is like.
And I cannot wait to do some exploring…anywhere anytime…..
I did do it in one sitting, actually! I was in Vienna last week – post coming up – and caught up when I came back… ;o)
@Michelle – We've never been to Sweden either but it looks beautiful. Like the idea of their summer houses.
@Libby – That's the male psyche for you!
@Funky – Wow, that's dedication. I hope you had wine and chocolate to keep you going. Looking forward to reading about Vienna.
You must be married to my husbands' identical twin, he never asks directions either! Plus the handbagpassport-gate is a scenario often acted out in our household. Think its lovely to get lost as that's when find the best restaurants and experiences. We made the fatal mistake of asking the concierge for a restaurant last night, worst most expensive paella ever and $30 for a two min cab ride. Hola Barcelona!
Must be related to mine too – why do men never like to ask for bloody directions? Is it emasculating or something? I feel a post coming on! Last year we had just waited in various log 'lines' at passport control and baggage etc then taken a mono rail to the area for hire cars when my hubby realised he must have left his wallet on the plane and had to make a return journey (twice) back to the plane to retrieve it. Of course, he insisted that I had it in my bag. It's great to hear that so many others have little domestics on holiday!!! Laughed at poor Rory as Little Mermaid – he will NOT thank you when he gets a girl friend ….I guess he will just not mention that his Mum has a blog!!!!!
@About last weekend (Jody)- You've obviously got our luck as regards taxi drivers: even when they are metered we get stung. I didn't know you were in Barcelona? Will have to read your posts and swap notes!
@Diney – yet more men not asking for directions: the generalisation seems to be true! Can't believe your hubby left his wallet on the plane and blamed you. They are such buggers, are they not!
Rory has removed me as a Facebook friend so my blog posts can't be seen. No idea why 😉
I like hearing about the domestic stuff. Nice to know everyone has it!
@Deer Baby – glad to be of service. It's no good just hearing about wonderful holidays without the squabbling.