English Spoken Here
While in the French Riviera, I tried using French
phrases here and there for fun and to provoke smiles on shopkeepers’ faces
because they knew I was trying my best. Despite a quick crash course in Danish
in the Duolingo app on the plane, I
knew I was not up for the challenge in Copenhagen. There is, however, no need
to know how to speak Danish because everyone there speaks English as well as or
better than you.
Great Location
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| A street near our flat with cafes and shops. |
We got settled into our Airbnb that was just a few
minutes’ walk from Tivoli Gardens, and
realized that we were above several rather noisy cafés – and this was one
o’clock in the afternoon – by the end of our time there we got so used to the
café noise we didn’t even notice it anymore. We have come to appreciate living
in an Airbnb because it gives us all the convenience of home abroad, and it is very
reasonably priced compared to hotels.
Temperature Change
On the first day we walked around and got acclimated
to our neighborhood. The major difference between the South of France and Denmark
was a big drop in temperatures. While we had 90-degree days in France, in
Copenhagen it was 65 degrees and cloudy. While this was not beach weather, it was
excellent weather for walking around the city and seeing the sights. One of the outstanding aspects of this city is its beautiful, well preserved architecture.
Shopping Spree
While my wife and daughter were on a mission to shop,
my son and I were on a mission to hit the two LEGO stores in town. Despite the
rain, we navigated the streets with our trusty map app on the phone, and we
found the first store. It seemed to be like any other LEGO store we have been
to except the amazing one in London.
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| Making a personalized LEGO |
The second LEGO store was a bit of a walk from the
first, but it was right next to Tivoli Gardens, and it was a phenomenal
two-story establishment. One the second floor there was an option to create a
personalized LEGO that would be made while you waited. Using a computer screen
and lots of patience, my son designed his LEGO character, and it was an
enjoyable moment.
LEGO Pilgrimage
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| LEGO motto: "Only the best is good enough." |
The next day we decided to take the trip to Billund,
Denmark, home of LEGO House where Ole Kirk Christiansen, the creator and founder
of LEGO, started it all. The train ride takes two hours and fifteen minutes,
and we got to see a beautiful country that is very flat and very green. We
passed many farms and went through small towns. Once you get off the train at
Give, you must take a bus to get to Legoland. Getting off there, you need to
walk another twenty minutes to get to LEGO House. Some might call this a
difficult journey, but it was like a pilgrimage for LEGO fans like us.
We were excited to see where it all started. You can
see the story from initially wooden toys to the transition to plastic and the
design of attachable bricks. Classic sets are displayed lovingly, and you get a
feeling as a LEGO lover that you have come home. There is also a process where
you can watch the machine making the LEGO bricks, and you get a souvenir bag of
classic red bricks to take home. Having gotten our LEGO
passports in Copenhagen, we were sure to get them stamped at LEGO House in
Billund. You can get them stamped at any LEGO store in the world, so get yours
next time your visit a location.
Afterwards, we did go into Legoland but, since our
journey took so long, we only had a few hours before the park closed at seven
o’clock. Still, there was enough time to get on some exciting rides, including
a canoe ride that seems very much like the old Splash Mountain at Disney World.
Swedish Meatballs
The next day we took a train into Malmo, Sweden. This
lovely Swedish seaport is ideal for shopping and sampling the cuisine. My goal
was to get real Swedish meatballs, and I lucked out and got the treat as we ate
a delicious lunch in Gustav Adolf Restaurant. The menu here is extensive, but I
zeroed in on the meatballs, and it was my favorite meal on the trip.
Malmo has more the feel of a modern city, but we did
come across some wonderful old structures that have been preserved well. We
would have liked to explore more of Sweden, but we were pressed for time and
hope to get to Stockholm and other places on another visit.
Tivoli Gardens
Tivoli Gardens is an amusement park in the heart of
Copenhagen – imagine Disney World in Central Park – but it is a gorgeous
combination of rides, shops, dining, and entertainment in a beautiful setting.
Once you pay admission – a very reasonable $171 for four people – you have
access to all rides and attractions. Besides not having Disney’s exorbitant ticket
prices, you have exciting rides – be sure to check out Star Tower,
The Roller Coaster, and the exciting Swing Carousel – that don’t have
excessively long lines to enter.
There is ongoing entertainment throughout the day, the
shops have reasonable prices, and the dining choices (24 in all) are varied and
affordable. There are also 17 different places to get ice cream, which happens
to be rich, creamy, and delicious.
Tivoli was
celebrating its 180th year in business this summer, and it is
one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. It should be noted that a man
named Walt
Disney visited Tivoli Gardens and got inspiration to open something similar
back home. Walt described Tivoli as “a spotless, bright coloured [sic] park, and
priced within reach of everyone.” I found it interesting that this is still
true of Tivoli Gardens, while the same cannot be said of the Disney parks
today.
Harbor Swim
We had heard that the harbor
waters in Copenhagen are so clean that people could swim there. We went to explore this
possibility, and sure enough there was an area that is gated off but allows
swimmers to swim in the harbor. My kids jumped in without hesitation, even
diving off a very high replica of a ship. While the water was too cold for me,
I am glad they had a chance to enjoy this unique aspect of city life here. The
park area around the water reminded me of Brooklyn Bridge Park back home,
where no one would seriously consider swimming in the East River.
Bicycle City
A major part of life in Copenhagen is the bicycle.
They are seen everywhere, and someone told me that even during snowstorms the
hardiest of city dwellers will still ride their bikes. The most amazing thing
is to see how many bikes are sometimes haphazardly parked all over the place,
with very few being locked up like we do at home.
The Ubiquitous Copenhagen Bench
Copenhagen is a very walkable city and, with that in
mind, there is the ubiquitous Copenhagen bench. These benches can be found all
over the city, providing a place for the weary citizen or tourist to take a
break and rest their weary feet. They are also a great spot to people watch or eat a
quick bite before getting back to walking to your next destination.
Fine Dining
The food in Copenhagen is excellent, where each meal
seemingly surpasses the last one. Interestingly, the two classic foods to get
are the hotdog with relish and an open sandwich – for which there are many
possibilities. The interesting thing with the hotdog is you get two for the
price of one – one inside the bun with relish and or mustard and the other
sticking out of it.
My best meal in Copenhagen was an open-faced pulled
pork sandwich with red cabbage, pickles, onions, and more. It was simply
delicious. Add a glass of cold local beer and you’re on your way to gastronomic
heaven.
Five Thumbs Up
Leaving Copenhagen after seven days, we felt like we
had seen a great deal but that more awaited us on a return visit. That is the
most beautiful aspect of travelling – finding a place that you loved enough to
mark as one to which you want to return.
We had a glorious time in Copenhagen and give it five
thumbs up as an ideal tourist destination. If you’re looking for a place that
has something for people of all ages, it is hard to think of a better place
than Copenhagen – salty old queen of the sea.
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