Since we've warned about how expensive this region is, we decided to find a local host to stay with. On the wonderful Airbnb website, we found an room in a new apartment that is very close to the city centre. We also thought this might be a good way to meet a local and have her give us some tips as to where to go and what to do that was not very typical of your everyday tourist.
I must admit, we are getting a lot better with finding our way around town, figuring out transit systems. We were able to locate the apartment with ease, thanks to caching on my iphone. Now, I said we found the apartment building quite easily, but we did however have trouble with finding the actual unit itself. So believe it or not, the unit's front door is located at the end of a long shared balcony on the third floor, guess you only get an indoor front door when you pay a bit more.
Our host, Anna, was a newly grad from college having studied Architecture here in Copenhagen. She was a bit awkward to be honest, and having interrupted her making dinner, we felt like we needed to get in and leave right away so she can carry on in her kitchen.
The apartment was nice, very new, and what worked out nicely for us was that Anna left town after the first night, and won't be returning until we have boarded our cruise. So score on the $50 a night in Copenhagen for a whole two bedroom apartment!!
Now, before I start to talk about the visit into town, there is one thing that was sort of gross here in Copenhagen. Supposedly the water contains a lot of minerals so I guess after awhile, the water that runs in the shower leaves this yellowish gunk on the wall. Needless to say, my showers were short and quick here in Copenhagen! Note, wear your flip flops to shower here!
Anyway, the city centre was very easily accessible by the Metro system here. The metro seemed new, and the stations were clean and very modern.
Our first night brought us out to the Nyhavn area. A man made canal dug initially to bring the merchants closer into the town centre now houses restaurants, bars, and local musicians along its banks. These restaurants and bars took over the old colourful warehouses that stored merchant goods. The atmosphere was fantastic! With music playing, the sun shinning, people chatting and laughing, we decided to join in the vibe and grab dinner.
The next day, we went exploring through the Indre By (Old Town) area. Pedestrian lanes filled with shops and cafes. At the centre, there was a large square with the Stork Fountain. Looking across the square you see the majestic Christiansborg Palace.
The palace is built on an island in the middle of Copenhagen, taking up the entire island without a single square metre wasted. Today, it is where the Danish Parliament meets, along with the Office of the Prime Minister.
Across a bridge from the castle's entrance was the Copenhagen National Museum. Lesson learned, seeing an exhibition backwards, especially when it is about the history of a country, was very difficult to follow!
All the artifacts in the museums were quite interesting, but a couple stood out to me. One was the drinking horns that I suppose the Danish people drank from. Can you imagine a Jager Bomb in this?!
Also, the oldest crucifix in Denmark. This peace caught my eye because of how Jesus looked. This imagine of him seems a bit cartoonish, no?
After the museum, we decided to visit the famous Rosenborg Castle. This castle built in the centre of town is surrounded by a huge park! What was once a private property, the grounds of this park is opened to the general public and was filled with locals sitting around, hanging out, and enjoying the sun. The castle was somewhat small in size in comparison to the Christiansborg, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
The castle, like in fairy tales, is surrounded by water, and there was one bridge that brings you to the castle. This place is now turned into a museum where the Danish Crown Jewels are on display.
After this (I know, we walked a lot, trust me!) we walked along the water and found the famous Mermaid.
The next day, we walked to lunch at a local restaurant and tried Smorbrod, Open Sandwich. The plate came with three smaller versions of them with three different toppings; beef, salmon, and pork. They were delicious!
Afterwards, we walked a bit more to visit Amalienborg Palace which is the winter residence of the Danish Royal Family. I felt so much like a stalker when running and filming the changing of the guards up close!
The palace sits around a square, with a statue in the centre. Traffic drives through this square often, with four streets feeding into the centre. Down one street, you see the Marble Church, which has the biggest dome in Scandinavia. Down another lane, you see across the water, the Copenhagen Opera House.
The trip to Copenhagen was short, but we definitely visited all the major sites in city centre.
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