tag:dreamwidth.org,2017-04-10:3013977ResQgeekResQgeekResQgeek2017-06-15T13:11:46Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2017-04-10:3013977:217692København2017-06-15T13:11:46Z2017-06-15T13:11:46Zpublic2I was simply charmed by Copenhagen (København to the locals). This is a capital signal that has a laid-back feel that I haven't found to be the case in other cities. It is an old city, with all the grace that often accompanies deeply historical places, but at the same time, this is also a thoroughly modern city, with a convenient, clean, and efficient transportation network that functions well in conjunction with the widespread use of bicycles. Even as a newly arrived visitor, I found it simple to take advantage of the public transportation options: We used the train to get from the airport to our hotel, the train and bus to get from the hotel to the cruise port, and the bus and metro to get from the cruise port beck to the airport. The prices were reasonable, the connections easy to figure out, and the schedule reliable. We did all of this for less than the cost of a single taxi ride. Coming from the Washington, DC area, where our public transit system has been in crisis mode for the last few years and seems in danger of becoming utterly useless, it was refreshing to take advantage of such a well planned and maintained system.<br /><br />As I was writing my initial entry about our arrival in Copenhagen, my wife was taking a nap. Shortly after I posted that entry, she woke up and we ventured back out into the city for a couple more hours. We walked along the water towards the old fort at the north end of the old part of the city. We weren't really looking for any specific landmarks, but simply enjoying the evening in a new city. Eventually, we discovered the Little Mermaid statue, one of the iconic tourist spots in this hometown of Hans Christian Anderson. Because it was late evening on a weekday, and because there was a concert elsewhere in the city as part of an ongoing music festival, the normal crowds that make this a difficult spot to visit were not in evidence, and we could linger to get photos from different angles, and appreciate the setting, on the edge of the harbor.<br /><br /><img src="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p261x260/18766096_10156170183553709_3539577452105702170_n.jpg?oh=9ed8dcb7839f576a57f0f8f08827be14&oe=59E5EEFA" width="333" height="500" alt="The Little Mermaid" /><br /><br />We then began our walk back towards our hotel, exiting the castle area through the Churchillparken. We admired the handsome St. Alban's Anglican church here, and found a bust of Winston Churchill. This is also the future site of a museum dedicated to the Danish resistance during WWII. This museum is being built underground (fittingly), and, from the descriptions on the signs we saw, sounds like something I will want to return someday to visit.<br /><br />During our all day tour of the city on our second day here, we got a terrific overview of the city, as well as an introduction to the history. We visited the Christianborg Palace, once home to the royal family but now serving to house Parliament, as well as Amalienborg Palace, the current home of the Danish Queen, as well as the Crown Prince and Princess. At each of these locations, I was struck by the lack of a security perimeter...In each case, the streets were open to the public right up to the buildings, and there was very little visible security presence. Granted, the ceremonial guards at Amalienborg were carrying very modern and functional rifles, and I have no doubt that each location is thoroughly covered by video surveillance, but the contrast to the bunker-style security we have put into place in Washington, DC, was stark.<br /><br />Over our two days here, we saw a great deal, walking miles through the maze of streets that make up the old part of the city. Clearly, we didn't see everything that there was to see, but it was a satisfying visit, leaving me very impressed with the city and its people. I certainly hope that I'll be able to return someday so that I can spend some time exploring the many museums that fill the city.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=resqgeek&ditemid=217692" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments