1979 Copenhagen (8/5/1979)

Sunday, August 5, 1979

During the night we passed through West Germany; customs officials woke us to check our passports. Early in the morning we arrived in Puttgarden where the train was put on a large ferry boat. We walked around the boat, changed some money and checked out the duty-free “grocery” store. Soon we arrived in Copenhagen at 9:15 or 8:15 local time. We bought a city map and started looking for monuments. We found a couple museums which weren't yet open, but we weren't really that interested anyway. Here at least we saw a lot of interesting architecture, and a lot of “neat” old buildings. And it was sunny but cool. We walked along the harbor, then in around one of the castles. We found a harbor boat tour readying to leave and decided to take it. Saw the palace where the Royal Family now lives, the ship-building yards, and the very tiny Little Mermaid sitting on a rock. On a canal we passed through an older neighborhood of Copenhagen seeing one of the major churches with the spiral staircase around its steeple. Saw where Hans Christian Anderson lived. If one was standing on the boat, he had to duck for the bridges we passed under. Later we walked to the grounds of Rosenborg Castle where we shivered while natives sunbathed in bikinis, a lot of them in one-piece bikinis! We toured the castle, stock full of things for antique-lovers, which also included the impressive crown jewel collection. We then wanted to try a smorgasbord, but the cheapest place suggested by the “$10” book was closed. So we went to the train station to gorge ourselves on their “bord.” It was very good but didn't have any particularly Danish specialties. We then went across the street to the Tivoli amusement park. It had an entrance fee, but inside it seemed to be mostly restaurants. At the entrance was a hand-driven calliope; some kids were attempting to turn the wheel without much success, because the music slowed down! We tried some slot machines, winning a little, but playing it all since you cannot cash the tokens. We tried out a roller coaster, a caterpillar ride, and a ridiculous in-the-dark ride where we banged through a series of doors painted as nude women in a variety of odd positions. Little kids ride this? We watched an all-girl marching band concert and saw a troupe of gymnasts bouncing around. The park was filled with elderly people hanging out on the plentiful benches. Outside the park we did some window shopping and shopping for water. Found a Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken! In The Hague and here we saw a lot of guitarists and a harmonica player as street performers. Now we are waiting in the balcony cafeteria in the train station for the train back to The Hague where we will see if the Ls are home. We had dinner at Burger King. In the Netherlands and Denmark, almost everyone understood English, so language has not been a problem. In fact, the boat guide gave his spiel in Danish, German and English, and was willing to do French as well, although no one French was on board.

Map of Copenhagen

Next: Amsterdam.