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Day 13, 25 June 2014, Copenhagen - Stroll to the Marble Church, Amalienborg Palace - Museum and Changing of the Guard at noon, souvenir shopping, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Tivoli Gardens.
After breakfast this morning I had been wondering if I had another palace visit in me... but it's not like they grow on trees back in Sydney. So I headed off (success at first go in getting a #26 in the correct direction). I started at the Marble Church - a fairly long running construction saga in Copenhagen history. 1749-1894 in fact. Marble was too expensive, work was delayed, materials got nicked, costs over-ran, fashions changed and it ended up in a different style, smaller and made of limestone not marble. But we're not in Holland anymore, so no Dutch Naming Practicality applied and the Marble Church it stayed. Just up the road is the Amalienborg Palace complex (four Danish Rococo palaces around a grand square). It was here that the royal family moved to when Christianborg #1 was burned down in 1794. It was supposed to be a temporary measure, but they got comfy and never left. The palace of Christian VIII has been turned into a museum containing rooms from the various kings and queens of the Glucksberg line - they're the ones that took over from the Oldenberg line (more so the focus of Rosenberg Castle yesterday). Was fascinated to learn about the Parents-in-Law of Europe - Christian IX & Queen Louise (ruled from 1863). Of their 6 children, 4 made it onto the thrones of European nations. Very canny wedding planner, Queen Louise. Another fascinating museum that actually took almost 2 hours to meander around 2 floors (again with the blue plastic CSI booties - my street cred will suffer soon!) I headed out to the square by noon to see the changing of the Danish Royal Life Guards in their traditional uniforms. It was nice and all, but compared to the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace it was barely a ripple in the fabric of time. Needed horses. And music. And lots of it. Moving on, it was finally souvenir shopping time during a stroll down Stroget - the Shopping Street. I'm pretty sure the postcards and fabric badges are actually hand made by Danish trolls underground somewhere with a very good union. Like everything else in Denmark, they charged like a wounded bull - but shopping eventually occurred. Today's photo is the Caritas fountain, the oldest in Denmark from 1608. Finally at the end of Stroget, it was off to see my Van Gogh (or Fon c*** as the Dutch insist on calling him. Just because he was Dutch...) After traipsing around for a while and checking out the French section, I gave in and asked at the desk... my painting is on loan to Paris for another month. Damnation. Ahh well... time was moving on so I figured I better had too. Thank goodness for the Copenhagen Pass - I wouldn't buy it again, because for the the first time ever I'd have to say it wasn't worth the money. Nevertheless, it meant I needn't pay the 99 DKK (that's A$20) to get into Tivoli (and that didn't include a ride at between $5-15 each!) Had a stroll around the Dane's playground - founded back in 1843. Stomach did flip flops just watching the Star Flyer (see album), but really, didn't take long to do a lap and head off to hotel for an early dinner and a final catch up on photos and blog before I washed my socks, packed my bags and found my ticket to Stockholm, Sweden. All set for tomorrow morning - a new day, a new country.
- comments
James Hardie I have to agree this pass doesn't sound as exciting as the others, Oh well still cool you are seeing and doing things that non pass people don't do, well done
Joan Hardie Gosh Viv you keep busy my feet are killing me HA HA just envy you well love stay well Love Joanxxxxxxxxxx
Viv Duval Nice memories of Copenhagen, we thought the changing of the guard very lengthy also, preferred [what we saw] Sweden to Denmark, hope you do too..... Great stories, keep 'em coming!