Kobenhavn 28th July

Rod arrived at 10 and we set off with our pannier-free bikes to explore Copenhagen - past the famous Tivoli Gardens, through the Old Town Square, which currently has a large digital TV, screening highlights of the World Outgames 2009, and into Nytorv Square, with the Courthouse and gallows platform still in evidence. We cycled along Copenhagen’s busiest streets with hundreds of other cyclists, pedestrians and motor traffic. The Danes have a brilliant system and it appears to work very well, even for semi-confused tourists, stopping to check maps every 2 blocks. The canals that run through the city are lined with palaces, museums and grand public buildings or cafes and filled with yachts, tourist barges and power boats. The city is very busy with Danes & tourists.

We ate our picnic lunch beside the harbour and then visited Princess Mary. Unfortunately, she was otherwise engaged but the young guard promised to give her regards from Oz.

In the middle of the city is the King’s Park. It is a generous, well-used, well-proportioned Renaissance garden - gorgeous spot! - Chess games, children’s (double entendre) puppet shows, a few cafes - a lovely peace-filled place.

We checked out the little “chapel” where Mary & Fred got hitched and were delighted to note that it was bedecked in rainbow colours for the Games. In the distance we could see an unusual tower that wound its way upwards, like a soft-serve ice-cream. It proved to be a climbable tower (25K) with great views over the city. As we climbed back down, the glockenspiel was being played. Rod made into the keyboard room to check it out.

The food in Denmark is excellent, based on an admittedly very small sample. We have found our first skinny cappuccino in Europe & the dishes are more cosmopolitan and modern – more like Oz. In Italy, you eat Italian, in the Czech Republic, you eat Czech, in Austria…. and in Germany…….. Denmark definitely seems less tied to tradition and freer in its culinary offerings. Having said that, it’s also incredibly expensive.

We were very pleased to find a good little Indian restaurant with nice hot curry for K70( only $17). Dinner cost us K313 - $26 each for a hot meal and a beer or wine – great value for Copenhagen. We liked the city. It is a place where you could live & cycle, but not eat!