In Sweden children usually learn to ride their bicycle around the age of 3. In our neighborhood I have seen a “big brother” about 3 on a bicycle doing well with an 18 month old in diapers trying to keep up by using a scooter. Riding a bicycle is a way of life in Sweden.
In Copenhagen this style of bike with a front cart built in was the most common type. I didn’t see one in Sweden until this week, and in the cart was a little boy, and his little 2 wheel bike.
Here is another view of a bike with the cart on the front, in Denmark. Most popular in Sweden are the bike seats for children on the back fender, or sometimes a cart behind.
This is a decorative metalwork at the Cycle Park, which is for parking cycles. The second word on the sign, I can’t find a translation that seems right with Google Translate. Puss translates as “kiss” or “puddle”, and lunden as grove. The second part makes sense, but I don’t understand the first. Any help from my Swedish readers?
A cycle pump at the cycle park, that is provided for the city of Linköping.
This bamboo bike was in the window of an Eco shop, in Copenhagen. It is a prototype, and very expensive.
Each intersection has two boxes with a button for the traffic signal. One for bikes, and one for walkers.
Typical walking path, and biking path in Sweden.
Biking is a way of life in Sweden and Denmark. It is done in all weather, rain, snow, ice. This doesn’t always mean they don’t have a car, but only use the car when necessary.
Copenhagen is known to be an expensive city. Without a doubt, a family will have to pay for food, and accommodations at a hotel. There are variations of prices for each, but this is a post about how you can enjoy the city’s sights without spending.
Walking is the first way. We walked about 5 miles on both Friday and Saturday. We were able to wander where we wanted, without a time schedule. When we needed a break, we could always find a bench in a park or outside a store.
We walked down the world’s longest pedestrian only shopping walk in downtown Copenhagen. This picture shows it. Because it was a holiday in Denmark (Ascension Day) weekend, it got much more crowded than this. We enjoyed looking in shops. You don’t always have to buy to enjoy it.
Another way we could have navigated is by bike. For free! The city has a program where you put a deposit equal to about $3.00 and you can take a bike. You can ride it anywhere in the main city area. Then return it at any of the bike stations and get your money back. Be there by 8:00 a.m. to get one before they are gone.
We walked through the old Danish military barracks.
We went to the Resistance Museum. This is a museum documenting the atrocities done to the Danish during the Nazi occupation in World War 1. And highlighting the underground resistance movement, which was started by the Danish citizens, and later assisted by England. It was successful and drove the Nazi’s out.
The Resistance Museum is free, and all the Danish National Museums are free. There are many free museums in Copenhagen. Some of them have a schedule of when they are free. Here is a list.
*The museums with free admission for everybody once a week are:
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen (Sun)
Tøjhusmuseet (Museum of Arms and Uniforms), Copenhagen (Weds)
Jagt- og Skovbrugsmuseet (Hunting and Forestry Museum), Hørsholm (Weds)
Post & Tele Museum, Copenhagen (all days)
Orlogsmuseet (Naval Museum), Copenhagen (Weds)
Thorvaldsens Museum, Copenhagen (Weds)
Københavns Bymuseum (Museum of City of Copenhagen), Copenhagen (Fri)
Designmuseet Danmark, Copenhagen (Weds)
Dansk Landbrugsmuseum (Museum of Danish Agriculture), Gl. Estrup, Randers (Fri)
Last, but not least is Copenhagen’s most famous statue, The Little Mermaid. It was inspired by a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Anderson. In 1909 Carl Jacobsen commissioned sculptor Edvard Eriksen to make it. It was unveiled in August 23, 1913.
Unfortunately, since 1964 it has been beheaded, it’s arm was cut off, defaced, and dressed. Sometimes it is a political statement, and some times it is misdirected mischief. At times the body part was returned, but in all cases, it was restored. The famous statue is really just a copy of the original. The heirs have kept the original in an undisclosed place.
Do you know of other free things for visitors to Copenhagen to see? Let us know by commenting below.
Globe Trottin’ Granny
*source of list http://www.visitDenmark.com
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During our trip to Copenhagen, I was still looking for a quilt shop, or at least a fabric shop. I wanted to find some fabric that was unique to Denmark. During our walk along the streets, we came upon a small shop that carried organic products, and handcrafted organic items. We stopped in, and I was hoping to find some silk sewing thread that the Scandinavia countries call “wire”. Or, some hand printed or dyed fabric. We didn’t find that, but we found a friendly American who is married to a Dane, he was from New Jersey, has a sister living in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and also lived in South Africa for a while, where Daren worked for a while. Let’s see, he didn’t know anybody in Ohio, or on my street.:) We enjoyed talking to him for a bit. It’s fun when this happens, and things like that happen quite often.
Well, when he found out I was looking for a fabric shop, he told me there were two right around the corner. In fact they were side by side, and had the same name. He didn’t know why there were two stores, and I couldn’t figure it out either. I did get some wire, or thread, but that was all.
Fabric Shop (Stof is Danish for fabric) Photo by Daren R. Couch
Inside Stof 2000 Photo by Daren R. Couch
While I was in the fabric shop, Daren waited for me in a small cafe. When I joined him we decided to eat lunch. It was a vegan restaurant. I love my vegetables, but I’m not vegetarian, or vegan.
Firefly Garden Photo by Daren R. Couch
The menu was very interesting. It listed a mushroom omelet without eggs, and a barbecue sandwich without any meat, just veggies. The waiter gave us a list of items and herbs in the dishes. They had developed some of the recipes, and are constantly experimenting on new ways to make the foods as tasty as possible. He said a certain blend of black pepper makes the combination taste like an egg in an omelet.
My Lunch at Firefly and the Ordering System Photo by Daren R. Couch
We were not disappointed. The dishes were absolutely delicious!
Another thing that was interesting is the menu is on a computer pad type of machine that they bring to the table. The order goes directly to the kitchen, then brought by the waiter to the table. When we were through, the check could be requested on the computer.
The service was quick and courteous, and the staff was friendly and willing to answer any questions about the menu. It was called Firefly Garden Botanic Restaurant and Bar. If you are interested in seeing the menu, just click on the word Firefly, and you will be taken there. They have the option of English on the site.
If we go back to Copenhagen, and I can’t afford Noma, I will definitely go back to the Firefly.
Here is something I found on Pinterest, related to this post.
The buildings in Copenhagen go from the very old to the ultra modern.
The Round Tower was built as an observatory in the 1600′s by Christian IV. It opened in 1642, and was used as a university and professional observatory and now still serves amateur astronomers.
Observatory Tower in Copenhagen Photo by Daren R. Couch
In our walks around Copenhagen, I noticed one building with an insignia that looked much like the dreaded swastika. So, I researched and found that a symbol similar to that, but not tilted, was often used in architecture previous to the notoriety of the symbol. At that time it was a symbol for goodness and abundance. After Hitlers use of it, the symbol was forever tainted.
Building with Symbols Photo by Daren R. Couch
The Opera House is an example of modern Danish architecture. The architect who designed the building was Henning Larsen. It is the most expensive opera house ever built, coming in at $500 million in US dollars. Funding was by the company now known as Maersk. The Opera House opened in January 2005. It was donated to the Danish state by the company.
Opera House, Copenhagen Photo by Daren R. Couch
Here is a gallery of pictures of different architecture in Copenhagen.
Observatory Tower in Copenhagen Photo by Daren R. Couch
Building with Symbols Photo by Daren R. Couch
Opera House, Copenhagen Photo by Daren R. Couch
Church in Copenhagen Photo by Daren R. Couch
Rosenburg Palace Grounds Photo by Daren R. Couch
Copenhagen Photo by Daren R. Couch
Windmill in Copenhagen Photo by Daren R. Couch
Copenhagen Photo by Daren R. Couch
Along Canal in Copenhagen Photo by Daren R. Couch
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Globe Trottin Granny
Traveling on a tour boat along the canal is a very helpful way to get an overview of the city. We chose the Nyhavn canal tour. It is in the center of town, and was right outside our hotel.
One of the first things you notice is how low the bridges are along the canal. This was originally done to keep larger ships and boats out of the center of town. When approaching these bridges you need to be seated, and some of them are so narrow that you have to keep arms inside. So don’t let yourself get carried away with the photography, that you literally lose your head.
Low Bridge Over Nyhavn Canal Photo by Daren R. Couch
The North side (odd numbers) of the canal has the townhouses made of wood, bricks and plaster were considered the poor side. The oldest house, which is dated from 1661 is No. 9. That side of the canal now has brightly colored town house style buildings that are occupied by trendy bars, restaurants, and boutiques. It is a great transformation from what used to be considered the seedy side of town.
Colorful townhouses and sailboats Photo by Daren R. Couch
The South side (even numbers) was the side built with solid brick or blocks, and was the mansion side of the canal. Or, the upper class side.
South Side of Canal Photo by Daren R. Couch
Hans Christian Anderson lived at Nyhavn, along the canal for 18 years. Living at 20, 67, and 18. At 18, where he rented 3 furnished rooms, there is a small museum.
One section of the canal in front of the entertainment section has old wooden sail boats and boats, as a sort of museum. Also, in some areas along the canal there are a few house boats that are lived in either part time, or full time.
Full Time Living Houseboat Photo by Daren R. Couch
One of the outstanding things with the tour, was the observation in the contrast of architecture in Copenhagen. My next post will highlight the architecture.
Globe Trottin Granny
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Hope you enjoy seeing the highlights of our visit of Copenhagen!
