Enjoying Copenhagen

Oh, boy, what did I like about this trip? Well, that's simple--everything!

Copenhagen is truly a wonderful place to visit. Everyone here is so warm and inviting. Just being around the Danes was an experience all on its own, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

I loved visiting Tivoli. This is the oldest amusement park in the word. In the winter it is lit up by thousands of twinkling lights everywhere. The park transforms itself into a greeting card with all its beautiful decorations.

Going to the Christainborg Palace was a real treat. You feel special when you’re traveling and get to go into the Royal House (okay, I know everyone else does, but still you feel special). The palace was simply stunning. Make sure to catch the changing of the guards on the hour. It's great to watch such pomp and circumstance.

I even enjoyed Tojhusmuseet, which is the Royal Danish Arsenal Museum. Here you will find literally thousands of guns, swords, and amore of every size and shape. This will be a hit with the guys in the group.

Make sure you duck into the government building and watch the Danish Government(or Folketing, as it is called) hard at work.

Seeing the Phantom of the Opera at the Det NY Teater was a real treat. It was the first time I had ever heard it sang in another language.

Quick Tips:

Well, your best bet is to have a friend to guide you around. But if you don’t, don’t despair; there are other things you can do. Just make sure you plan your trip well in advance. Check out www.visitcopenhagen.dk. This is a very informative website, and you can make dinner and theater reservations here too. Also try to find a guidebook where you can find plenty of information.

Once you’re here, try to take in at least one tour to acclimate yourself to your new surroundings. The above website can give you that kind of information. For an excellent way to get to know the Danes, try the Dine With the Danes program set up by the tourist office. You will get to at a real meal with a Danish family.

Finally, if all else fails, just ask. Ask the front desk or concierge at your hotel for recommendations. There is a tourist office right across from the train station that can help you. Or just ask the locals. Most people here speak English and will be more than glad to help you in any way they can.

Best Way To Get Around:

You will fly into Copenhagen Airport. From here, you simply take the train into Copenhagen. It is about a 30-minute ride into the city. You just purchase your ticket from the ticket booth, and someone will be glad to assist you if you have no idea what to do.

You will probably want to take a cab from the train station to your hotel. Cabs line up right in front and are fairly inexpensive. The cab drivers here are pretty honest and not out to rip you off like other places.

For the rest of your stay, the best way to get around is either by foot or by bike. You can rent bikes all over and is the preferred method by Danes them selves. Copenhagen is very tiny and pretty even surface. So walking is pretty pleasant here. You get to see a number of wonderful things while walking around. So just plant your feet and go at it!

When searching for a hotel in Denmark, I found it very difficult to find a place to stay that wouldn’t break the bank. Finally, a friend of mine mentioned the Loven Hotel and said I might like it. She warned me that it was sparse, only maybe a step above a hostel, but clean and in a great location. We camp out, so we’re not picky about rooms as long as they are clean. Plus, I didn’t plan on spending a whole lot of time there anyway, so I checked it out and made reservations.

The hotel is only about a 5-minute cab ride from the train station. That was already points in its favor. When we arrived, we were quite taken back by the outside. At first, we weren’t even sure we were in the right place, since it didn’t have a sign and looked like the entrance to a low-rent apartment. We asked the cab driver if this was correct. He assured us it was and told us it got better inside. I hope so! We checked in and went on into our room. Once inside the room, I knew everything would be okay.

Now, this is your bare-bones kind of place. No frills here. We basically had a bed, side table, a desk with two chairs, and a bathroom. Quite frankly, it was still nicer that some of the places we have stayed at in the States. Our hotels in Miami and Beaufort come to mind very quickly. They did have a very nice and warm down duvet on the bed. John loved that so much that I had to get one for our bed when we returned home. You can purchase them here at a bargain price, but then you have to get the thing home or mail it.

The bathroom was small and offered us only a shower, sink, and toilet, but thankfully, it was clean, something I cannot say for our second hotel in London. It is also in a great location. Right across the street is a 7-11 in case you get the late-night munchies. The Det NY Theater is just around the corner. On the corner is a wonderful designer shop, Vera Mondo, which has some incredible designer clothes at reasonable prices. Cafe Andrea is just a few shops down and offers some out-of-this-world baked goods. You are about 10 minutes from the train station and about 15 minutes from the Hard Rock.

Our room faced a side street, so it wasn’t noisy and offered a great view. Copenhagen is a very safe city, so no one will bother you here. The couple that owns it speaks English. For more information or to make reservations, please go to www.loeven.dk. The price quoted to you will be in the Danish currency, so make sure to ask for the price is US dollars.

Walking down the cobblestone stone streets of Stroget, you seem to travel back to the time of Hans Christian Anderson. But upon seeing McDonald’s, designer names such as Prada and Dior, and people talking endlessly on their cell phones, you quickly remember exactly what century you are in.

Stroget is the longest pedestrian street in the world. This mile-long street runs east at, Kongens Nyterr (Kings Square), to west, at Radhuspladsen (City Hall Square). The area is several centuries old, once being used for pretty much the same thing it still is. This is where Danes once brought produce, clothing, and household items, and grabbed a bite to eat. A couple of centuries later, it is still the main shopping area. Today, there are more than 100 stores offering everything from designer threads (names like Prada and Claiborn are among the many) to local designers to crafts, jewelry shops, exclusive boutiques, bookstores, candle shops, and household items. Illum is the top department store, which has six floors of designer shops, and the top floor houses nine restaurants. They have a wonderful fabric store that Tine had to show me. TIP: If you plan on going fabric shopping, then make sure you bring a tape measure with you that measures at least 1 yard. Fabric here is measured in meters.

They have an amber museum and shop here. Amber seems to be the big thing since I saw it all over the place. They have a branch of the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum along these antique streets. You will find a number of pubs and restaurants here. There is a huge three-story McDonald’s here. While it still serves the typical burgers and fries, the restaurants itself is quite sleek and sophisticated looking on the inside. The tables and chairs looked more like something out of a chic coffeehouse instead of a Mickey D’s. They have curved shapes and forms to them - very nice. I even found a shop with Elvis and Marilyn Monroe merchandise.

While Tine and I were in the fabric shop, we heard a ruckus going on. Everyone stopped to see what was going on. It just turned out that a major soccer match was being held that day between Denmark and Germany. There were some very loud but otherwise harmless German soccer fans. We later saw them in mass down at King's Square. We were here during the Christmas holiday season, and there were beautiful holiday decorations everywhere. It was like something you would see in a postcard.

Most shops are open from 10am to 6pm Monday through Thursday, 9am to 7pm on Friday, and 9am to 2pm on Saturday. Some stores are open on Sunday. You are entitled to a VAT refund, so save your receipts. Restaurants and pubs do have longer hours.

The Phantom of the Opera is the mega-hit show created by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. More than 10 million fans have seen the show worldwide. It first opened its doors to London’s West End on October 9, 1986, and to New York’s Broadway scene on January 26, 1988. They are both still playing. Last year, it was turned into a movie that will be released on DVD in May 2005. It is still being performed by numerous Broadway casts on the road.

The Phantom is one of the most beloved, most glamorously staged, and hauntingly beautiful Broadway shows. The main characters are the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul. Christine is a chorus girl who has been working with a benefactor under the cloud of mystery. Set at the Paris Opera, the company is getting ready to open a lavish opera production. The show is Hannibal , and it stars Madam Carlotta with Christine in the chorus. This does not please the Phantom, who haunts the opera house. After several occurrences, the opera company is forced to give the lead to Christine. Christine does a wonderful job, and while at an after party, she runs into an old playmate, Raoul. She and Raoul fall in love, which displeased the Phantom. He kidnaps Christine and brings her to his labyrinthine under the opera house. There he reveals his disfigured self to Christine. She looks past the phantoms mask and falls in love with him, but he knows she can never be happy and sends her to the arms of Raoul.

The cast recording was one of the biggest hits from a Broadway show. Music of the Night, Point of No Return and All I ask of You were major hits. Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman became major celebrities. In fact, when they did not have Crawford as the Phantom in the movie, it caused quite a roar among diehard Phantom fans. That part in the movie version went to the sexiest man alive, Gerry Butler.

The Phantom is lavish and moving. It and RENT probably tie as my second favorite Broadway show. This show was sung entirely in Danish. But music is truly the universal language, since I was as moved as the first time I saw it.

The Det NY Theater (which means The New Theater in Danish) harkens back to 1748. The stage that is inside now dates to 1874. The building itself is magnificent. When you first walk in, you will notice two beautiful statues on the stairs. The marble staircase takes you upstairs to the entrances. There are several crystal chandeliers throughout the building. There are a number of statues of Venus to be found. And the artworks on the walls are masterpieces. This grand and opulent theater is the perfect backdrop for this lavish show. You can visit them at www.detnyteatre.dk. Upcoming shows in 2005 include Beauty & The Beast and The Producers. These are professional touring companies.

A few years ago, while working as an AE for a large corporate travel agency, British Airways had some great travel agent rates for London. I had lived near London twice when my dad was stationed there while in the air force. I wanted to take John overseas and thought London would be perfect. He loves old stuff, and everyone speaks English. We could also add an extension for $50 each! Now, where to go? Paris (I have always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower), Athens (dido on the Parathion), Rome (oohh, real Italian food), or perhaps Edinburgh (I am part Scottish after all). I also saw Copenhagen on that list, and Tine wanted me to come visit. Tine and I had been pen pals for more that 20 years and had only met face to face a few years prior when she came to the States to visit relatives and they all came to visit me. So Copenhagen it was.

Now, of course, the airlines only offer these great deals in off-season. But that is fine with me. I normally try to travel at Thanksgiving, and there are a few extra paid holidays threw in. So I asked my boss for the time off and it was approved. Then I made my airline reservations and contacted Tine to let her know I would be in town.

I had been racking my brain for what to get John for Valentine’s Day. So I went out and purchased several tour guides and put them, a passport application, and the e-ticket receipts in a bag and gave them to him. Boy, was he surprised! I don’t think he was expecting that. And what did I get you might ask? John surprised me with a digital camera, which was perfect for our trip. I think that was the best Valentine’s all the way around.

While Copenhagen may not be as popular as London, Paris, or Rome, it is still a gem worth seeking out. It is seeped in history and beauty. You walk down centuries-old cobblestone streets and past buildings that have been around before our country was even started. You can see why this place so inspired Hans Christian Anderson. This is truly a fairytale city.

The Danes are amongst the most educated and have the highest incomes of the European countries. They have a terrific education system. They have free healthcare. Most Danes opt for higher education. The Danes seem to blend their past and their present to perfection. Alongside centuries-old landmarks, you will find Internet cafés, coffee bars, nightclubs, stores with the most up-to-date fashions and most modern appliances, and restaurants serving a variety of tastes for everyone. You will be glad to know most people here speak English.

The best way to get around this tiny city is either by foot or bicycles. This is the method most Danes prefer. When we came out of the train station, we couldn’t help but notice there were hundreds of bikes lined up on the side. I have no idea how the people in the middle could get to theirs or how you could remember which one was yours in the midst of a sea of chrome. You can take the train to outlaying areas or the airport. According to Tine, most Danes do not own cars. Almost everything has to be imported here, and cars are very expensive. You can find places to pick up a bike all over. The land here is relatively flat, so walking is a delight.

Here, you will find a wide variety of foods tastes from all around the world. Restaurants of every type can be found here, like Chinese, Indian, Italian, French, and local specialties in every price range. For those from the States who don’t like to try anything different, you can rest easy. You will find steakhouses, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Burger King. They also have a Hard Rock for a little pricier burger. You can really immerse yourself with the locals by dining with them.

www.visititcopenhagen.dk can set up an experience where you can dine with a local family. We had dinner with Tine’s aunt and uncle, and it was wonderful. Even if you’re not the adventurous type, try smorgasbord. This meal can be found at a number of restaurants and is equal to our open-face sandwiches. It is yummy!

There are a number of things to keep visitors busy. You can visit the royal palace, take in Tivoli, watch the government at work, check out a number of museums, take a romantic stroll down the Nyhaven Cannel, or shop at the centuries-old Stroget. Or just simply ramble through the streets and enjoy the amazing buildings and scenery. That alone makes this trip worth it.

At night, you can grab a great meal, take in some culture, or dance the night away. If culture is more your style, check out the Danish ballet or watch a Broadway play at Det NY Teatre. Nightclubs of every type abound here. Danes are very open-minded people, so they have a large gay and lesbian population here. You can find a number of gay and lesbian clubs around, but most are open to anyone who just likes to have a good time (something us straights should be more aware of). Near the entrance of Tivoli, you will find an explosion of neon. On one corner you will see dozens of neon signs lighting up the sky, just like Piccadilly or Times Square. In this area, you will find a number of bars and clubs. It is also a great place just to sit and people-watch.

You may have heard how everyone else in the world hates Americans. Well, as a certain gnome puts it, bull hockery. Most people know that the government’s actions and how us regular Joe’s and Jane’s feel are two different things. The people of Copenhagen are kind and welcoming to Americans. Everywhere we went people were very generous to us. They made sure to ask if we were having a great time and to ask about where we were from. I found the Danes to be simply charming and seemed to be glad that we were enjoying their beautiful city.

Copenhagen is also a very safe city. Nobody will hassle you, and you don’t have to watch every little thing here like back in the States. They have a relatively low crime rate. The most excitement I saw here was the loud German soccer fans. And they were just simply a bit boisterous. The police here are quite helpful if you need them. But I would imagine they spend more time directing lost tourists than helping them out of a bad situation.

On that note, I will give you this tip - wrap it up. My friend Tine pointed this out to me. Outside pubs, restaurants, and shops, you will see baby buggies parked with infants soundly sleeping in them. While watching the world go by in McDonald’s, I would notice a mom pop in and out periodically to check on her baby and any others outside, while here in the US we would have a fit to see a child left outside in their buggy. I can assure you it is commonplace here and quite safe. They simply do not have the problems we have here in the States. Moms can leave their children resting outside and know they will be fine. They keep an eye on them through the window or run out on occasion to check up on their bundles of joy. It is also a common courtesy while your out to quickly make sure the other babies near your baby are okay. I also saw several police officers keeping a dutiful eye out when they passed the baby buggy line. It makes you wonder, though. We Americans conceitedly think we are above everyone else. Yet, parents here can’t even turn their back on their children even for a second. If you do, you might find the heartbreak of people like John Walsh and his family, so maybe we should take lessons from others, hum?

Coming to Copenhagen allows you to just leave your stressful life back home and enjoy a wonderful city. Once you leave here, you will find this city never really does leave you. Just visit them at www.visitcopenhagen.dk and start planning a trip that will leave you with a lifetime of memories.