Thursday, 7 June 2012

Wednesday 6 June - went shopping with Morgan before she left on the train at 12.30pm  to return to Sweden. Then we visited the Danish Resistance Museum. This museum showed the story of the Danes resistance and sabotage during World War II. Denmark was a neutral country  during the war but Hitler was using the country as a stepping stone on his way to invading Norway.   The Danes went underground to sabotage the German's plans. They even went on strike for a day because Hitler executed a Dane.

At night we went to a Micheline star restaurant, Gronech & Churchill. It only opened last year and has the Michelin rating already. We had 4 courses and it was all very delicious imaginative and beautifully presented. The highlight was the desserts. Tony had pistachio, peas and mint with ice cream. Wendy had apples, almonds, celery with ice cream made from yoghurt.



Tuesday 5 June - went to The Royal Palace (Amalienborg Castle) for the changing of the guard. Unfortunately we did not see Princess Mary.

This was the closest we were allowed to be photographed with the guard.



We visited the Marble Church which was at the end of the castle.






Then we had lunch of the traditional Danish open sandwiches at Nyhaven. You could hardly see the bread underneath the filling.

Roast pork, red cabbage and cucumber on rye bread


Fish cakes and lettuce on rye bread


We had lunch in the orange building

We walked past the Tivoli (the amusement park)) and the City Hall.

Copenhagen City Hall

We then caught a train to Helsingor to see Kronberg Castle of Hamlet fame.  It took about 40 minutes to get there. The castle was built in 1582.

The first moat around the castle

The cannons behind the first moat


The second moat
Inside the entry gate to the Castle



Cannons facing the strait and Sweden in the distance


Room decorated with tapestries on the wall


 Morgan with 2 of the tapestries

We went down underneath the castle into the soldiers' quarters. It was very dark, damp and eerie.




View of the moat from the window in the soldiers quarters

View of Sweden from the  top floor of the castle


Ferry boat that goes to Sweden

Shopping area of Helsingor


Helsingor  Railway Station


On our return to the apartment we decided to try a drink in the local street around the corner from the apartment. It was very small with a bar, pool table and a few tables and chairs. There were several locals sitting at the bar and they looked like they had been there all day. They enjoyed talking to people from Australia.  It reminded us of an Australian country hotel.


Then we had a pizza from a shop a block away from the apartment. It was as good as the pizza we have at at a very good Italian restaurant in Australia.

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Monday 4 June - sightseeing around Copenhagen on the hop on hop off bus. Today was cool and overcast with a maximum reaching 14 degrees.

We had to start the day with Danish pastries made by the Danes.


Stairs (400 of them) that go around the church spire.


Little Mermaid statue

We visited Christiania where the squatters live and openly buy and smoke illegal substances.


The harbour - with large cruise ships

Lego store with a palace guard made in life size
 Opera House



Sunday 3 June - travelled from Lund to Copenhagen by train. Stopped in Malmoe for almost an hour waiting for a friend of Morgan's to join us. Isabell is from East Brisbane and is staying with a family at Gotenberg.

From Lund to Malmoe


Malmoe - is at the bottom of Sweden on the coast

Across from the railway station

 Outside the railway station

Inside the railway station was very modern - the most modern of all the railway stations that we have seen and very clean. It had an extensive food court.


Malmoe to Copenhagen
The first half of the rail is on a bridge with cars on the top level and the trains underneath and is owned by Sweden. The second half is under water and is owned by Denmark. Being underwater allows ships to travel through the strait between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea.





We are staying in an apartment about 15 minutes walk from the Central Railway Station.




Courtyard between apartment buildings.


Sunday 3 June - sightseeing around Lund which is a large university city. Lund was a part of Denmark and was Denmark's most important city and the hub of the entire Nordic region until a war between Denmark and Sweden in the 17th century and  it became part of Sweden.

This building was built in 1882 and houses the offices of the Vice-Chancellor. Students gather here on 1 May to celebrate spring.



The academic building which was built in 1851.

The University Library  was founded in 1907 and was the site of an Abbey during the Middle Ages.


A very old house


Kungshuset was the residence of the Danish king in the 16th century but has belonged to the university since 1688 and is now the Department of Philopsopy for the university.



Lund Cathedral was built during the Middle Ages and the high altar was dedicated in 1145. It has a 15th century astronomical clock. The giant, Finn, is buried in the crypt under the cathedral.



Astronomical clock

At 12 midday the apostles walk past the Virgin Mary and her baby.