Saturday, October 31, 2015

Snippets from Copenhagen

From Germany we took a ferry out of Rostock to Denmark. Changed our Euros for Danish Kroner.

Our hotel room offered a great view overlooking old town Copenhagen. Of course we took the programmed city tour of palaces, museums, churches, etc.  Copenhagen old town is a compact flat island with more bicycles than automobiles. And more boats than bicycles, or at least it seems that way.


At the Amalienborg Palace, the Guards are young and more relaxed.  They didn't seem worried about anyone trying to break in or the royal family trying to get out. 


The opulent Christianborg Palace was void of much furniture, nice parquet floors though.


Looks like we're too early for lunch at the palace dining hall.


Trying my best to not get heads of other tourists in the picture, 
so just as I snap the photo, the fountain decides to jump in.


Many canals and waterways lined with shops and cafes, divide downtown Copenhagen into neighborhoods. 


How could we possibly go to Copenhagen and not visit the little lady.... 
who watches over the Danes cruising her waterways since 1909.



From the hotel, spotted a church with a spiral walkway around the outside of the steeple in the Christianshavn neighborhood, a different island from Old Town. Saw I could walk across a pedestrian bridge over the old moat for a closer look. 


Wandering the cobblestone streets in Christianshavn, am amazed at all the bicycles. With their mild coastal weather they say they cycle year round.


Arriving at the church, could not bring myself to violate one of my cardinal touring rules, Never pay to go into a church. God can hear me from outside as well as he can from inside.  

Noticed quite a few people walking past the church toward another area, so decided to follow the flow. Arriving at a rather funky post-hippiedom park called Christiania, or the Green Light District. 

In 1971, 700 hippies claimed squatter's rights on an unwanted abandoned military base. This weekend they are celebrating the anniversary of the occupation.  While the buying and selling of drugs is illegal in Denmark, the government has decided to ignore the potheads, idealists, non-materialists, the "Bob Marley" youngsters and "Willie Nelson" oldsters who just want a little puff. To protect their non-aggressive way of life, this self-administered neighborhood outlawed automobiles, hard drugs, firearms, explosives and violence.


The graffiti advertises busting hard drugs and celebrate grass.


The welcome sign in multiple languages, reads
Dear Friends,
There are three rules in the Green Light District.

Have fun.

Don't run, it causes panic.

No photos. Buying / selling hash is still illegal


Sorry, no more photos . You will just have to go experience it for yourself. 

Departing for Sweden by ferry, our final Danish vista is the Kronberg Castle.


Next stop, Sweden, now to find where to change our Danish Koners for Swedish Kronors.


CCjon




7 comments:

  1. No need to experience the Green Light District, one just has to ride the metro rail here in Denver to "enjoy the aroma" of weed.

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  2. That spiral walkway on the steeple looks pretty odd. Makes me wonder why it's there.

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    1. A challenge for the faithful to climb when a lighting storm is overhead.

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  3. You have just made me move Denmark into my top 5 destinations to visit. What an interesting place! The story of the 700 hippies is particularly interesting. I am going to have to read up on that some more.
    Beautiful city Copenhagen is!

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    1. Our guide book said Christiania was the number two tourist spot in Copenhagen, after the "Little Mermaid". When I asked our tour guide why it wasn't included in our tour, she replied "too many of the old folks complained about the odor and non-conformist hippies. It's Ceech and Chong country in the Green Zone for sure.

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  4. We agreed that a month in Denmark with a motorized bicycle for me would be a great vacation.

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