THE SCANDINAVIAN ADVENTURE BEGINS

Our day begin with a taxi to the train station.  We were a little hesitant about walking because of the down pours that had been occurring.  Of course the sun was shining but saving a few steps and some shoe leather probablly couldn't have hurt.  We were catching the train for the first time to Schipol airport.  We purchased out ticket and took the stairs up to the platform to await the train.  We were sure we were in the right place, we had a good 20 minutes until the train departed so we sighed a sigh of relief.  There were a number of people standing there and the sign said Schipol.  As the departure time approached the train up the track quite far away did not move.  There was something wrong with that so we proceeded to walk up the platform to take a closer look at the train to see where it was going.  As we got almost to the train someone hollered that indeed this train was going to the airport.  

We took off running and although the doors closed someone pushed them open and we managed to get on the train and made our way to the airport.  A train goes every 15 minutes to the aiprot but from diffferent platforms. Although we  only had one bag and a small back pack we did not want to be changing platforms.

Arriving at the airport.A little breakfast before the flight.

Our flight went well and we arrived just a bit late but managed to get to the "meeeting place" where a someone with a banner with our name on it would be standing.  Well no one was there but being patient we waited and waited.  Time it was a wasting and so we tried to use our devices - iPhone, Samsung phone, calling and emailing - help, help, what do we do?  We couldn't get service so I left Sharon with some very loud character and I stepped outside to email Scandinavian travels.  Waited for a response, rescued Sharon from the very nice but very loud and talkative stranger and we waited for a response to the "SOS" .  Finally , since there was no response, I ran outside checked with a taxi to find out the cost to the city.  Not bad, so we hopped in a cab.  As we were appraoching the city our SOS was acknowledged.  Sangeeta, our travel agent, was most apologetic.  I wanted her to be less so since I was paying for an international call :-).   We were instructed to save our receipt and we would be reimbursed.

We arrived at the hotel.

Checked in and couldn't help but notice the "neat trashcan".

              A compartment for each type of trash.  

After settling in we decide to find a place to eat and then catch the Blue and Red On and Off bus.  We had a travel voucher for this and it was good for our two days in Copenhagen.  

We were directed to the longest pedestrian walking street in the world -  Stroget ( almost 2 miles) and told that just parallel to that is a street with a number of restaurants.  

                             

We found a little cafe. Hoped in just before the rain hit and I had a typical Danish openfaced sandwich of smoked salmon, apple horseradish, dill and slices of delicious Danish bread - smorrebrod.  Sharon had just an old plain boring openfaced sandwich.  Can't even remember what it was it was so boring!

We finished our $26.00 lunch - 146 Krone, DKK.  Nothing is cheap in the Scandinavian countries.  

The sun was good enough to come out and Sharon and I headed to the nearest bus stop to begin our tour of the city.  Just as we turned the corner we saw the bus at the stop and despite our best effort to get there the bus pulled away before we could get to the appropriate place.  No problem since a bus comes by every 20 minutes and there were a few shops close by and the Copenhagen Cathedral. Lots to do to keep busy while waiting for the bus - only a 20 miute wait.

The Cathedral

        King David outside the cathedral.

Just looking.  Right, Sharon?

While we were waiting a green, on and off bus came and went.  Pretty soon we spotted our red bus - a little late but not too bad.  We showed them our voucher and were told it was the wrong bus, wait for the red and blue (two toned) bus.  Well we waited, and waited and waited.  Twenty minutes turned into over an hour.  We saw every color bus but ours stop and go on.  This was not our day.  We had run out of things to see and do.  Finally the  bus arrived  and we hopped on, got our ear plugs and sought a good seat.  We drove one stop and sat for another 30 minutes while they waited for I don't know what.  Finally we were on our way.  Everything started out well enough but pretty soon we realized the script in many instances wasn't matching what we were seeing and the commentary would end abruptly and and then start with a completely different thought.  Very interesting.

I did manage to pick up a few interesting tidbits about the Danes. They do not engage in small talk, they are very blunt, but they are the most content and happiest nation and people on earth.  Danes have the shortest live span but although they don't live long, they live until they die!   They do not like political conflict and have no political corruption, they love the royal family, and would rather socialize than own big houses and expensive cars.  They are taxed at a 45% tax rate but everyone has health coverage.  The average age for men to marry is 32, Cophenhagen is the best city for biking and what ever you do, don't ask for decafe coffee.  Sharon did and embarrassed me to death.  

We knew we were going on the tour again in the morning since we wanted to see The Littlest Mermaid

so we would listen to the commentary again and this time everything would sync - right?

A few sights from the city, of course I don't know what they are but...

                         

Enough of the city tour, we'll pick up on that tomorrow.  Sometimes it's just best to say it just wasn't our day.  We returned to our hotel and rested a bit and then headed to Tivoli Gardens for dinner and to walk around.  We really had no idea what to expect but the nice young man at the hotel assured us we would enjoy it - beautiful gardens, wonderful restaurants, and an amusement park.  What's not to enjoy!

I've been forgetting "the pose"-  Hand on hip, angled and one leg slightly bent.  Makes one look thin - or maybe it was sexy, or was it stylish?  Darn, I can't remember but from now on - look for "the pose".

We decided to eat at Grofton's although there were any number of wonderful looking restaurants. 

It was packed but we managed to get a table for two in the "Grandma's room" right away.  I guess they don't want to keep "Grandma's" waiting.  

We were told we'd have to wait a little bit for our food since the kitchen was busy but we were happy just to have a place to sit and maybe have a drink. There wre lots of people and it was fun just to watch all the activity.  

We had a delicious meal and were anxious to begin our walk around the gardens.  Everything we had seen thus far was enchanting.

This is a hotel on the premises - The Nimb.

And later on in the evening...

Inside the hotel

                          

Around the grounds.

A few of the rides at the amusement park in the Gardens.

The roller coaste

The Merry go round,

The Orient...

                                

The pictures don't begin to capture the beauty of the Gardens.  It is described as fairy like.  The park opened in 1843 and is the second oldest amusement park in the world.  Tivoli's founder, Georg Carstensen obtained a five-year charter to create  Tivoli by telling King Christian VIII that "when people are amusing themsellves, they do not think about politics"  

In 943, Nazi sympathizers burnt many of Tivoli's buildings, including the concert hall, to the ground.  Temporary buildings were constructed in their place and the park was back in operation after only a few weeks. 

We finished our evening looking at some beautiful silver creations by Georg Jensen.