After an overnight sleep, or not in the car waiting for the ferry to Gedser in Denmark we drove up to Copenhagen. The overnight in the car was a planned descision but boy not one to do again in a hurry. We thought packing the tent up at 3am in the morning would not be a good idea as the ferry was due to leave at 6 am so we needed to be at the port for 5am. However, the campsite in Copenhagen was great, spacious and all the home comforts including really hot showers and a little internet. We continued our car resting policy by cycling in and out of the city each day thus giving 'Ocho' a well deserved rest. He's still going strong despite over 2.3K miles driven so far.
Copenhagen has many beautiful sights which we discovered on our walking tour around the city after dumping the bikes outside the tourist information with, and I'm not kidding, about 2000 other bikes. Copenhagen is even more of a cycling city than anywhere else we have been, everyone cycles. We have been passed by people with delivery boxes in the front with IKEA furniture stuffed in them we also went past one family with mum cycling dad and a child sat in the front box. Sarah was once again the tour guide with our planned route around the city. We only got lost once this time! But we did see some interesting architecture we would have otherwise missed.
We started with a roam around Has Christan Andedsons various houses in the old docks area. We believe he lived in at least three of these houses throughout his life, Number 8 was one but can't remember the rest right now. However, I do remember the oldest property was built in 1698.
Here's a view of the houses from the docks. Needless to say it's very touristy now!
The royal palace and the neighbouring church, The Marble Church were impressive (see image below) we Also visited the National Museum of Denmark (about 3.5hrs) which had a great display of Denmark's prehistory.
Of course any visits would be complete without a visit to the Little Metmaid (the real Little Mermaid, that is kids, not Disney's version). She was donated by the brewer Carsberg who fell I love with the story while watching the ballet and donated the statue to the city in 1912. The sculptor modelled the image on his wife. Since then she has been abused several times, lost her arm twice, her head once, had a bikini painted on her and more recently was dressed in a bhirker.
The Danish have a love of spired buildings highly decorated with gold, copper and other metals. This is the spire atop the Danish Stock Exchange building, we particularly like this one as its shaped like a Narwhal tusk.
After our first few days in Copenhagan we decided to stay an extra day and visit the North Zealand coastline and surrounding area. Two of the places had impressive castles this first one is Fongstein Castle (below) which included extensive public gardens and further below is Csstle Königstein, the home of Shakspears Hamlet. It was built at the narrowest entrance point to the Baltic Sea so that the king could collect taxes from passing ships. In return he promised to support and defend the town. At that time he owned both sides of the passage, nowadays the opposite side is in Sweden.
"Alas poor Yorik I knew him well" - never really liked Hamlet
We crossed into Sweden via the worlds most expensive toll bridge, £37.50. Boy that was a shock! We set aside 100 Danish Krona! (Approx £10) had to pay with credit card. The toll girl said that most people search through their bags and splits the cost across what ever currency they have left. Then drove up through Sweden to Oslo where we arrived to camp at, in Sarah's words, "a gypo's site", a free for all with no organisation and lots of unsavoury characters. We took a lots more care over our possessions during the two days in Oslo. However, the view was very nice over Oslo City from on the hill just outside. Once again we set aside time visit a museum this time the Folk Museum which had done a tremendous job of preserving old buildings from Norwegian antiquity. They had live demonstrations of traditional skills, this lady below was making waffles on a traditional oven.
Actual street from 1860
Traditional Norwegian timber Church, rescued by the king in order to create a museum to retain traditional building and there construction methods
Inside a traditional 1700 Norwegian habitation
The following day we set off to drive part way towards Bergen, on the way out of Oslo we nearly, and I mean really nearly, got squashed by a tanker driver as we pulled out in a tunnel. It took a few minuets to recuperate before we could drive on. No scratches though just lucky! The Norwegians like tunnels we must have driven through about 20 so far, some are tolls. It does make it easier for 'Ocho' as it saves climbing up hills. No such luck for Sarah when we go walking which is what we are about to do now.
Keep well and we'll see you all in a few weeks.
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