DAY TRIP TO COPENHAGEN

DAY TRIP TO COPENHAGEN

This was the big one: Fly form Stockholm to Copenhagen, train across the Bridge back to Malmo, look around Malmo and take photos of the bridge, train back to Copenhagen and take a look around. Then plane back from Copenhagen to Stockholm. Why would anyone undertake such a trip that started at 4am an ended at around10:00 pm? Answer, television. More specifically a Swedish/Danish murder crime co production called in English"The Bridge." Where one of the "stars" of the show is the long tunnel and bridge that links Sweden to Denmark. A promotion photo is shown below.

So, the 4am start got us to the metro station before it opened. Definitely a first for me. 

However, once the station opened we got the metro to make the connection to the Arlanda express train to take us to the airport. This was a bit more difficult than it seemed. Normally, you can walk through Central station to make the connection, but because it was STILL so early we had to walk through the streets. I don't think you will ever see two people, more relieved than J and I to reach their destination.

But once on the Arlanda we sped out to the airport and caught our Norwegian Air flight in good time. 

It was easy to catch the train direct from Copenhagen airport back to Malmo in Sweden. By this time, this J was behaving a bit like a little kid. A bit like a child who sees Disney on T.V. then goes to Disneyland. The train trip across was very fast and a bit of a blur, but it was grey, gloomy, and overcast, ... Great ... just like on T.V!

So after a few minutes we were back in Sweden in a town called Malmo. 

Malmo used to be a naval port, but now has diversified into other things. Its other claim to fame it that it is one of the greenest, most environmentally aware towns in the world. At the beginning of its redevelopment the town planners made a conscious decision to make the town clean, green, and 

environmentally friendly.  All very Scandanavian. There are still some beautiful old buildings there, 

but with modernisation comes problems, one being the Starbucks toilet! Like a house with one toilet and bathroom combined. I swear this was harder to get into than a safe in the Bank of England. To open the door, you had to put in a code, to get the code, you to have  receipt, to get the receipt, you had to buy something at Starbuck's. Complicated isn't it? I only found all this out after waiting quite some time for my predecessor to finish his ablutions, when he wasn't in there in the first place!

The young man after me was told in no uncertain terms that this procedure was either followed or he should go elsewhere. I heard all this through a very solid bathroom door. 

It was in Malmo that I became interested in Swedish traffic signs, and their possible meaning.

It means "speed hinderance."

Who knows!

However, as little Ronnie Corbett used to say "I digress."The all important photos of me/us with the bridge were taken. Also photos of a building called the Twisted Torso. An interesting looking building. I can't remember why it was built like that, but I suppose once seen, never forgotten. After all the photos were taken it as time to go to Copenhagen.

Just like Sweden Copenhagen has lots of blondes. Below shows a one young lady with the most elaborate blonde hairstyle. 

Just like Sweden,  the blondes either wear it long and flowing, or tied into a long ponytail. 

Copenhagen too, has some beautiful old buildings. It doesn't seem as tall or big as Stockholm, but it has its own charm. Because time had passed, we didn't get to do or see all the things we wanted. I did get to see the Little Mermaid. Bit disappointed, because after a long bus ride out to the scrub, and then a longish walk, the statue turned out to be much smaller than I expected. I made up for it by singing the first verse of a song called "Copenhagen." that I've always liked but never thought I would ever sing standing on the city harbour.

By this time it was getting dark and time to get a bus back into the city. It was at this time Julie increased her multi lingual skills by one more language ...   Danish!!! Not only can she understand every shopping related sign (50% off, 3 for the price of two, etc.) in every language we have heard on this trip. She can now handle bus travel in Danish.

By chance the bus stopped outside one of the biggest department stores in Denmark, so of course we had to get off. I asked one of the sales girls why her English was so good. She told me English language studies are compulsory for eight years from Grade two. Then they can choose a second foreign language.

Time for a quick "snack" before getting the metro back to Copenhagen airport, and the plane back to Stockholm.