Day One/Part Two - Copenhagen

Sunday, April 13 -After the Round Tower we were wandering the streets of Copenhagen when the rain began to pour.  Being quick studies and experienced Stockholmers three of us were 'geared up' in raincoats and I had an umbrella in my backpack.  At this point it became important to find a warm, dry place for lunch. 

fun statue over a doorway

We landed at the Cafe Dan Turell (Store Regnegade 3, 33 14 10 47, www.cafedanturell.dk). The food and service were perfect for a cold, windy, rainy Sunday afternoon. 

Dan Turell was a Danish author who published an extensive list of crimes novels, poetry, and more. His description on Wikipedia makes him sound like the Hunter S. Thompson of Denmark. He died at the age of 47 from esophageal cancer.

open-faced grilled goat cheese sandwich

potato leek soup

Post lunch, no rain, more walking...

Frederiks Kirke (church)

interior - Frederiks Kirke

trouble at the Danish Design Museum

Kastellet (the citadel) - one of the best preserved star fortresses in Northern Europe.  Built in 1626 by King Christian IV of Denmark, rebuilt in 1660 after the Swedish siege on Copenhagen, defended against England in the Battle of Copenhagen (1807), captured by German troops in 1940 and renovated from 1989-99 by funds from the Mollers General Fund. 

The Rows - military barracks

The Little Mermaid (by Edvard Eriksen) - donated by the Carlsberg Brewery in 1913.  Inspired by the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale about a mermaid.  The sculpture's wife posed for the statue.  The sculpture has been defaced many times (lost her head, an arm, been blown of her base with explosives... ) and repaired each time.  It has been considered to move the statue further out into the harbor to avoid incidents, but no move has been made (seems like this should be a priority!).  

Walking along the water front...

Audra spotted momma and ducklings along the water's edge ... momma duck was checking me out!

Dinner was at Restaurant Kyoto (www.restaurantkyoto.dk) recommended by a very trustworthy friend. We definitely hit it on an off night... the teppanyaki show was sparse and our dinner was delivered in sporadic installments.