Europe 2012 - Day 5

Bikes are more plentiful in Denmark, than cars.  Denmark is a really ‘green’ city.  Tax on a car is somewhere around 100%... making it nearly impossible for the majority of people to ever own a vehicle.  So, residents get around primarily on bikes, and there is even a separate bike lane on the road.  This isn’t just a line on the cement separating the car lane…it is actually a level of wide path higher than the road, but lower than the sidewalk.  It even has its own stoplights to follow traffic laws. Naturally, I wanted a bike to get around, so I could be just like a Dane for the day!  The city offers bikes for free rental, which was so nice!

[me and my bike!]

So, we toured the last day in the city by bike, allowing us to cover a ton of ground.  Our first stop was the changing of the Royal Guards at Amalienbord Palace.  Michelle’s cousin and her boyfriend came along with us.  And to our luck,  he was previously a Royal Guard!  So, he filled our ears and answered about 50+ questions we had, ha.  The queen still lives at the Palace, and we were a mere 5 steps from her doorstep.  Can you imagine being that close to the White House?  At noon there is an official ceremony, as the new set of guards march in to take the next 24 shift. 

[changing of the guards]

[changing of the guards]

[the flag is raised...which means the Queen is in the country of Denmark]

From there we biked to the old military island, Kasttelle, on the far north east side of Copenhagen. It was such a beautiful day; Alan & I have quite the sunburn to prove it!  The grounds were gorgeous, so we took our time snapping pictures.  We picked up scoops of gelato and visited The Little Mermaid statue. 

[alan's flower pics]

 

[banana and strawberry gelato...mmm]

From there we head to Rosenberg Castle, at the very northern point of the island for a picnic in the park.  I felt like I was on Michigan State campus on the first hot day before Spring semester ends.  Younger Danes filled the grounds, catching rays, playing Frisbee, drinking beer.  We joined along for 3+ hours.  It was such a nice time.  

[the park]

[Rosenberg Castle]

[Essentials for a picnic in the park]

[us girls relaxin in the sun]

We met Michelle’s other cousin for coffee at this great restaurant, Zeleste.  Word has it that Bill Clinton was visiting the restaurant that night.  But, we didn’t see him and couldn’t stay long enough to see if he ever showed up.  We had dinner by the water at Cap Horn, delish.  We finished our last night with Michelle with cocktails on our hotel patio…snuggling up under blankets as the sun went down.  Tomorrow, we head back to Ireland!

[coffee at Zeleste]

[European terrace, love it]

[Nyhavn, my favorite part of Copenhagen]

[last night in CPH]

[Carlsberg - a Danish beer]