jin loves to eat: Scandinavia Trip Day 1: Copenhagen

After the looooooooooooooooooong flight, I finally take in my first breath of European air.

Inhale… Don’t exhale… Inhale more… Don’t exhale… Ack! Help, I can’t breathe!!!

Ahhh… I love the smell of Copenhagen Air…port… hehe

Hello, Denmark! Smile

That’s our bus and bus driver waiting to take us on a castle tour

We’re tired, excited, messy, ecstatic, and in urgent need of a bath

Things I’ve learned on the way to our first castle:

This is a man-made lake, one of many in Copenhagen.
The Mute Swan is the national bird of Denmark.

This is the Old Stock Exchange. Four dragon tails are intertwined to form the spire. According to legend, this spire guards the building against enemy attacks and fires. And true enough, the Old Stock Exchange has many times been spared when fires have broken out in neighboring buildings. I want a spire like that on my roof.

This is a very long building. Our tour guide’s name is Brad.

Nyhavn or New Harbour is nearly the oldest part of the harbour. It used to be a district full of crime and prostitutes. At present, Nyhavn is an entertainment district lined with restaurants and cafes. More about Nyhavn on Day 2.

The northern area of Copenhagen is more expensive. Only the super rich can afford to live here. This white mansion is Brad’s summer home. Or at least he wishes it were.

Villa Rex used to be the place where the naughty king brought his mistresses

Denmark has a population of about 5.5 million people. Danish people love to yacht.
Sales tax is 25%. (Gulp!) Car tax is 180%. Total taxes people pay is 80%, but they get free education, free medication, and pension.

Today is a very cold and foggy day. I am not wearing enough clothes. Brrrr.

Entrance to Kronborg Castle

Orange buildings and the tall men of our group

I love this picture of me, hehe

Kronborg used to be a star fortress, which explains all the cannons.
It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Auntie Babie and I and the Kronborg Castle half-covered by fog

Upshot by Vibson

Kronborg is also known as “Elsinore” or “Hamlet’s Castle.” It is where William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy was first performed to commemorate the 200th death anniversary of the great writer.

Doors in Kronborg

And then we go to the Frederiksborg Castle

Beautiful trees line the pathway. (Oh hi Frances, I almost didn’t see you there!)

So beautiful, so serene

The immaculately manicured Baroque Garden makes me feel like I’m Alice in Wonderland

The Frederiksborg Castle is located on three small islands in the middle of Palace Lake.
It was originally built in 1560 by King Frederick II, then rebuilt in the 1600s as a royal residence for King Christian IV. In 1859 when King Frederick VII was in residence, a fire destroyed a large part of the palace interiors. Reconstruction was funded largely by
J.C. Jacobsen of Carlsberg Brewery. Today it houses The Museum of National History.

A closer look

Inside the castle is this is Palace Church where kings and queens used to be crowned.
Today the church is open to the public. If you live in Denmark, you can get married here.

A organ built by Esajas Compenius in 1610.
It still plays beautiful music today.

Our tour guide Brad familiarizing us with the coats-of-arms
displayed on the walls of the church

Adam on a pillar

One thing I can say about the Frederiksborg Palace is that it’s got just too many beautiful rooms.

Ceiling in one of the rooms (Sorry, I forgot which, there were too many!)

King’s bedroom

King’s bed. No, he wasn’t a shorty. In the olden times, the kings slept sitting up
because the lying down position was thought to be for dead people.

Really old chair

The Great Hall, also known as the “Dancing Hall” in Christian IV’s time.
This was where all the king’s lavish parties were held.

Green and gold room

Red room

More old chairs

Queens’s bedroom

Blue room

Pink room

And this is the very first time I’ve stood so close to a real harp!

Water break. I just love how we can drink right off the faucet.

After the tour, the 3 Fayes raid the souvenir shop

One last look at Frederiksborg Castle

Then it’s time to go get us some lunch.

The bus drops us off in front of the University of Copenhagen

And we take our sweet time strolling to the lunch venue

We see coffee shops and bicycles along the way

This is lunch. I love how foreign the restaurant name looks and sounds.

But EEEP! It’s owned by a Chinese couple!

Breads are excellent Shrimp Tempura Salad – shrimps are raw

Fried Salmon in Mushroom Gravy Banana Split

After lunch, we check in at Copenhagen Island, our home for the next 2 nights. We drop off our bags, freshen up a bit and head to the mall right beside the hotel.

Fisketorvet Shopping Center. Of course I check out the food scene first.

McDonald’s

Hmmm… this looks familiar

Convenience store

It’s my kind of store – all candies and sweets!

And milkshake, too

Felisse buys this jumbo chocolate milk, which I contribute in finishing.
I think our Magnolia Chocolait tastes better, hehe.

Very expensive bottled water

And soon it’s time for dinner.

Royal Palace Restaurant. Yeah yeah, the food blogger is in Denmark having Chinese food for dinner. But you see, we are traveling with the Chiang Kai Shek group, and the Chiang Kai Shek group is… well, Chinese, so…

Egg Drop Soup Fried Fish in Sweet Chili Sauce

Egg in Tomato Sauce Braised Pork – there’s cartilage in every bite!

Fried Chicken Chinese Pechay

Rice Cantaloupe

Chinese people having Chinese dinner in Copenhagen

Dinner is so disappointing I have to do a quick run to Sullis Gelato down the street.
I don’t understand a word of it, but this looks pretty and nice.