I think we are beginning to run out of chuff. It was a struggle to get out the door this morning. We arranged to move rooms so we had to pack up every thing, which takes a bit longer. But slow cognitive tempo was the major factor.
Anne wanted to visit Christiania Free Town, so we went to the Tourist information centre for advice on how to get there. The lady behind the counter dispensed information grudgingly, and on what she considered a need to know basis. Get the 9a bus, it leaves from outside the station. We headed out, saw a 9a bus, hopped on to it, a got about three stops before we twigged that we had fallen for the old right bus but going in the wrong direction trick. Second time this month I have fallen for it. We caught right bus in right direction, but got off too early. We retreated to a nearby coffee shop with wifi, consulted Google maps, and on our third attempt made it to the right stop, a short walk away from Christiania.
The place is one of the last alternative communal social living experiments from the seventies. It has managed to survive at least, and it is said to be Copenhagen's second most popular tourist attraction.
I am not sure what people are expecting to see. I can't say I enjoyed our visit that much - it felt rather like the museum in Aarhus, like trespassing. And it was fairly grungy as well. Still, it is the place which invented and produced the first, eponymous, Christiania bikes, so it has made at least one great contribution to the general good.
It took us a while to find the way out, but we did, and caught a bus across to the spot on the canal where the tour boats depart. Our timing was good and we caught one just as it was about to depart. Seeing a city from the water has to be one of the best ways. The watery heritage of the city becomes much more evident, and you get to see some wonderful boats close up - including the royal family's splendid yacht - some waterfront appartments that I would be happy to own, kayakers, funky house boats, and some lovely swan families.
After the cruise we walked over to Nyhaven, and enjoyed a pleasant lunch and a beer, sitting in the sun watching the world walk by. Senior school students here are having their graduation celebrations at the moment. This seems to involve walking around town wearing natty nautical type caps, and drinking a fair bit. You can see the half empty wine bottle in this lass's left hand.
It all seems very civilized, and probably a lot less dangerous than schoolies back home. After lunch we stumped back along the shopping pedestrian mall, which was a mistake, as it leached away something of the benign good humour we had acquired with lunch. But we got back ok. I headed off again for a fruitless search for some little travel padlocks for our bags - the same lady from the tourist information centre sent me on a wild goose chase. But I got to see some more of the neighbourhood, good and bad.
We have been lying low, doing some last minute research - if we actually get VAT refunds I will be pleasantly surprised, if we don't, I won't be surprised at all - and I have been pottering around preparing the Brompton for the trip home.
We have the train tickets to the airport, we have checked the plane tickets. Definitely time to go.
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