Copenhagen Walk

This morning we enjoyed the very welcome luxury of a sleep in. The hotel puts breakfast supplies, like yoghurt and cheese, in the fridge, stocks up the coffee machine, and in the morning, a nice paper bag appears on hooks attached to the door, filled with some fresh rolls and pastry. And a weird Danish English language newspaper that seems oblivious of anything happening in the world.

We had a leisurely breakfast and slowly got ourselves organised and out the door. A beautiful morning in Copenhagen. We strolled along, beside the canal that runs round Castle Island, filled with kayakers, very sleek clinker built rowing boats - descendents of Viking boats for sure - and huge tour boats so long it seemed impossible that they could navigate the bends and low bridges. We sat in the sun admiring the statue of St Absolom, clad in armour, the legendary founder of the city. 

We  perused the offerings of an "antique market" which looked more like a car boot trash and treasure, the found our way over to Nyhaven canal, a stretch of canal lined with picturesque wooden sailing boats, flanked by outdoor restaurants, and packed this Sunny Saturday, with tourists and locals out to enjoy the day.

After lunch we walked back along a pedestrian only street which was also thronged with people out and about. Must be good for business, and the stores lining the street looked shiny, and high end. No trod two dollar shops. With plenty of impressive and what was to us new architecture and monuments. We liked the stork fountain, complete with a live pigeon on top - a nice addition.

A big walk by the time we got home we felt like we had a better idea of the city. We rested up for a few hours, booked our next train tickets for Tuesday, then headed out for dinner into our local neighbourhood, Vesterbro. We tried BOB, which was friendly and was in a great spot for watching the local Danes sailing by on their bicycles. Hundreds of people, and not one in Lycra. Plenty of high heels though. Our scientific sample (ok we got sick of counting after 12) confirmed our impression that there are more female than male cyclists.

We hit the supermarket, and I realised how tired I was yesterday and how much better I feel after a good night's sleep and a low key day.  We walked home via what is shown on the map as a "Food Market" - lots of stalls and tents and food trucks, with benches packed with young Danes and a thumping sound system. They sure know how to have a good time.

We are settling into our neighbourhood, described as "little Paris" in a brochure we picked up today. There sure is a lot going on here.