Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark is a nation both rooted in its past and living very much in modern times. It remains a monarchy while being a member of the European Union. It elects to keep its own currency, the Danish Kroner (including coins with holes in the center). It is a land where preserved Viking remains are still unearthed from the bogs, where maritime traditions continue, where progressive social trends flourish.
The National Geographic Endeavour berthed in her last port of this Baltic voyage in Copenhagen harbour, where medieval shipbuilding structures and waterfront castles stand near modern wind turbines and brand new opera houses.
We embarked on tours of the city’s attractions and found ourselves at Amalienborg, a plaza of four rococo palaces. Our local guide expressed surprise that the Danish standard (flag) was flying over the Queen’s residence, indicating that she was in the capital. Travelling through 21st Century Denmark, we headed for the 400 year-old Rosenborg Castle.
Our bus arrived at the castle yard just as a special ceremony was commencing presided over by none other than Her Majesty the Queen. In a yellow dress, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II inspected the royal guard and addressed the crowd. We were in the presence of royalty! The well-liked monarch has just returned from a voyage to the Faroe Islands on the beautiful royal yacht, a seaworthy wooden sailing vessel from the 1930’s. In the spirit of the Vikings, the royal family (including the five month pregnant crown princess) have taken to the seas to visit the outer reaches of their kingdom.
The lyrics to the Danish national anthem, translated to us by our guides as it played, tell the tale of a 17th Century Danish king rising from blinding injuries to rally his troops in battle against Sweden. Inside the castle we saw his original bloodstained garment, proving true the legend. We also viewed ornate rooms with delicate china sets and intricate tapestries depicting sea battles. One group of us was temporarily trapped in the vault with the Danish crown jewels, as an alarm sounded and all doors were sealed off! It would have been nearly impossible for anyone to walk off with the gilded swords and bejewelled crowns. We had a truly royal experience this morning.
On return to the ship we stopped at Copenhagen’s famous mermaid statue by the water. This inanimate lass has endured decapitations, explosions, paint baths, football jerseys, and endless streams of visitors. Later we visited impressive Viking collections at the National Museum and impressionist art at the Glyptotek Museum, and enjoyed strolling the streets of this wonderful Scandinavian capital.
Our royal welcome to Denmark closes our voyage of discovery around the Baltic. We have visited eight countries, heard eight languages, used seven different currencies, eaten a variety of foods and have gained a much fuller understanding of the culture, politics, geography and lives of the nations that border the Baltic Sea.
Denmark is a nation both rooted in its past and living very much in modern times. It remains a monarchy while being a member of the European Union. It elects to keep its own currency, the Danish Kroner (including coins with holes in the center). It is a land where preserved Viking remains are still unearthed from the bogs, where maritime traditions continue, where progressive social trends flourish.
The National Geographic Endeavour berthed in her last port of this Baltic voyage in Copenhagen harbour, where medieval shipbuilding structures and waterfront castles stand near modern wind turbines and brand new opera houses.
We embarked on tours of the city’s attractions and found ourselves at Amalienborg, a plaza of four rococo palaces. Our local guide expressed surprise that the Danish standard (flag) was flying over the Queen’s residence, indicating that she was in the capital. Travelling through 21st Century Denmark, we headed for the 400 year-old Rosenborg Castle.
Our bus arrived at the castle yard just as a special ceremony was commencing presided over by none other than Her Majesty the Queen. In a yellow dress, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II inspected the royal guard and addressed the crowd. We were in the presence of royalty! The well-liked monarch has just returned from a voyage to the Faroe Islands on the beautiful royal yacht, a seaworthy wooden sailing vessel from the 1930’s. In the spirit of the Vikings, the royal family (including the five month pregnant crown princess) have taken to the seas to visit the outer reaches of their kingdom.
The lyrics to the Danish national anthem, translated to us by our guides as it played, tell the tale of a 17th Century Danish king rising from blinding injuries to rally his troops in battle against Sweden. Inside the castle we saw his original bloodstained garment, proving true the legend. We also viewed ornate rooms with delicate china sets and intricate tapestries depicting sea battles. One group of us was temporarily trapped in the vault with the Danish crown jewels, as an alarm sounded and all doors were sealed off! It would have been nearly impossible for anyone to walk off with the gilded swords and bejewelled crowns. We had a truly royal experience this morning.
On return to the ship we stopped at Copenhagen’s famous mermaid statue by the water. This inanimate lass has endured decapitations, explosions, paint baths, football jerseys, and endless streams of visitors. Later we visited impressive Viking collections at the National Museum and impressionist art at the Glyptotek Museum, and enjoyed strolling the streets of this wonderful Scandinavian capital.
Our royal welcome to Denmark closes our voyage of discovery around the Baltic. We have visited eight countries, heard eight languages, used seven different currencies, eaten a variety of foods and have gained a much fuller understanding of the culture, politics, geography and lives of the nations that border the Baltic Sea.
