Copenhagen - Day 4

Monday, 13th of June:

Good morning! The day started again with great weather :-)

After breakfast we left the hotel straight away. There's no time to lose as Audrey and I were going to have our boat back to Oslo that day at 5 p.m. First touristic destinatio of the day would be Amalienborg Palace.
The way to there led us again through Strøget, the pedestrian main street which we passed the day of our arrival with the Carnival going on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish Royal family located in central Copenhagen. It consists of four identical classicizing palace façades around an octagonal courtyard with a monumental equestian statue of the founder King Frederick V in the center. Amalienborg was originally built for four noble families. However, when Christiansborg Palace burnt down in 1794, the royal family bought the palaces and moved in. Over the years various kings and their families have resided in the four different palaces.

 

Right next to the square of Amalienborg's four palaces: Marmorkirken (the Marble Church).

Just a short stroll away from Amalienborg area lies the "Kastellet", a peaceful, protected area serving as a public park, a cultural-historical monument and, still owned by the Danish Defence Ministry, as an active military area. Today it is one of the best preserved fortifications in Northern Europe.

Kastellet is constructed in the form of a pentagram with bastions at its corners.

 

 

 

It served also as playground for three childish girls, playing with the multiple-shot function of Sarah's camera taking three pictures within a couple of seconds :-)

Right behind Kastellet can be found Copenhagen's - I would say - most famous and popular tourist attraction...

... "Den Lille Havfruen", the Little Mermaid, Copenhagen's landmark:

 

 

With the local train we drove from Østerport station back to the city centre.

We had still had one last point of interest on our "to visit"-list, the Round Tower "Rundetårn". The 17th-century tower is one of the many architectural projects of Christian V and, as a result of growing importance of astronomy in that time, originally built as an astronomical observatory. Today it serves still as a public astronomical observatory, but also as historical building and moreover as observation tower for expansive views of Copenhagen.

Instead of stairs, a 7.5-turn spiral ramp forms the only access way to the towertop observatory as well as the Library Hall and the bell ringer's loft, both located above the church attached to the tower. This design was chosen to allow a horse and carriage to reach the library, moving books in and out of the library as well as transporting heavy and sensitive instruments to the observatory.

In the background again the Øresundsbron connecting Denmark and Sweden, but also the spiral tower of Vor Frelsers Church.

Rosenborg Castle

 

After this visit we had to hurry now. Back towards our hotel.

We just grabbed quickly our suitcases and then it was already time for Audrey and me to take the taxi back to the DFDS Terminal. So it was also time to say goodbye to Sarah, leaving only some couple of hours later.

On board. Tiredly moving into our cabins.

Like on the way coming we had reserved a table for the huge dinner buffet on board the ship's restaurant. Totally filled by all the food we fell to bed early.

Tuesday, 14th of June:

We arrived as scheduled, at 09:30 in the morning. After a pretty good night sleep we had to head straight to our offices, mine luckily not so far away from the harbour.
After a super great short break to Copenhagen, back to work, back to reality, back to normal life.
Nevertheless: girls, it was a fantastic trip, having had again a great time with you!!!