Movie theater
Orsteds Park
Orsteds Park was created in 1872 as one of a series of parks built on the grounds of Copenhagen's old fortification ring. Construction of the park including converting the moat to a lake and building small hills out of former bastions. One prominent feature of Orsteds Park is a monument to Hans Christian Ørsteds, the Danish physicist and chemist who discovered that electric currents create magnetic fields. Also, scattered throughout the park are many additional statues funded by the Albertina Foundation created by the head of Carlsberg.
Monument to Hans Christian Ørsteds
Sculptures around the park
Leaving the park, we spot several great bicycles in this city famous for its biking culture.
Fabulous bicycles
We walk through the great little streets to the Frederiksborggade pedestrian street and then across the canal to the castle, home of the Danish royal family and built surrounding a large equestrian field.
Great little streets
Over the canal
Through the castle and grounds
Just past the castle, we come back to the pedestrian street (renamed at this end as Amagertorv Street). This end of the street is a serious high-end shopping district and we head right over to the Royal Copenhagen shop. We have a family history of collecting Royal Copenhagen Christmas Plates and we start by viewing this year's plate in the shop and then admiring all the other great porcelain products, made in Copenhagen since 1775.
2018 Christmas plate
Admiring the Royal Copenhagen (and buying some)
Along the canals and river
We pick up our luggage and have one more adventure on our way to the ship (remember, we're getting on a cruise to Norway and Scotland), a visit to the Little Mermaid statue and a stroll back through the Kastellet, one of the best-preserved fortifications in Northern Europe and still an active military base for Danish Defense, both a short walk from the dock where the ship will depart. The Kastellket also contains a monument with the eternal flame for Danish military previously or presently deployed, including a chronological list of all places in the world where Danish soldiers have been sent and a list of all the deceased. The inscription at the eternal flame reads: "One Time, One Place, One Human Being" ("Et Tid, Et Sted, Et Menneske").
The Little Mermaid
Kastellet fortress (cannon not aimed at our ship)
Memorial and Eternal Flame
Soon, it is time for us to grab some lunch at the small restaurant next to our ship that serves as our cruise terminal and then head onboard to depart for new adventures. It doesn't get much better than this, great food, then a few seconds walk to board the ship. And, no lines!
Assorted Danish sandwiches and fish and chips before boarding
Cruise terminal/restaurant
Our first evening after we depart, we wander into the bridge (Windstar has an open bridge policy when they are at sea and not arriving/departing a port), chat with the ship's officer and the cadet who are piloting the ship, and look at the view (really great)!
View from the bridge
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