This pavement in the pedestrian area has metal notches imbedded all the way along and is rather attractive, although slippery.
On then to the round tower, which is just what it sounds like.
Except there are no steps, just a continuous ramp and it was really easy to walk up.
(Have to admit I'm getting quite keen on my iphone's panorama feature)
I tried to do some arty-farty long exposures but the unwitting models didn't play ball.
Apparently Tsar Peter the Great once rode his horse up it and his Empress followed in her horse-drawn carriage.
Near the top there was an art installation and then a further stepped climb up the final tower for a view over the city, which as you can see looked rather grey and drab.
With blackening skies threatening another downpour we decided to head back to the hotel and check in. Bikes are literally everywhere as this parking lot by the metro shows.
Our hotel is very modern and set on the waterfront (image from their website, as you can probably tell from the gorgeous blue sky).
And has an outdoor swimming pool.
A few views from the river bus of the (mostly) new glass buildings.
I like the old and the new together.
The river is very much a part of life in Copenhagen and is enjoyed widely for various sports plus of course cycling, jogging, running along the bank. Go boats (capacity 8 pax) can be hired for about £50 an hour and we saw lots of them bobbing around, mostly hen or stag dos.
We had intended to stay on the river bus until we were near the little mermaid statue but the light was so lovely when we got to Nyhaven, the classical “pretty” (although very touristy) Copenhagen waterside street, that we got off for a wander round.
And an expensive glass of wine.
From there it was about 30 mins walk along a fairly uninteresting route but we did pass the Marble Church (unfortunately closed).
Russian Orthodox Church (also closed but it was 1930).
St Alban's Church
And the lovely Gefion Fountain (again donated by the Carlsberg family) depicting the mythical Norse goddess who apparently turned her 4 sons into oxen so she could plough a vast area in one night.
The Little Mermaid is based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale of the same name. It's a Copenhagen icon and has been a major tourist attraction since its unveiling in 1913. In recent decades it has become a popular target for defacement by vandals and political activists - we were lucky though and she was in a pretty good state, no limbs missing and not daubed in paint.
I knew she was rather tiny but she was even smaller than I’d imagined (only 4'1'') and I’m so pleased Ian had suggested walking to it, as there was no way on earth you could get a decent photo from the water (it’s on various tourist boats’ itineraries)
As you can see it’s also fairly close to the cruise terminus, although being quite late by now there weren’t many passengers still ashore.
As you can see it’s also fairly close to the cruise terminus, although being quite late by now there weren’t many passengers still ashore.
