Copenhagen...July 14, 2014

We are off to a slow, but still functioning, start today as we leave the port of Copenhagen behind in search of more temperate waters. As you may have heard, our time in Denmark’s capital city has been a blast, chock full of visits to great museums, outdoor music shows, and glitzy amusement parks. Now, it’s back to the ship life, but also time to rest and recap!

Berthed only a half mile away from the popular Nyhavn area, we were all pretty pleased with our close proximity to the city’s many incredible eateries, drinking establishments, and free outdoor concerts, which took place along the canals and in public squares as part of Copenhagen’s Summer Jazz Festival. Many of us enjoyed grabbing a few of the local version of the hotdog – topped with fried onions and sweet pickles – and listening to the music, which ranged from bluesy singer-songwriters to rock and New Orleans style jazz.

By day, we were busy either exploring the city on foot or by bicycle – locals’ preferred mode of transport. Although Copenhagen is a relatively small city, it’s spread out like the boroughs of New York with many smaller island neighborhoods.

Happy to roam beyond the central areas, we ventured further afield in search of youthful vibes in places like Vesterbro and Christiania, stopping at the palaces of Rosenborg and Amalienborg to watch the changing of the guard.

With three full days to spare, a large contingent of us escaped the city for at least a day to visit the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, home to ocean-going vessels, warships, and fishing boats from the 11th Century and an excellent exhibition about Viking-era maritime technology. Another group of us opted to wade through literary history with a visit to the busy port town of Elsinore and Kronborg Castle, setting for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. While it was possible to scramble underground through the dark dungeons, the apartments upstairs were obviously a little nicer, adorned with beautiful tapestries and sumptuous banquets fit for kings and queens. 

In addition to the unusual green gargoyles adorning the sides of many buildings and parks, Copenhagen’s phenomenal art museums were another big draw. Some of us headed to the Statens Museum for Kunst, which spans seven centuries of European art, while a few of us explored the modern (and phenomenal) sculpture garden of Louisiana, a short train ride away from Central Station or 20 minutes by car (thank you to my friend Liss, a local, for taking me!). Closer to home, there was also the impressive and free Danish Naval Museum, which spans Danish maritime history with more than 400 model ships, charts, walk-through displays, and a variety of navigational instruments.

As if all that wasn’t enough to exhaust the heck out of…well…just me, we also had the colossal grounds of Tivoli to contend with, where at least few of us (I hear) got hopelessly lost amidst neon-lit carnival rides, food stalls, and a wicked roller coaster known as The Demon.

Check back soon to hear more about our next adventures on cruise B, after a couple good night’s of rest!

Cadet shout out: Casey Ford, 3rd class mug from Owego, NY, says “Hi to my parents and my brother! I’m giving it all she’s got!”