Scandinavia - Monday, September 7, 2015 (Labor Day in the USA)

Later start today, up at 7:00 and meet in the lobby to go in search of breakfast.  We take a detour walk to the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel to see the lobby. This was originally the SAS Hotel, completed by the architect/designer Arne Jacobsen in 1960.  Just as Frank Lloyd Wright had done, everything in the hotel was a creation of Jacobsen, from the building/structure to all the furnishings, chairs, draperies, silverware and china service in the restaurant.  Although the fabrics and colors have been changed over the years as corporate ownership has changed, the basic bones and lobby remain the same.  It is a magnificent space.

We checked in at the coffee shop for breakfast, but it is more expensive then our own hotel, therefore we walked on to last night's dinner space - MAD, for omelets, pancakes and french toast.  Not too bad.

Onward we walked to tour the city. Lee led us to an area that was truly charming, the goal of which was to see an underwater sculpture.  In a canal there is a bronze sculpture under the water titled "Merman and his seven sons"  It is clearly visible and made for some interesting photos from the street along the canal.  We then walked back to the Stroget shopping street for a chance to enliven the economy.  Deb found some lucre at the Royal Copenhagen store.  This was secured, and they agreed to hold it at the cashier's desk until later in the day so someone wouldn't have to carry it through out the day.

In this store, they had on display a series of time line and history displays about the origins of fine porcelain in the 1700's in Denmark through to present day.  Very interesting and informative.

We then strolled about some of the side streets, going in and out of antique shops, jewelry stores, ceramic stores and eventually came to a shop recommended by the Royal Copenhagen store.  This was a store selling old patterns of Royal Copenhagen, including many of the figurines which are no longer manufactured.  Lee found that the proprietor had some of the old 1930's pattern of her mother, and she took the web site and card information so she can go home and find the pieces she is missing and then correspond to see if she can fill the blanks.

We then broke at a small cafe for a quick lunch and continued our trek, heading for the round tower and the Jewish synagogue.  We arrived at the synagogue first.  This was not open for viewing or tours, but it was interesting to walk around, although security and fencing did not allow for much to see.

Our next stop was the Round Tower which is the oldest astronomical observatory in Europe.  We walked up the inclined plane ramp winding around the tower (all inside) and reached the top for some magnificent 360 degree views of Copenhagen.

Upon descent, we stopped at a large bookstore, Arnold Busck, whose name caught my eye as my grandmother was a 1st generation american whose maiden name was Busk. Her parents immigrated from Denmark in the period following the civil war.

We then split up to meet back at the hotel for dinner.  Deb and I walked to the Royal Copenhagen to pick up our package and stopped at some other stores to window shop and finger the goods.  Howie and Lee also shopped for some booty for their grandchildren, both current and impending.

We dined for our last night in Copenhagen at Renee's around the corner form our hotel.  Excellent food and wait staff.  Our waitress was a young woman from Wales.  She had just returned from living in New Zealand and Australia; she and her french born boyfriend decided that Denmark was neutral and central ground to stay.  Excellent food and an enjoyable evening.  We were back in our room by 9:30, although Howie and Lee were going to take another walk - no telling what kind of trouble they got into!