Scandinavia - Sunday, September 6, 2015

This morning dawns cloudy with rain showers and 50 F. We decide to have breakfast in the hotel, the lounge (breakfast room) being adjacent to our room on the 6th floor.  We meet and have a so-so meal: pastries, coffee, juice, scrambled eggs, bacon, etc.  Only later do we find that the cost for this was approximately $30 per person. A far cry from the included breakfast at all our previous hotels.

We set off this morning for the Danish Museum of Design; however, we must first battle our way across the Radhusen Square, which, this being Sunday, is crammed with flea market tables selling antiques, junk, etc. A few of these sellers trap Deb and Lee - it was horrifying to witness.  Howie even had to trek back to the hotel room with some booty.  I was counting my blessings until I realized that Deb's purchases were all small enough to stuff into her purse.

The trail to the Museum followed the Storget, the number one shopping/walking street in Copenhagen.  Most stores were closed today, but the merchandise on offer in the windows promises an exciting day tomorrow!

The Design Museum is quite a walk, but we arrive there shortly after the 11:00 opening and start in.  For me, this is a highlight of the trip.  All the major master furniture makers of the Danish/Scandinavian Modern era are represented, Hans Wegner, Kaare Klint, Arne Jacobsen, even some non-Scandinavian, such as Charles and Ray Eames.  Also on display were ceramics, design products such as lamps, industrial design and more.  The current major exhibit was one on fabric and fashion.  The beautiful dresses and ensembles from through the ages were well displayed and interesting.

We ended, as all good museum tours must, with a refreshing glass in the cafe and then a trip through the gift shop.

Next we continued our walk to view the Little Mermaid statue in the harbor. This bronze statue, set on a rock only about 15 feet off the shore, is based upon a Hans Christian Andersen story, and was donated by a benefactor in the 1930's.  This is a major tourist stop, and on a Sunday afternoon, it was swarming.  As Deb has seen it many times, she stopped and rested in a park a bit away from the statue, and Howie, Lee and I continued on.  Howie and Lee had been to Copenhagen about 13 years ago when their son stayed here for a semester abroad, so they had seen the statue before - I on the other hand was a virgin in this regard.

My impression was that it was larger than I expected (everyone has commented on how small it is,) the setting is perfect for the story, and even the access very good.  The crowds however were not something I would go back for.  Maybe in the early morning in non-tourist season.

We then walked along the harbor and headed for the Nyhaven area, a very touristy strip near the harbor that boasts outside seating restaurants and people watching - if you are watching carefully, you may see the pickpockets at work.  We stopped at Guldmaegers Restaurant for our mid afternoon meal.  Two orders of mussels, one of a shrimp salad plate, and one of a salmon with salad.  We enjoyed an overpriced bottle of wine and watched the brand new waitress struggle with the rush to handle twenty four tables by herself.  She was not always successful, telling one couple that she was working alone, and if they couldn't wait a bit, maybe they should pick another restaurant - they did.

After this, we then walked back to the hotel, retracing our steps along the Storget and plotting our attack for tomorrow.  The Royal Copenhagen store seemed to attract a lot off attention, as did the Illum Bogliss store.

After a 90 minute hotel rest, we set off at 7:30 to find dinner.  We settled on a restaurant called MAD (Modern American Diner) for a couple of omelettes, a hamburger, and a 10" Cuban Hot Dog.  The hamburger was very good, the omelettes successful, and the hot dog more of a sausage than dog.  Still interesting.  We were back in our rooms by 9:30 resting, reading and feeling sorry for our feet which had put in a lot of service today.