Copenhagen

After breakfast we went to the theater to meet with our group tour then head to the bus.  When Viking calls a tour “panorama” it is usually a bus tour that drives by sites.  This was a better mix with some stops along the way.  Our guide was Jens and our driver Johnny.  First stop was the Little Mermaid statue.  My camera died here in 1983 so I wanted to be sure to get some photos on this trip.  Many people wait in a line to take a selfie with her; I wonder how many end up on Instagram?  I just wanted some photos of her by herself.  The guide managed to take us to the Amalienborg Palace during the changing of the guard and unlike London we could actually see the soldiers marching. As we stood in the square surrounded by 4 palace buildings we learned a bit about the Danish monarchy and their chain-smoking queen.  Apparently though she doesn’t want to be photographed smoking.  Jens, the guide, had a subtle sense of humor which we enjoyed.  He was the second pensioner guide we had on the trip.  Tom and I only did 3 guided tours and visited the rest of the ports on our own.  

After driving all around the city Johnny drove us to a spot near the Opera House where we could get out for a view of the city from across the channel.  After this it was back to the ship for lunch.

Viking offered shuttles to central Copenhagen near the Opera House and the big department store, Magazine du Nord.  After lunch we took one of the shuttles with the plan to walk around the picturesque Nyhavn area and take photographs.  It was very warm again this day and crowded.  I think the warm temperatures bothered us because of the humidity which we are not used to.  I think it makes us more tired than we might be walking around home on an 85 degree day.  We did get photos and looked in a few tourist shops but I might have had better luck in the Magazine du Nord which was open.  While walking in Copenhagen on Sunday we passed the restaurant Els.  My friends Betsy and Tomas took my friends and me to dinner there in 1983!  As we came around to this side of the main square near the big department store it was all torn up for work on the metro.  I couldn’t see an easy way across to the Magazine so we decided to turn another corner and head back to the bus.

Tonight we had dinner at World Café so we could eat light and carefully choose just what we want in anticipation of our flights home the next day.  Then it was back to our room to finish packing.  Our checked bags needed to be in the hall by 10:00pm for the trip to the airport in the morning.