Copenhagen Zoo

After my journey through the Cisterns I walked across the road to Copenhagen Zoo. If you haven't noticed, I really enjoy going to zoos and have hit up quite a few in my time in Europe. I could not resist the Copenhagen Zoo not after walking a million miles to get to the Cisterns and it just being right across the street.

Cisterns

After visiting a few museums on my Sunday in Copenhagen, I walked all the way to Søndermarken Park and ventured into the Cisterns of Copenhagen. I had not known about this amazing place until the night before when I happened to sit down next to a lovely girl from Vancouver. We had a good chat and even went for dessert. She told me how she went to the Cisterns and I knew I had to go. I fit it into my Sunday schedule as like some of the museums it is closed on Mondays and I would not have time to visit on the Tuesday as I was flying out that day.

The cisterns were the water reservoir of Copenhagen until they were drained 33 years ago. The exhibits change and when I visited "H" was being displayed. It involved walking across a lit pathway surrounded by water. Fountains spray water at certain points from the ceiling and an eerie music plays in the background.

It's very visual and I really enjoyed it. I wandered along the pathway a few times. Taking in where stalactites hung from the ceiling of the cisterns.

My visit cost DKK 50 and the exhibit is open Tuesday to Sunday 11 am to 5 pm. It is closed December to March.  

Little Mermaid

I finally found the Little Mermaid or as she's known in Danish, Den lille havfrue. The statue was made in bronze by Edvard Eriksen. 

I've read on a few blogs about their visit being underwhelming or them being surprised by her size. She is only 4.1 ft tall but I thought she was perfect. 

She is of course based on the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Anderson who is Danish, if you did not know.  

Strolling on Sunday, Copenhagen

On the Sunday that I was in Copenhagen I wanted to hit up the museums that would be closed on Monday and to see the Little Mermaid Statue. I wandered through the streets coming across Amalienborg Palace. The weather was lovely so I enjoyed strolling through the gardens near the palace before heading along the waterfront to seek out the Little Mermaid.  I found her but I'll save that for another post.

The Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish Royal Family. The palace was originally built for four noble families but when Christiansborg Palace burned on February 26 1794, the royal family bought the palaces and moved in.  Building on it started in 1750 and was completed in ten years in 1760.

The church above is Frederik's Church and is also known as the Marble Church and has the largest dome in Scandinavia. I ventured inside of it on Monday and the interior was very lovely. I sat in a pew and just took it all in.

Strolling in Copenhagen

Waking up in Copenhagen, I was not sure what my plan of action would be. I was taking the 11:04 am train to Malmo but I had several hours before that to explore the city that would be my home for a few days. I had trouble sleeping, tossing and turning most of the night. I woke early, leaving the hostel to find breakfast. I located a very delicious smoked salmon eggs benedict at Cafe Europe 1989 one of the view restaurants open very early that I could find. I wandered the streets with no real destination in mind, the quiet and empty streets showing off their charm and colours. I ended up walking to Christiansborg Palace then to the Black Diamond, a library. Off towards Tivoli I went, peering in through the gates at the park. I worked my way across City Hall Square towards the train station. Picking up my tickets and then with an hour to wait for my train I decided to head to the Round Tower, getting in just as it opened. A twisting path lead up the tower to an amazing viewpoint over the city. There was also an interesting tattoo exhibition going on in the tower on the history of Danish tattoo. I left the tower, strolling to the statue and boarded the next train bound for Sweden.