With this being my second time to Copenhagen I can relax a little more and do things which previously were impossible given the time I was here and the desire to see as much as possible.
After almost two weeks of traveling today we have our first taste of bad weather. It was supposed to have been an overcast day but the forecast now lists moderate to heavy rains all day. That’s not going to stop the adventures.
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| The plan, hit all the spots pointed to by the arrows |
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| In the far right corner you can see where the ship parked. In the center left in this otherwise generic small harbor pay is a beautiful work of art |
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| The Little Mermaid |
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| Around the corner is this beautiful church |
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| The famous historic harbor of Copenhagen |
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| Buildings here date back to the mid 1700s |
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| The main reason I came this direction is to see the church on the left above the rooftops |
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| These little markets are usually packed at lunch |
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| I bet their fish and chips are so fresh and delicious |
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| Quite the range for cuisine options |
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| The salmon must be so tender |
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| The local hippie village. They’re actually an independent city with their own rules and laws. Basically in the 1970s, after sitting empty for decades, a group just hopped the fence and took it over |
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| Around the corner is this stunning church |
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| Most churches you can climb within when in Europe |
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| This one has you walk on the outside |
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| It’s sad, due to its heights, to have been a right of passage for anyone who could do it |
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| Quite the impressive exterior |
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| WHAT!?@ Oh this isn’t ok |
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| Ok, well I can go check out the other church I wanted to visit |
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| I turn to see the original building and it stands there, mocking me |
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| This 1754 beauty should be wonderful to visit |
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| Oh sure, another church closed for renovations |
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| What it looks like inside |
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| By now the rain is coming down hard so into the subway I go |
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| Smart layout. All of the tourist spots can be reached on the red ring line. Forgot your stop? No problem, you’ll be there again in a few minutes |
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| And here we are. The new UNESCO heritage square |
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| Attention to small details are everywhere. Even this coffee shop is designed to blend into the architecture |
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| Giant green laws opens the square |
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| Around the green are these signs highlighting unique traits of the region |
Off to church three. This has to be open. Marmorkirken/Frederiks Kirke. Built in 1749 entirely out of Norwegian marble and took 100 years to complete.
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| Such an impressive structure |
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| Here they hide the fact a small group can hike to the top each day. This was facing away from visitors as they entered |
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| Can’t get over the detail of the copper organ |
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| Imagine being so famous for sleeping here your grave ends up as this? |
All the while in Stockholm and in general in Norway you didn’t see sweets. Breads and comfort food yes but not sweets. Now that we’re back in an old Dutch colony you can see the pastries return.
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| What to try…. |
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| While similar to a cinnamon roll the bottom was firm like a tart but it was soft and flaky in the center. The chocolate was tempered so it wasn’t as punchy as US chocolate is. Quite delicious – 1.50USD |
I’m not going home without getting to the top of Vor Frelsers Kirke (the first church). There’s a break in the rain for the next hour so I subway back to the building and hope it’s opened.
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| I think I see people up there |
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| Yup, it’s open! |
Started in 1682 tThe church was consecrated in 1696, with construction having started in the 1680s. There is a long-lived urban legend stating that the architect killed himself by jumping from the top of the spire, when he realised that the spiral turns the wrong way – anticlockwise – around.
This church is original as it stands with the same walls and roof as it did when opened.
The alter depicts a scene from the Garden of Gethsemane between two columns, where Jesus is comforted by an angel while another angel hangs in the air beside them, carrying the golden chalice. On each side, two figures of Pietas and Justitia illustrate the King’s motto. The two columns carry a broken, curved architrave and gable. Behind the opening of the broken gable is placed a pane with Jahve’s name in Hebrew inscribed and lit from behind. Around the pane is an arrangement of gilded beams and cloud formations.
With that explored, time to head to those stairs
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| Just a few stairs to climb |
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| Actually it’s 400 stairs to climb the 300 foot tall spire |
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| The few landings before the spire has these great areas highlighting some of the history of the building |
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| Some of the bells which still hang above my head |
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| Transition time from the square part of the tower to the curvy part |
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| Three very appropriate warnings |
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| Ah, historic European staircases |
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| The history here is cool but the rendering on the left of what I’m walking through is even cooler |
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| The original “computer” |
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| The hand cranks are still used to keep the clock running in sync and bells dinging at the proper time |
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| With this above my head I’m suddenly glad this is not an earthquake region |
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| This bell is almost 4 feet tall |
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| I’m taking the green bell photo and suddenly this red light buzzes… |
–cc—
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| Look at the top counterweight |
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| Bet this is fun to play! |
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| On the right under the timber you see “nails”. Wonder what kind of hammer was used to drive them in |
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| The final stairs. So incredibly steep and tiny |
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| It really is that tiny an opening |
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| But oh that view |
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| Have you ever got to a place after a long journey, see a lightning storm approaching and say to yourself “this is a great time to go for a hike on a electricity-conducting copper roof lightning rod?” |
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| Better make this quick before something strikes the tower! |
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| You go around twice and suddenly the steps get super tight |
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| …until the steps run out |
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| But what a view |
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| Again, tight steps for small feet |
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| View looking straight down |
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| Right before this photo the black clouds were flashing gold from lighting. Time get out of here |
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| After waiting for a dozen people to come up it’s time to go down, backwards, to the ground |
All in all a good day in spite of the bad weather. I’ll be back next summer to tackle more of the hikes.
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| I could rough it living there |
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| The bridge we went under a few night ago |