Copenhagen

 

Our final day began with a bus tour of Copenhagen. Denmark is the oldest kingdom in the world. The 83-year-old Queen abdicated this year in favor of her son. He is well loved with four children being educated in public schools. He has become “Denmark’s best marketing department”. We stopped first at Churchill Park with the Gefion Fountain, Gefion was a Norse Goddess who turned her 4 sons into bulls. She was promised whatever land that she could plow in a day as belonging to Denmark.

Little Mermaid

We went on to see the Little Mermaid in the harbor and the Rosenborg Castle Gardens. We took in one of the markets, where we saw the Danish special: open-face sandwiches.

Rosenburg Castle Gardens

Then we were given free time in the town center. Many went souvenir shopping, it was our last day. After lunch at an Irish Pub, I took in the 17^th century King’s New Square and New Harbor, the 18^th Century Marble Church, and Amalienborg Palace, the residence of the Royal family.

New Harbor

This was a great trip:  seven interesting countries, great lectures on local topics, unbelievable weather for September (60s and 70s. only one day of rain), friendly and helpful crew members (many of us needed help to our cabins on the one stormy night heavy waves). The highlights were the Vasa Museum in Stockholm and the documentary film about the “Singing Revolution” followed by touring the sites in Tallin, Estonia. Our guide, Julia, was a great representative of Finland, the happiest country in the world. And we bonded with quite a few of our fellow travelers.

Mary with our guide Julia