DanishBeauty

This was one of those holidays that you could just go on about. Wolf and I chose to fly to Copenhagen, Denmark, because we enjoy discovering new places and learning about different cultures. Whichever direction we looked, there were so many extraordinary sights, plus a few other surprises! We read about our destination beforehand, but no words can compare to our amazing experience!

We first made our way to the hotel – The Avenue Hotel was a world of elegance and a taste of paradise. It was hard to believe that we were in a bustling city like Copenhagen! What a find! A bit of a walk to the city center, but it couldn’t be better located. It is definitely one of the best boutique hotels! I am spreading the word because this hotel really stands out and is worth mentioning.

We made our way across town by foot! We first walked to Tivoli Gardens, where we found more entertainment than ever! Tivoli Gardens is Copenhagen’s atmospheric amusement park and it is not to be missed! This was such a nice introduction to our stay. A few yards away is the attractive Radhuspladsen (City Hall), one area in the Old City that still retains its medieval character, where we had non-stop picture taking! This area just had so many great architectural reminders since Wolf and I share the same passion for the mixture of both contemporary and antique.

There was that one church I fell in love with called Holmens Kirke because of its old but pretty Danish structural design that stood out in the city center. Another essential stop should be the Amalienborg, the winter residence of the Danish royal family – unique because it consists of four identical palaces. Other must-see includes The Little Mermaid statue – the famous mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, The Opera Building, Kastelskirken, Borsen (The Stock Exchange famous for its tower with three entwined dragon tails), Marmorkirken (marble church), National Bank, Thorvaldsens Museum, Øresundsbron – a 490meter bridge that connects both Denmark and Sweden and other not-so-Danish attractions, but consists of interesting exhibits - The Guinness World of Records Museum, The Mystic Exploratorie and Museum Erotica!

In one of Copenhagen’s busy streets is the city’s newest must-see attraction – the Absolut Icebar Copenhagen where everything inside is made out of ice, from your drinking glass to the chair you sit on and where temperatures are –5 degrees celsius! You will also be provided with a furry hide to keep you warm! Wolf and I chilled out for a bit, loved it and had such a good time!

We wanted an excursion so we chose to do the sightseeing canal cruise the following day. It really is the best relaxing way to experience both the old and new areas of Copenhagen. We departed from Nyhavn, the same street where the Danish writer, Hans Christian Andersen used to reside. It is also a street where you will find pretty old houses, wooden ships and restaurants. During the boat tour, we saw Christianshavn, Gammel Strand and Trekroner. We also came across the Royal Yacht, which is only in the harbour when the queen is present – a truly unique experience. I highly recommend this hour-long tour.

There are many places to satisfy your appetite, but I recommend a trendy Danish restaurant along Stroget (a very popular high street in the city) called A Taste of Denmark, a traditional lunch-restaurant where they serve a Danish favorite, Smorrebrod (open sandwiches). I enjoyed my meal, a combination of rye bread with plaice, prawn, lettuce, cucumber, lemon and caviar served in a small, but filling portion! Wolf had the exact same one, but with pickled herring instead. We also didn’t want to miss out on the traditional fresh Danish pastries you will find in so many chic cafes all over town. We just sat in one, ate and enjoyed the view. A serious consideration is always the evening meal because there is just so much choice! I just loved the way Danish food is prepared and it occurred to me that I have to add this cuisine to my favorites list.

It’s official. I’ve fallen in love with Copenhagen, a city with such a bustling yet relaxed atmosphere. It is romantic to visit in whatever weather. It really should be your next travel destination!