a breath-taking view across Copenhagen

 Dear Sheddists,

we first catch sight of Vor Frelsers Kirke during our boat-trip around Copenhagen's canals, its twisting helter-skelter tower glittering in the afternoon sun.

We return two days later on foot, crossing over the pedestrian bridge from Nyhavn to Christianhavn island.  We lose sight of the tower amid the surrounding apartments for just a moment until its imposing form heaves into view. A challenge lies ahead!

There are some four hundred steps leading to the huge golden orb which tops off the tower. The climb begins inside, the flights of wooden steps gradually getting steeper and steeper as we progress.

At two or three points along the way there's access to partially opened floors that house a set of bells and a series of bizarrely-lit modern-art installations. These include Copenhagen's more romantic version of the infamous Tracy Emin bed.

At last the steps emerge onto a parapet almost at the summit of the tower. We pull ourselves blinking into the light and I stop here to take some photos whilst my brave wife decides to press on ahead alone. She follows an external staircase clad in brass railings as it twists four times round the spire to the enormous golden globe which crowns the very top of the church.

Photos taken I make my way down gingerly from the parapet, not wishing to sample the ultimate view of Copenhagen for fear a passing breeze may carry off the stair-well!

Best regards,

electrofried(mr)

 The walk through Nyhavn to Christianhavn island

Inside the tower

Views from the parapet

 View from across the harbour

eating in copenhagen

Dear Sheddists,

Copenhagen offers some superb culinary experiences .. and one or two little challenges!

U Formel

First prize, undoubtedly, goes to U Formel, recommended to us by the receptionist at Hotel Alexander on the first night of our stay.

The restaurant is just around the corner and the food's so good we pay two further visits after our initial foray into its darkened recesses.

The lamb and the Danish roe-buck are spectacular, as is the magnificently seasoned beef tartare.

U Formel is clearly the place to be with smart business suits rubbing side by side with bare-armed tattooed hipsters.

Hotel breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel is ... interesting!

The organic cheese-cutter requires no little application to get going and the absence of homely marmalade we attribute to the early attrition of fellow guests from Germany. It is, however, the glazed bacon that proves the final straw.

A cloying, syrup coating applied to greasy porcine slivers does not a natural bed-fellow make!

 A cheeky ice-cream

The gardens of the Rosenburg Slot provide more refreshing fare. A welcome ice-cream beneath canvas umbrellas.

Smorgasbord

Denmark would not be Denmark without the legendary open sandwich that is smorgasbord. We sample ours at the cafe attached to the Danish Design Museum.  Works of art on a plate ...

 

the botanical gardens

Dear Sheddists,

allegedly home to every plant found in Denmark the Botanisk Have or Botanical Gardens is currently under development.  A brand new Natural History Museum is planned to open in 2020 but right now the gardens look more than somewhat neglected.

We enter through a small side entrance by the current National History Museum buildings and walk past several beds of randomly cultivated weeds.

The Palm House, funded by legendary Scandinavian brewer Carl Jacobsen, promises a little more. We climb the metal-worked spiral staircase to a roof-top steamy panoramic jungle view above.

Back on firm ground we skirt the serpentine lake that snakes through the grounds and watch sundry Danish teenagers playing catchy-kissy with a frisbee.

Municipal gardens are good for these sort of things and with happy memories from days of old we make our way out.

Best regards,

electrofried(mr)