Heading back to Copenhagen from Roskilde I got the 4.12 train in early rush hour. It was scheduled to run thru Copenhagen Central station and continue to the outlying stations as I was hoping to go directly to Osterport in the north end using my rail pass. However at Central Station they had announced in Danish for everyone to get off so I followed when the train emptied out.

Another train came by at 4.52 as I was hoping to squeeze some of Copenhagen in on my last evening as I hadn't really done any exploring here having already visited in 2003.

In the north end by Osterport station is a fortress and the Little Mermaid on the coastal rocks. In 2003 the mermaid wasn't there as vandals had blown it off with a stick of dynamite so it was being restored.

The fortress is a popular place for joggers as I made my way thru early evening as people were making their way home from work

The mermaid is a short walk around the fortress. Many tourists were gathered having their photos taken.

This northern end seemed to be the Royal Quarter. Aside from stately buildings now used as museums, there was a Russian Orthodox Church I was trying to find. It was closed to visitors as it was past 5pm though I'm not sure if visitors are even allowed.

Nearby was the Marble Church which had also closed for the day. It has an approach road leading to Amalienborg Palace a few blocks away.

As I got there by 6pm the hourly changing of the guards was already taking place. I didn't visit inside in 2003 and today it had also closed for the day.

Unusually Amalienborg is not one building but four buildings on opposite faces of an octagon courtyard. The guards had to goto each building to relieve the sentries.

Its a strange setup as would the Royals have to go out and walk from one building to the other. There are also tiled laneways the sentries were following as they went from building to building for the changing of the guards.

A few more blocks south was the Nyhavn habour area. This was very touristy with its coloured buildings and multitude of restaurants along the waterfront.

In 2003 I had come early morning so it was interesting to see it bustling in early evening as the lights slowly came on

Heading back to the hotel I got a pizza square for 35K ($7) and cake for 20K ($4). I'd made the right choice of skipping Nyborg during today's day trip to Odense and Roskilde as it left me some time early evening to see some of Copenhagen.

I still had a few hours in the morning tomorrow before my afternoon flight back home.