We were up early this morning and walked to the Kastrup train station (Kongens Nytorv) and headed for Copenhagen (Kgs Nytory Station). We walked to Gammel Strand and purchased a three day green bus pass which included a Canal cruise.

We decided to go on the canal cruise first as it was about to leave and there weren't too many people on board. We boarded at 9am for a 1.5 hour canal cruise.

The main points of interest were:

Storget Nyhavn which is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century townhouses, bars, cafes and restaurants. The canal harbours many historical wooden ships.

Langelinie is a pier, promenade and park which is home of the Little Mermaid Statue. The statue is made of bronze and is displayed on a rock by the waterside of the promenade. She is 1.25 metres tall and weighs 175 kilograms and she is based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

Royal Danish Playhouse

Amalienborg Palace which is the home of the Danish Royal Family. It consists of four identical classical palace facades around an octagonal courtyard. In the centre of the courtyard is a monumental equestrian statue of Amalienborg's founder, King Frederick V. From the canal tour you see a magnificent fountain on the promenade then the entrance to the octagonal courtyard. Opposite the fountain is the Opera House.

Havnegade is a waterfront promenade which runs between Bors Brisge and the mouth of the Nyhavn canal. The street is lined with residential buildings which face the waterfront.

Christianhavn is a trendy part of the city. People from all walks of life, live side by side among cool cafes, old school bodegas, fancy restuarants and charming 19th century houses along picturesque canals.

Island Brygges is a harbourfront area noted for its waterfront park Havenparken which is one of the most popular areas along the Copenhagen harbourfront and the location of one of the Copenhagen Harbour Baths. Opposite here is Kavebod Waves which is another waterfront area in an urban space that brings the city closer to the water through waving and bending surfaces.

Its 10.30am and our canal cruise is over so we hopped on the Mermaid Bus Tour. Points of interest here were:

Strøget Bremerholm -shopping street.

Nyhavn - waterfront restaurant area.

Amalienborg Palace

Churchill Park is a public park occupying a tract of land between Kastellet (A 17th Century fortress) and the street Esplanaden. The area has a long history as a greenspace but received its current name in 1965 to commemorate Winston Churchill and the British assistance in the liberation of Denmark during WW2. St Albans Church. St. Alban's Church the Anglican church in Copenhagen, and the Museum of Danish Resistance are located within the boundaries of the park. Access to Kastellet through its main entrance, The King's Gate, is also reached through the park. There was a beautifull fountain in the ground known as the Gerfion Fountain. It features a large-scale group of animal figures being driven by the legendary Norse goddess, Gefjun. It is the largest monument in Copenhagen and used as a wishing well. According to an ancient legend, Gefion was the goddess who ploughed the island of Zealand out of Sweden. The Swedish king Gylfe offered the goddess Gefion as much land as she was capable of ploughing within one day and one night. A bit of Sweden Gefion received help only from four oxen. She had transformed her four sons into immensely powerful oxen and had them plough so deeply in the ground that they raised the land and pulled it into the sea. This is how the island of Zealand was created. The lake Vännern in Sweden approximately resembles the shape of Zealand, proving that there must be some truth in the story.

The Little Mermaid and Langelinie promenade.

Rosenborg Castle is in the oldest park in Denmark. It was established as the private gardens of King Christian IV and contains historical buildings and is home to the Royal guards.

Gammel Trov and City Hall Square - there is a monument to Hans Christian Andersen here also.

National Museum of Denmark Tivoli /Radisson Royal Hotel Fisketorvet - Copenhagen Mall / Tivoli Hotel, Kalvebod Waves / Marriott Hotel

The Black Diamond which is a modern waterfront extension to the Royal Danish Library and its name is in reference to its polished black granite cladding and irregular angles.

We left the Mermaid Bus tour at 12.30 and headed to the Dubliner Irish Bar for lunch - guiness pie. Peter was excited because on the TV screen was the Western Bulldogs playing West Coast Eagles in the first semi finals. I left at ¾ time and did some souvenir shopping. After the game (Bulldogs won) Pete was happy to continue exploring Copenhagen city. We walked back to Amalienborg Palace to the octagonal square and enjoyed the view down to the fountain and the waterfront and watching the changing of the guard. We continued walking to Rosenborg Palace. The gardens were vast and immaculate. I especially loved the rose gardens. We were too late to visit the inside of the Palace but decided to come back tomorrow because it looked spectacular. We hopped back on the bus to Kgs Nytory Station and caught the train back to Kastrup. We stopped at the local supermarket for supplies and had a few drinks back in our room. We ventured outside and crossed the street to the local Chinese restaurant for dinner. It was amazing and very well priced.