Copenhagen to London

The above photos are 3 of my favourite from my time in Copenhagen.

Here's a blog about Copenhagen & seeing my Dad in London.

Monday 21st June 2010
Today I was up bright and early and out the door by 8am headed for Heathrow Airport. I arrived half an hour before Check in even opened so I sat down for a while and people watched. At 9:30am it was check in time then onto security. I knew I would have trouble getting through security as my knee brace had three metal rods in it but what a drama! I set the metal detectors off as expected so had to have a pat down search which was fine. Then they decided I needed to have a full body scan.
Now I can't believe they want to make it the law that everyone flying has a full body scan because it takes ages! They had to scan my leg at all different angles then was subjected to another pat down search to ensure that what I was telling them about the rods were true OMG. So finally, I was let free to wander around Terminal 5!! The new(ish) Terminal 5 is amazing with alot of shops to keep one entertained for hours but I lasted 10 minutes before I couldn't handle the walking/crutches anymore so sat down and watched the news & the Italian Year 10 school students harass everyone.
When it came time to stand by our gate, there were no seats left and no one offered one so I just stood there trying not to show I was in agony! The boarding-pass lady noticed me and let me board early... Yay!! My knee swelled up during the flight which I also expected so the flight attendent filled a zip lock bag up with ice for me which helped loads!
Finally arrived in Copenhagen and headed to the 5A bus to Sundbyvester Plads, just a 2 minute walk from my hostel, the Southern Cross. As the name may suggest the hostel is run by an Aussie lady, Kylie, who was so helpful & lovely. She has a cute Boxer dog called Milo too!! She apologised just as I walked in the door as my room was on the top floor of a 5 storey apartment building. It took time (two feet for each step takes ALOT of time!) but I made it in the end. Kylie pulled out some maps for me and recomended some places to visit like Tivoli, Nyhavn and Christiana.
Kylie apologised again as I was in the dorm room alone as there were no other girls staying, just two guys in the room downstairs. I told her I had NO problem with it being so quiet and being alone... I live with my bosses and a 15 month old child, quiet is bliss!! So I had the whole room to myself. It is a really good set up with three double beds, breakfast table & breakfast area, double bathroom etc. It was more homely than any other hostel I have ever stayed at which was nice.
I headed out into the city and went for a walk/hobble around to get my bearings. I saw every Tivoli entrance from each side of the block. Had a Burger King kids meal for dinner as I was warned food in Copenhagen was expensive so just went cheap for the first night. Went back to the hostel about 8/9pm to plan the days ahead and to rest the blisters that were forming on my hands from the crutches. So painful!!

Tuesday 22nd June 2010:
For some strange reason I woke up at 4am. I seem to wake up with the sun these days and I ain't likin' it!
I headed out just before 9, bought a klip card (135dk and you get 10 bus trips) and caught the 5A bus into Central Station. Then jumped onto the Number 40 bus to go to the Botanic Gardens. They were different to what I expected with a plant shop, big greenhouses etc among lakes & beautiful gardens. It was absoutely beautiful and so peaceful to take a stroll around. There were teenagers on a school trip, a lady sitting by the lake reading a book, and a small child having a picnic with his grandparents. It took me back to the days my grandparents would take me out for days out when I was a child. Such precious memories.
After the Botanic Gardens I headed to Nyhavn on the 'City Cirkel' number 11 bus. It took a while to get there but it was SO worth it. The coloured buildings and the canal were one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. I went on a hour long guided canal tour through the area and Christiantown. Nyhavn was originally an industral area and the coloured buildings were home to the ships crew. It became well known as an area for drunken fighting between sailors and prostitutes. Today the builidings are now bars, cafes' and restaurants.
Fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen lived at house number 20 in his time and it was here he wrote his first stories. He also lived in two other houses further down the canal.
After the canal tour I decided to treat myself to lunch. What a price jump between Burger King & this Italian restuarant. At B/King I paid 29 danish kroner, for my pizza & coke I paid 185dk! It was delicious though and worth spoiling myself.
After Nyhavn I went for a walk to find the Gift Shop and along the way discovered Amalienborg Palace, which is home to Denmark's Royal Family. I had seen it from a distance on the canal tour but it was much more interesting to see it up close. Unlike Buckingham Palace in London, Amalienborg Palace is made up of four smaller palaces. Prince Fredrick and Princess Mary (who is from Australia!) will be moving into one of the palaces soon. It is currently under construction so has been open to the public from March until August this year (I think it was). It was very interesting. It is an old building with very up to date artwork. They have invited many different artists to decorate the walls and it is just amazing to see.
After Amalienborg I went gift shopping and then back into the city to go to Tivoli Gardens. Tivoli is currently the third most visited theme park in Europe. It is truely amazing. Rides aside, the gardens, the restaurants and the stages are magical. In summer they have artists every Friday night I think it was. The hostel owner was telling me she'd seen INXS there before. I spent a couple of hours resting the leg sitting by a band stage with a view of all the tall rides whilst writing out postcards on a beautiful 28 degree day! I did home home with burnt shoulders, arms & face that day but it was so worth it.
By nighttime, I again had Burger King as that was all the budget would allow! Chilled out in the hostel that night, reading and planning for the next day.

Wednesday 23rd June 2010:

Another 4/5am awakening, this time with a migraine. I started to get a bit worried that this would just be the end of the trip for me. Took some strong painkillers and got some rest for a couple more hours. It did the trick. I was able to function so again out the door about 9am.
Today I decided to head to Freetown Christiania. Kylie had told me the story of how it used to be owned by the Forces but at some point was taken over by the "hippies" who are still there today.
Christiania is located within Christiantown and is near by the canal. You are not allowed to take photos in the village as there are people smoking weed & the like on the streets. Just walking through there is enough to get you high (I should have stayed longer, would have helped with the immense pain in my knee at the time. Ha!) The local people have some little stalls where they sell stickers, knitted things, keyrings and stuff. To be honest, it was a very interesting experience. The local lady that I spoke to was lovely though.
I left Christiania and headed back to City Hall Square. Took a walk down the pedestrian shopping street, Stroget for a little while and had some lunch before sitting in City Hall Square for a couple of hours writing out more postcards and people watching. There were a group of gymnaists who put on a show for a little while but other than that I sat and watched people come and go.
One elderly man came and sat on the bench just a couple of metres in front of me and was feeding the pigeons on there. He was there for at least half an hour and the pigeons were eating from his hands. He was so delicate with them and they weren't afraid at all. I don't know why exactly, but this moment restored my faith in people. Everyone rushes these days and speeds through life. no one ever stops to enjoy the simple things.
After my people/pedestrian watching it was time to head back to Copenhagen Airport. Again, had trouble with security though this time I only had to have a pat down search and this bit of paper run over my knee brace to ensure it wasn't hazardous material.
Again, I was the first to board the plane. I was taken down to the plane before they had finished cleaning from the flight before so got to have a good chat with the staff. They were all so friendly. Especially a guy called Jesper!
I was sat next to a man in his 40's and his 10 year old son. Close to landing all non European citizens had to fill out a landing card. I pulled my Australian passport out & the guy next to me goes "Oh, another Aussie!! Hello" and we had a good chat. He and his family are from Mudgee in NSW and had lived in Sydney in the past. Small world!!
Upon landing, the staff asked if they could help (these crutches really get you places) but I declined. They kept saying good on me and well done because they have passengers whinge they want wheelchairs just because they brought too much luggage. I told them I am just too independant for my own good sometimes.
After landing I was making my way to customs every so slowly (my knee was giving up by this point) when one of the BA staff in a buggy saw me & offered me a ride to customs. What fun!! I got to sit in the back on the buggy which just made me laugh. I don't like accepting help but by this stage I was well and truely OVER IT. Got through customs ASAP, collected my bags and hopped on my coach to Basingstoke where a friend picked me up.
Came home, put washing on, unpacked from Copenhagen and packed for London. 12 hours later I was to see my Dad for the first time in 15 months (& 1 week *ahm*)

Thursday 24th & Friday 25th

Arrived in London around 11am on Thursday. Met my Dad & Kaye at the train station and gave my Dad the biggest hug of my life. I was SO excited to be with him. I am such a Daddys girl. Before I moved to England the longest I had been away from home was a month so it was a little overwhelming. We did the double decker red bus tour around London but got off about 2.5hrs into it. Was very interesting and I saw alot of sights in London that I had never seen before. The two of them gave into jetlag about 9pm that night so I watched other people in the hotel thru their windows. At one point I saw a man picking his nose by the window!!
Friday we did Trafalgar Square, Hamley's toy shop which is MASSIVE and loads of fun, Dad and Kaye did some shopping and we visited the town of Southfields, near Wimbledon. We saw where the tennis was played and had a wander around before heading back into London. Kaye went back to the hotel and Dad said I had the choice to either say goodbye now or he would come and hang out with me for a bit longer. Well, it was only 4pm and I decided I hadn't seen my Dad long enough & burst into tears (what a baby!!) so Dad came with me and I took him to Covent Garden where we saw some street entertainers before I headed on my train home. I didn't cry this time but ever since I have arrived home I just have to think the word 'Dad' and I get all teary. Two days was NOT enough. It has made me so so homesick. The past year I have because so independant so to have someone actually care about me, what I though & offer to carry my bag for me was just too much. That's what families do, they care and they help. I haven't had that for over a year now & I really miss it. Oh joy, I am crying AGAIN now! Ugh, someones coming upstairs, quick, hide the tears!!!
After arriving home I went to A&E/Emergency as the top two velcro straps on my knee brace broke while I was away/just before I left so went to see about getting a new one. The orthpaedic doctor decided 13 days of it being immobilised had helped alot so I got to ditch it. He said if I keep it on any longer it could damage my rehab after the surgery so I was happy with that. I am still on crutches though as my knee is still really weak but I can live with that. Got home from A&E about midnight and went to SLEEP for the next 11 hours. Much needed after my lack of sleep and busy week!

So that was my week. Dad & Kaye are off touring Europe at the moment but will be coming to stay here on the 10th of July, so just less than 2 weeks. The countdown is on!!!