Saturday, May 2, 2015

Copenhagen - To Do (ABBA Contribution by Denison Tan 02May2015 - Cycling to Dyrehaven, Malmo, Free Walking Tours, The Queen)

Copenhagen - To Stay
Copenhagen - To Eat 
Copenhagen - To Do
Copenhagen - To Buy
Copenhagen - To Do
02May2015 (ABBA Contribution Denison Tan)
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On this occasion, bicycles were rented from the hotel Bella Sky (170DKK) and after taking nearly an hour in chilly winds, a trip to Dyrehaven was made. It is (was?) the royal hunting grounds but now is open to the public. There is also amusement park, Bakken, supposedly the world’s oldest onsite. The deer tended to be rather wary of our presence. The routing was managed with handphones and Google Earth.




Some simple rules include keeping to the bike paths and observing the smaller traffic lights meant for bicycles at the junctions. 


You will need to get the train tickets from Orestad station just outside of Field’s Shopping Centre. But it only accepts coins or credit card – so keep your PIN handy. Otherwise, take the train down to the airport where they have machines that accept notes for the tickets. For a one-way family ticket it came to 144DKK. The ticket back took 189SEK from Malmo.

From the route in the train (above), Orestad is at Field’s, Kastrup the airport and Malmo C our destination.


Ticket booth at Kastrup airport.

Did not encounter any border control between Copenhagen to Malmo. On the other hand, ticket inspectors were present both ways so make sure the proper ticket is purchased.
Landed on a rather wet day in Malmo which adversely reduced sightseeing opportunities. Head across the road to the tourist centre to ask for directions.

Malmohus Slott

Visited the Malmohus Castle a short walk away – at various times belonging previously to Denmark, a corrective prison before its present state as a museum.
 
 

The 40SEK fee for the Fortress also permits entry to the nearby Tekniska Museet, Technical Museum, a museum housing various aircraft and vehicles.


The highlight would have to be the WWII submarine nestled in the grounds of the Museum.

 
  ’Fart’ means ‘speed’ in Swedish…




Like the Malmohus, it does seem somewhat dated and the lack of English translation for a number of exhibits may hinder appreciation of the history.

 

At the station, sought to sample the local delicacy of Smørrebrød – open-faced sandwich when we were identified as Singaporeans by the counter staff. Apparently Victoria used to work in Singapore for a few years and is also married to a Singaporean. Small world… The going rate for the Smorrebrod was 89SEK for 3 choices.


In a city as pricey as Copenhagen, it is nice to know some things come free (almost). The guides are students who conduct the tours for tips. Lively and witty, our guide regaled us about the history of the areas we passed, including the fires that razed Copenhagen, why the country is so darn expensive, and the breathtakingly short resistance of Denmark to German invasion in WWII.


House which JC Jacobsen the founder of Carlsberg used to reside.


Christiansborg Palace where the Danish Parliament meets


The tour lasts about 3hrs with a stop in between. The group meets at the front of the Town Hall at 11am, and sets off if there are 5 or more people. Look out for the guides with their yellow umbrellas.


Queen's Birthday

One lead from the walking tour was that the following day, April 16 was Queen Margrethe II’s 75th birthday. The annual affair starts from Amelienbourg Palace at 12 noon where she and the Royal Family greets the crowds below.


Then an open carriage ride passing from the Palace through the walking street to the Town Hall – in startling proximity given the security environment these days…

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