DAY 29 – WEDNESDAY 2ND JANUARY, 2019…

Today Steve and I were venturing out to go shopping in Copenhagen city.  We had a couple of games we wanted to buy for the kids back home, and the games store that stocked them was in the city.  Today we had to navigate a couple of different buses to get to our destination and it was all new territory for us. 

Initially we caught the bus into Nørreport.  We wanted to stop here and visit a camera shop which was close to the station, as Steve wanted to buy a remote control for the camera so that we could take some photos of the Northern Lights whilst in Iceland if we saw them.   On the way to the camera shop we came across this great cheap shop called “Flying Tiger Copenhagen”.  We couldn’t resist a look around and ended up buying a few kitchen tools, a couple of small toys for the children and a face massager each for Sarah and Chloe.  I was amazed at the sort of things they stocked and the prices.  It would have been so easy to go overboard and stock up on some pretty cool stuff.  Good thing we have a limit on weight in our suitcase, so we restrained ourselves…

The Camera shop ended up being next door, and we were able to get our remote control so were happy with our purchases so far for the morning.

Outside the Organic Food Markets - a place we visited last time we were here...

We then walked back to Nørreport and caught the bus to "Strøget" which is the world’s longest pedestrian street. It was changed into a pedestrian street in the beginning of the 60’s when the volume of traffic increased.  The old narrow streets and the expanding shopping area around central Copenhagen, as well as the sidewalk streets became more and more crowded with pedestrians who were bumping into each other and blocking the way on the narrow pavements.  The Copenhagen City Council decided to establish a car free pedestrian zone from the westerly Town Hall Square to the Kings New Square in the eastern park of town called “Strøget”.  The total length of this pedestrian street is almost 3.2 kms.

Old Square and the New Square

We hopped off the bus at Nytorv which means New Square or New Market and is a public square in the centre of Copenhagen.  Together with the ajoining Gammeltorv (Old Square) it forms a common space  in part of the Stroget pedestrian zone.  The square is dominated by the imposing Neoclassical facade of the Copenhagen Court House which from 1815 to 1905 also served as the City Hall.

The Caritas Fountain.

We had a good wander around the two squares before heading off to do our shopping.  The Caritas Well or Caritas Fountain as it is also known is the oldest fountain in Copenhagen. It was built in 1608 by Christian IV and is located on Gammeltorv, (Old Square) We wandered off and had our photo taken with it…
The figure group on this fountain was originally carved in wood by a German wood carver for casts afterwards to be made in bronze. The figures depict the greatest of the three theological virtues, love or charity (caritas in Latin), symbolised by a pregnant mother with her children. The figures stand on a column in a copper basin. The copper basin is raised above a lower basin on a stone pillar. The female figure sprays water from her breasts while the little boy "pees" into the basin.

The Old Kiosk and Telephone Stand

Also, on the square stands an old kiosk and telephone stand from 1913. It is built in Baroque Revival style with a copper-clad roof and hand-carved ornamentation. It also used to offer the first  public telephonic connection in Copenhagen from where it was possible to call every day except Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm.  These days it is a small café with outdoor service.  Of course we had to take photos of it as well..

A little down from the Old Kiosk in the New part of the Market square we came across the Copenhagen Court House.  The courthouse was built between 1805 and 1815 and originally was built as a combined city hall and courthouse.  It is now a historic building, and although in the past has had several renovations, it is now protected.  This neoclassical courthouse was designed by Danish professor and architect C.F. Hansen  and above the columns facing Nytory, you can see the inscription "Med lov skal man land bygge" ("With Law the Country shall be built"), which is a quote from the introduction to Valdemar the Victorious' Jutlandic Law from 1241.

We enjoyed our walk around the squares and after photographing these buildings we headed off down Strøget to find the games shops.  The street was really busy with pedestrians, and there were all sorts of arcades full of shops leading from this street. 

Strøget

   We finally found where we needed to go, but as we were walking through the arcade, we came across a great children’s store called “Karrusella” where we were able to get some train carriages for Max.  He is obsessed with trains, so we figured that he would love them.  Once we had bought them, it was into the games store we headed.  

Great game store we checked out in Copenhagen.

Wow what a store, so many games we have never heard of before, and dice, I have never seen so many dice of all shapes and sizes, a whole wall dedicated to them.   Once we bought the games we wanted then we were off to look for a book that Chloe had requested.  We really didn’t have much luck with this one…

On our way back to catch the bus we came across the Rundetaarn (Round Tower).  It is one of Europe’s oldest functioning astronomy observatory towers, which is now also a cultural centre and a good vantage point to see Copenhagen from above.

The Round Tower in Copenhagen

Built under the guidance of Christian IV in the early 1600s, the Round Tower is still one of the most notable works of architecture in the city. This was once an astronomical research facility for the University of Copenhagen, but it is now a cultural centre for all to enjoy.

A steep ramp wraps around the central interior column and is a stunning example of the advanced architecture for the time.

Late Lunch at Max Hamburger's

By now it was almost sunset (3.30pm) so thought it might be time to head back towards the bus stop.  We were feeling a little hungry so stopped off at Max Hamburger’s which was located just down from where we needed to catch our bus home.  We enjoyed a burger each and then headed for the bus stop. 

 

It was freezing cold today.  Even though the temperature was around zero, the wind was blowing quite strongly and so the chill factor felt more like -10C.  We couldn’t wait to get on the bus and head home into the warmth of the apartment…

Waiting for the bus to head home...

At the bus stop

It was freezing cold....

We had a great day out together and enjoyed our adventures around Copenhagen.  Tonight we need to repack our suitcases and get ready as tomorrow we head off to Iceland. 

It was nice to arrive home to a nice warm apartment and even nicer to spend time with our little bundle of joy...

Theo talking to his little bunny

How we love this little man....

Our time in Copenhagen has almost come to an end.  We only have one full day left here when we get back from Iceland, before it is time to board the plane and head home to Australia.