SCANDINAVIA - Afterthoughts

Loved every minute of our trip to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.  But here are a few thoughts on what I would do differently as well as what was just right.

On the path to The Little Mermaid - Copenhagen

When I began planning this trip it was a very busy and stressful time with work and my church calling (organizing a women's conference).  So, I used a travel agent to book flights and help me with a few things.  I let him talk me into taking flights between Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo.  We have always preferred a combination of trains and cars.  The flights were definitely less expensive, but the added stress of airplane travel and such wasn't worth it.  We would have preferred taking the scenic route that trains and cars afford. Even if it took a bit longer or cost a bit more.  Should have listened to my gut on this.  Lesson learned.

Copenhagen Harbor

We also needed one more night in Stockholm to get a better feel for that city.  Two nights just not enough.  I like to pack a lot into touring a big city but I also like at least a half day for wandering and observing--no time in Stockholm for those pleasures.

Stockholm

Norway requires more time on the fjords--pictures don't do it justice.  We met a darling and intrepid couple from Los Angeles, Marjorie and Dave.  They said they once made the same mistake taking flights in between closely connected cities/countries when they knew they preferred the more scenic route, too.  This trip, they spent more time traveling by ferry, car, train and loved it.  And they went deeper into the fjords.  Ferries are abundant and you can hop off and on staying in various villages and hiking as you go.  We met a few families with small children and teenagers who were doing that and loved it.  They unplugged from phones and tablets enjoying each other and the spectacular countryside.

Cute Marjorie and Dave

And, always, always book a Norway in a Nutshell tour. I have been to Norway twice and have booked this tour both times.  You can customize this tour to suit your needs and time constraints.  It is a brilliant plan and is an effortless way to tour the beauty of the fjords and its villages.

Norwegian countryside

We relied greatly on ground transportation to and from hotels and airports and only took two taxis.  The subway/train system in Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo is superb.  From what we experienced, there were escalators and elevators galore and no station had only stairs for entry and exit.  Stairs are miserable when you are dealing with luggage.  The trains we were on just sailed right into a clean station with an escalator just steps away.  Heaven.


There was one time we absolutely should have taken a taxi and that was from our Copenhagen train station to our hotel.  Instead dragged our four-wheeled luggage over serious cobblestone streets THE ENTIRE WAY--we felt (and looked) like idiots and I may have used a curse word or two (or at least thought them).

Norway

We packed just right for these cooler weather countries.  Layers work so well for traveling, don't they?  My new found love is the Barbour Summer Liddesdale Gilet.  I wore it every single day over long-sleeved shirts and sometimes underneath a thin unlined Eileen Fisher raincoat, plus a scarf.  Worked beautifully.

A FEW DAYS IN COPENHAGEN - BLISS!

Well, hello there! It's been over a year since I've posted anything.  What better way to get back in the game then to share a few pics and details about my most recent trip--heaven it was!

One week in Scandinavia, five days in Northern England, a week at Oxford participating in the Oxford Experience, and a few days in London.  Three-plus glorious weeks in spectacular countries.

It's too exhausting (for me, anyway) to include everything into one post so I will devote several posts to this trip.  Hope I can remember how to do this...here we go....

Copenhagen

It's always fun to start planning a trip figuring out where to go.  My friend, Leslie, and I participate in the Oxford Experience every few years.  This was our fifth year!  We always visit another country before we head to Oxford and this year it was three of those gorgeous countries that make up Scandinavia--Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.  And this time, my sister Tammy joined us.  Super fun!

We started in Copenhagen arriving at the train station after 8:00 pm.  By the way, the metro from the airport into the city is the way to go--even with our luggage.  Less than 15 minutes, escalators and elevators and all for $6 each way!  Then we made a mistake--we should have taken a taxi to our hotel from the metro station.  Instead, we rolled our  bags over cobblestone streets for what seemed like forever (supposedly a 7 minute walk from metro to hotel--nope) and I tried not to make eye contact with anyone.  Too ridiculous.  But, that's part of the education of travel, right?

Spectacular weather in Copenhagen for the few days we visited.  Cool breeze, bright blue skies with white puffy clouds and a few dark clouds for contrast.

The night we arrived we did the obligatory trek to see The Little Mermaid--a 20-30 minute walk from our hotel along the canal path.  Since it was light until after 10:00 pm it was a perfect first night site to check off our list and get some exercise in after the long flight from Phoenix.

                                                    Snapped this pic around 10:00 pm

Walked by this row of gorgeous homes on the way back to the hotel from the Little Mermaid.

"Come unto me"
Matthew 11:28

After breakfast we went straight to the Church of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke) to see the original Christus by Bertel Thorvaldsen who died in 1844.  My spirit was lifted just standing in front of this welcoming  magnificent piece.

                   
The words written above the resurrected Christ, "This is my beloved Son: hear him"  Mark 9:7

Along the sides are the twelve Apostles.  Peter is depicted above holding "the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shalt be bound in heaven" (Matthew 16:19)

Rosenborg Castle Gardens

After taking in the beauty of the Christus and the works of Thorvaldsen we walked over to the Rosenborg Castle and Gardens.

Rosenborg Castle

Details, details

Which one is your favorite?  

    I'm not a fan of animal heads all over the place but I liked this guy--plus he's a wood carving.

                                            Attention to detail in this pretty stairwell.

I've always heard that Denmark has the best pastries in the world.  Ummm, yes, Denmark does have the best ever.  The above pastry was hands down the best I've ever had--it's a yummy sugary cinnamon snail roll drizzled in chocolate called a Directors Snail.  Had one for breakfast every morning at our hotel--wish I had one right now.

This dahlia pic represents our time at the Tivoli--don't ask me why this is the only pic--the gardens were very pretty and we went on one ride.  Stayed about an hour.  If I had kids with me, would have stayed longer.

           Took a train and then a bus out to Frederiksborg Castle - easy, peasy - and it's always nice  getting out of the city and into the country a bit.

Frederiksborg Castle 

Our reason for traveling 45 minutes out of Copenhagen was to see over 20 original Carl Heinrich Bloch paintings of Jesus Christ--these beautiful paintings did not disappoint.  The above depicts the angel Michael comforting Jesus following his time in the garden of Gethsemane.

                               I love the exuberant greeting that Elisabeth is giving to Mary

                                                             Just look at that ceiling!

                                            The gardens were very Danish--neat and tidy.

                                                                    Lunch with a view

                                                                     A bike or two....

 

Lots of clean, simple style in Denmark -- bikes everywhere - women in skirts and dresses riding bikes to and from-- couldn't get a good pic of anyone actually on a bike to illustrate because they zipped by so fast.  Fresh fish/seafood as you can image.  Danish pastries galore.  And the city is very clean--did not see trash or graffiti.  We walked everywhere putting in around 20,000 steps daily--which was good given all the good food.  Only took a taxi once and that was back to the metro station to return to the airport.  Although I would recommend taking a taxi from the metro station to the hotel for any new visitors (unless you travel with only a backpack but I doubt any backpackers are reading this blog!).

Next post: Stockholm