Thursday, May 31, 2012

Final day in Copenhagen

IMG_4408eSunday was our final full day in Copenhagen so Maisie and I each picked out something that we wanted to do.  After looking through all the tourist info and guidebooks Maisie asked to go to Danmarks akvarium (Denmark’s Aquarium) so that’s how we started our day.  We took the train to Charlottelund and then once off the train it was about a ten minute walk to the aquarium.  We found ourselves walking past Charlottenlund Slot (Charlottenlund Palace) and Maisie wanted a picture.  The aquarium was very, very small compared to what we’re used to and as all the descriptions were only in Dutch, we didn’t learn very much but it was fun seeing the fish and people watching.  Surprisingly I somehow managed to never pull out my camera so not a single picture from our time at the aquarium!

IMG_4410e After the Aquarium it was my turn for what we were going to do so we took the train to Hillerød to see Frederiksborg Slot (Frederiksborg Castle) which is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia.  Since 1878, Frederiksborg Castle has been Det National historiske (The Museum of National History) and contains a chronological collection of portraits, historical paintings, furniture and decorative arts telling the 500 year history of Denmark.

IMG_4409eThe oldest parts of the castle were built by Frederick II and date back to 1560 but most of the current palace was constructed by Christian IV between 1602 and 1620.

IMG_4412eSlotskirken (The Chapel) which dates from the time of Christian IV.

IMG_4415eSince the time of Christian IV, Frederiksborg Castle Chapel has served as a parish church of Frederiksborg parish.  Only the viewing gallery is open to the public when services are not in session.

IMG_4417eCompenius-orgel (Compenius organ) built in 1610 by Isaiah Compenius. 

IMG_4418eAn angel looks out over the nave.

IMG_4419eThe ebony & silver pulpit & alter and the Baptismal font.

IMG_4421eThe Royal chair.

IMG_4420eThe Compenius organ’s 1001 pipes.

IMG_4422eThe secret passage leading from the main palace into the Audienssalen (Audience Hall.)

IMG_4423eCeiling of the Audienssalen (Audience Hall. )

IMG_4424eThe King’s “elevator” up into the Audience Hall.

IMG_4425eIMG_4426eThe Mother’s Chamber

IMG_4427eEntering Riddersalen (The Great Hall).

IMG_4428eIn The Great Hall, the trumpeter’s balcony was used to salute royalties.  It was also used for an orchestra during parties.

IMG_4431eGottorp Celestial Globe.  Made in 1657 for Duke Friedrich III of Gottorp.

IMG_4432eThe globe was restored in 2001.

IMG_4433eInside the sun can be seen in the center as a shining brass ball.

After our time at the castle we took the train back to Copenhagen and walked along Strøget and did a bit of shopping.  We picked up some food for dinner which we took back to hotel because our go-go-go schedule since the cruise ended had caught up with both of us and we were tired.  After we ate Maisie took a bath as I packed our bags as the following day we were flying to London. 

After almost three weeks away I was ready to start heading home but I was also a bit sad to be leaving.  Of all the cities I’ve ever visited, Copenhagen is my absolute favorite and though we managed to pack in a lot and see many things, there was just so much more that I wanted to see and do.  Hopefully it won’t be another 25 years before I return again. 

For me, one of the things that I look forward to after being away is my own cooking.  All the food on the cruise was wonderful as was everything in Malmö & Copenhagen but I was ready for one course simple meals like these Chicken Tenders which were simple to make and Maisie “safe”.  Yes, a new recipe over on Cook Lisa Cook so click on the link or the picture to check it out.

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Other recipes posted on Cook Lisa Cook include: Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon FrostyMango Gazpacho, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Long Beans with Walnuts, Blacksmith Pizza, Rhubarb Crisp, Laksa, Math Book No Bake Cookies, Aloo Gobi, Mint Lassi, Red Curry Chicken, Lamb Curry, Grilled Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Baked Egg Cups Two Ways, Thai Peanut Salad, Holy Guacamole, Cantaloupe Agua Fresca, Wallaby Darned, Piggy-Out Cookies, Wicked Good New England Lobster Roll, Long Beans with Garlic, Super Simple Summer Shrimp Salsa Salad, Grandma’s Teriyaki Steak, Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho, Red Chinese Long Beans with Peppers & Red Curry, 24-Layer Crêpe Cake, Fig & Watermelon Salad, Grilled Chèvre & Fig Panini, Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad, Grilled Prawns, Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon, Kicked Up Piggy-Out Cookies, Pesto Pita Pizza, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Nutella Crêpes, Mango, Lime & Chile Spiced Ice Box Pie, Roast Beef & Garlic Herb Cheese Sandwich, Layered Crespelle with Bolognese, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil, Jamaican Jerk Meat Pies, Nutella No Bake Cookies, Velvety Mac & Cheese, Welsh Cakes, Tom Yam Ghoong (Spicy Shrimp Soup), Lime Jewels, Southwest Pasta Salad, Walnut Roca Squares, Uncle Bubba’s Shrimp & Grits, Chocolate Chip Gingersnaps, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Copycat “KFC” Coleslaw, Happy 6th Birthday Maisie Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies, Thin Mint Irish Coffee, Caramel Apples, “Rotisserie” Chicken, Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich, Mummy Hotdogs, Mango Upside Down Cake, Pork Belly Soup with Collard Greens, Aloo Tikki, Pink Strawberry Cake Balls, Praline Pumpkin Cheesecake, Apple Dumplings, Rum Cured Salmon, Apple, Cranberry & Rhubarb Crisp, Hasselback Potatoes with Garlic Sour Cream, Crunchy Oat, Almond, Cashew & Pebbles Granola Bars, Texas Chicken with Lime Butter, Biscoff Fudge, Eggnog Popovers with Cranberry Butter, Creamed Corn with Cheese and Cilantro, Potato Crusted Pork Chops, Oatmeal, Cashew & Chocolate Granola Bars, Texas Chicken Sandwich, Seared Scallops with Creamy Pesto & Lemon Pepper Pasta, Thai Chicken Noodle Soup, Glazed Lemon Squares, Chang-Style Brussels Sprouts, Maisie “safe” No Bake Cookies, Ponderosa Lemon & Sour Cream Tart, Pork Dumplings with Rice Wrappers, Sweet & Spicy Apple Pork, Dark Chocolate Dipped Candied Lemon Peel, Crunchy Fudgy Heart Bites, Double Chocolate Meyer Lemon Mousse Cake, Malted Pretzel Crunch, Shrimp & Avocado Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing, Apple Pancakes, Baked Egg & Avocado, Health(ier) Peanut Brittle, Crab Cake Stuffed Mushrooms, Broiled Sushi, Tomato Sauce with Onion & Butter, Loaded Potato & Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Slow Cooker Chicken Curry, Slimmed Down Loaded Potato & Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Baked Meatballs, Skinny Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins, Fruit, Nut & Poppy Seed Chicken Salad, Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars, Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Hearty Sausage, Mushroom & Cheddar Mini Quiche and Strawberry Soup.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Sunday in Copenhagen

IMG_4328eMaisie had been a real trooper during our super busy and very long first full day in Copenhagen so I decided for Sunday, we would do a few activities that she would particularly enjoy.  We started our day taking the train to Hvidovre to the Cirkusmuseet (Circus Museum).

IMG_4345eI planned to visit the museum on Sunday because the first Sunday of every month they have a morning circus workshop for 1.5 hours where everyone can try their hand at everything from juggling to tight-rope walking to the trapeze and I knew that Maisie would have a blast.

IMG_4333eMaisie had fun and enjoyed being active.

IMG_4338eOf course a mat on the ground called for some gymnastics.  She got a lot of attention walking the length of the mat on her hands, doing front and back walkovers and when she did a round-off - back handspring - back handspring.  A number of people asked her to do it again for their family who missed it and they were all surprised by her young age doing the tricks she was doing.  After the open workshop we toured the actual museum

IMG_4348eWe then took the train back to Copenhagen and visited the Geologisk Museum (Geological Museum) as Maisie is obsessed with dinosaurs so I knew that she’d really enjoy it, and she did.

IMG_4349eIMG_4350eIMG_4351eIMG_4352eMaisie was also quite mesmerized by an elephant fetus.

IMG_4372eOnce we finished in the museum we walked down the road to Rosenborg Slot (Rosenborg Castle), King Christian IV’s castle.  Not many descriptions here as I just took pictures of things that caught my eye.  Maisie was also in a “take a picture of me” mood so she wanted to be in most of the pictures. 

IMG_4353eThe fireplace in Christian IV’s bedroom and a real beautiful smile from Maisie.

IMG_4354eCeiling of the Marble Room.

IMG_4355eThe King’s Chamber.

IMG_4356eIMG_4357eIMG_4358eIMG_4359eFrederik V's Cabinet.

IMG_4361eThe Knight’s Hall with the King & Queen’s Coronation chairs surrounded by the silver lions.

IMG_4362eThrone from Christian VI's Audience Chamber.

IMG_4365eAfter visiting all of the rooms we headed to the Treasury beneath Rosenborg Castle.

IMG_4367eThe Crown of King Christian IV, designed and made for his crowning in 1596.

IMG_4369eThe Queen's Crown, made for Queen Sophie Magdalene and the crown of Christian V.

IMG_4368eIMG_4370eIMG_4371eOn the left, the Sceptre which was made for the coronation of Frederik III in 1648.  On the bottom is the Anointing Sword, a wedding present from Christian IV to Frederik III in 1643.

IMG_4373eAfter our time at the castle we walked to the Copenhagen Food Hall where we had something to eat and I bought some chocolate and then we hopped the train back to our hotel for a little rest before heading out again.

IMG_4376eWhen I was looking for a hotel in Copenhagen I wanted to be close to the Central Train Station.  Well this is the view from our window, the Central Train Station.  Tivoli in the background, where we could see the ride Himmelskibet (The Star Flyer) which at 260 ft high is the world's tallest swing ride.  The tower to the left of the Star Flyer is Københavns Rådhus (City Hall.) Our hotel was in the perfect location.

IMG_4380eThe chocolate I bought, A flødebolle (cream bun) and four chocolates.

IMG_4382eThe flødebolle is like a very soft sweet meringue on a marzipan base all covered with chocolate.  I was told that this was a very traditional Danish candy so I had to give it a try and it was delicious.  I finished the flødebolle while we were in Copenhagen but the chocolates were a nice treat on our plane ride home.

IMG_4269eAfter a short rest we headed over to Tivoli.

IMG_4383eTivoli opened on August 15, 1843 and is the second oldest amusement park in the world.

IMG_4384eThe Tivoli Boys Guard.

IMG_4385eIt is said that Walt Disney got his ideas and inspiration for Disneyland when he visited Tivoli.

IMG_4386eIMG_4388e1IMG_4389e IMG_4390eMaisie in front of Dragon Boat Lake with the roller coaster Dæmonen (The Demon) in the background. 

IMG_4391e IMG_4392eThe Pirateriet Restaurant.

IMG_4395ePetzi's World, Maisie in front of the comic book with  Pelle, Pingo, Old Salt and Petzi.

IMG_4397eMaisie climbing up into Ship Mary.

IMG_4398eAll the gardens were just gorgeous.

IMG_4400eThe bubble fountain in front of Nimb.

IMG_4401eIMG_4402ePantomimeteatret (The Pantomime Theater)

IMG_4403eMaisie taking a little rest and watching the peacock.

IMG_4405e IMG_4404eBefore leaving the park we stopped and enjoyed a little music.

IMG_4407eSince it was my birthday weekend, on the way back to our hotel we stopped at Lagkagehuset as I decided to treat myself with a slice of Prinsesstårta (Princess cake).  I said in my previous post how wonderful the pastries in Copenhagen were and this cake was beyond gorgeous with moist layers of génoise, pastry cream, jam, whipped cream, a thick layer of marzipan and a thin layer of ganache.  As Maisie couldn’t share it with me, it took me two days to finish this slice as it was so rich and delicious and I savored every bite.  I’m going to have to make this cake one of these days…but then I might just eat the entire thing.  Maybe I’ll just go visit Copenhagen again and enjoy it there. 

It was another wonderful day for Maisie and I and we still had one more in Copenhagen before flying off to London, so the final Copenhagen post will be coming soon. 

Though not a Prinsesstårta, this Double Chocolate Meyer Lemon Mousse Cake is pretty darn awesome.  Check out the recipe over on Cook Lisa Cook by clicking on the picture.

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Other recipes posted on Cook Lisa Cook include: Mango Lassi, Stir-Fried Asparagus with Water Chestnuts, Ginger & Cashews, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, Grilled Corn & Bacon Pudding, Oriental Chicken Salad, Potato Salad with Bacon, Coffee Crusted Steak, Home Style Chicken Curry, Watermelon FrostyMango Gazpacho, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Long Beans with Walnuts, Blacksmith Pizza, Rhubarb Crisp, Laksa, Math Book No Bake Cookies, Aloo Gobi, Mint Lassi, Red Curry Chicken, Lamb Curry, Grilled Corn, Avocado & Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, Baked Egg Cups Two Ways, Thai Peanut Salad, Holy Guacamole, Cantaloupe Agua Fresca, Wallaby Darned, Piggy-Out Cookies, Wicked Good New England Lobster Roll, Long Beans with Garlic, Super Simple Summer Shrimp Salsa Salad, Grandma’s Teriyaki Steak, Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho, Red Chinese Long Beans with Peppers & Red Curry, 24-Layer Crêpe Cake, Fig & Watermelon Salad, Grilled Chèvre & Fig Panini, Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad, Grilled Prawns, Spicy Brown Sugar Bacon, Kicked Up Piggy-Out Cookies, Pesto Pita Pizza, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Nutella Crêpes, Mango, Lime & Chile Spiced Ice Box Pie, Roast Beef & Garlic Herb Cheese Sandwich, Layered Crespelle with Bolognese, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil, Jamaican Jerk Meat Pies, Nutella No Bake Cookies, Velvety Mac & Cheese, Welsh Cakes, Tom Yam Ghoong (Spicy Shrimp Soup), Lime Jewels, Southwest Pasta Salad, Walnut Roca Squares, Uncle Bubba’s Shrimp & Grits, Chocolate Chip Gingersnaps, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Copycat “KFC” Coleslaw, Happy 6th Birthday Maisie Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies, Thin Mint Irish Coffee, Caramel Apples, “Rotisserie” Chicken, Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich, Mummy Hotdogs, Mango Upside Down Cake, Pork Belly Soup with Collard Greens, Aloo Tikki, Pink Strawberry Cake Balls, Praline Pumpkin Cheesecake, Apple Dumplings, Rum Cured Salmon, Apple, Cranberry & Rhubarb Crisp, Hasselback Potatoes with Garlic Sour Cream, Crunchy Oat, Almond, Cashew & Pebbles Granola Bars, Texas Chicken with Lime Butter, Biscoff Fudge, Eggnog Popovers with Cranberry Butter, Creamed Corn with Cheese and Cilantro, Potato Crusted Pork Chops, Oatmeal, Cashew & Chocolate Granola Bars, Texas Chicken Sandwich, Seared Scallops with Creamy Pesto & Lemon Pepper Pasta, Thai Chicken Noodle Soup, Glazed Lemon Squares, Chang-Style Brussels Sprouts, Maisie “safe” No Bake Cookies, Ponderosa Lemon & Sour Cream Tart, Pork Dumplings with Rice Wrappers, Sweet & Spicy Apple Pork, Dark Chocolate Dipped Candied Lemon Peel, Crunchy Fudgy Heart Bites, Double Chocolate Meyer Lemon Mousse Cake, Malted Pretzel Crunch, Shrimp & Avocado Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing, Apple Pancakes, Baked Egg & Avocado, Health(ier) Peanut Brittle, Crab Cake Stuffed Mushrooms, Broiled Sushi, Tomato Sauce with Onion & Butter, Loaded Potato & Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Slow Cooker Chicken Curry, Slimmed Down Loaded Potato & Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Baked Meatballs, Skinny Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins, Fruit, Nut & Poppy Seed Chicken Salad, Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars, Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Hearty Sausage, Mushroom & Cheddar Mini Quiche and Strawberry Soup.

Enjoy!

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