June 16: Copenhagen

Beaming in after a full day of site-seeing.  After breakfast we walked to our point of embarkation in order to pursue architectural trends in Copenhagen.  We took a canal ride to the new urban areas of Copenhagen.  The theme of the day was Danish Modern Architecture and the tour included a chance to see the new quarters of Copenhagen, the Metro, and the urban area of Orestaden, where we were joined by an architect who introduced us to the famous works of the controversial architect Bjarke Ingels.  Its core is a WW II former working class district.  From Christianshavn we proceeded to the new quarter called Orestaden, where Ingels has designed controversial dwellings named “The Mountain,” “WM House,” and “8-tallet.”  Huge modern residential and commercial developments have sprung up along its routes.  

I found it rather soulless architecture, with a few high points which caught the eye and hope for future development.  Lunch, including chicken salad and shrimp smorrebrods or open-faced sandwiches were served at “8-tallet” and a Flodeballe, a concoction which reminded me a lot of the “Mohrenkusse” or “Moor’s Kisses” I used to love in Germany, was a wonderful end to the meal.

Nancy and I returned to the room mid-afternoon, and we both packed for our exit from Copenhagen tomorrow and our next leg in Stockholm.  Dinner was at a restaurant nearby at Nyhavn or New Harbor, and the late afternoon sun graced the whole ambiance with a show of beauty.  Leaving tomorrow for Stockholm.  Grand stay here!  Looking forward to our 5.5-hour trip by train to Stockholm tomorrow.