københavn.

Although this place was not my first choice for travelling, and despite the fact that I was there by a coincidental compulsion,

I love it.

Denmark flag, shot in Kastellet.

I arrived there from Kastrup Airport at 4 p.m. by Metro, in Kongens Nytorv station. Kongens (King) Ny (new) torv (square). My eyes were pampered by the beauty of Magasin Du Nord.

Magasin Du Nord is a Danish retailer chain, with its flagship store located in Kongens Nytorv. This company is currently owned by British retailer Debenhams.

Once my friend said, what good a winter is but its Christmassy ambience? I didn't really pay attention when she said so, as I don't celebrate it anyway. But after all Christmas thingy was over, I can't agree more. Winter without Christmas feeling is boring. And I missed it somehow.

Display in Magasin Du Nord.

Danish love bikes, for sure. With their thin, tall, and sleek postures, these fashionable people ride bike a lot. 

Bicycle park in front of Magasin Du Nord.

This city can be colourful and plain in the same time, and its morning silence gave me strange feeling. Okay I wanna use other word but I don't know what word it is!

Nyhavn, or New Harbour, is one of the most popular touristy area in Copenhagen located in the extension of Kongens Nytorv. Built in mid 1600s, this harbour was used for ships as an entrance to the city. Currently restaurants and hotels filled its side, making it a nice place to spend time for the day.

Although it was winter, tulips were abundantly sold in most flower stalls.

Winter accentuates its silence. And winter here is different with one in Manchester. It was colder, with heavier wind, and if you're lucky, more snow!

I didn't expect anything when I came there. My friend asked me to go, and I really wanted to go to non-mainstream Euro Trip destination, so I agreed accompanying her to Copenhagen and Stockholm. I used to believe we will go together until one day before we left and she hadn't got her visa. Without any plan (because my friend surely had had one), I went there.

In the next day, I randomly opened map and pick one biggest closest park there: Kongens Have. I don't know what was there, but a big park had never failed making me happy. There wasn't a lot of people there, or was I just too early coming? It was 10 a.m. on a Saturday. In Winter. But I video called my mother and her first question was 'Are you alone in the park??'

My first thought was, this park -- with its renaissance style caste, lining trees, brown leaved bushes, drying rose gardens, and statues -- looked like one in fairy tales. Turns out that this garden was oldest Danish royal garden.

Rosenberg Slot. This renaissance style castle was used by royal family until around 1710, when the royals moved to Christianborg Slot. It's currently an open-for-public museum that shows royal collection, including throne and royal crown. Admission fee is DKK 90 for an adult.

This bronze lion statue was located in the gate of Rosenborg Slot. There are three silver lions in the Castle's third floor as a symbol to guard the throne.

And then I found this statue in one corner of the garden. It was Hans Christian Andersen, the writer of many famous fairy tales. By that time I understand how this kind of beautiful places in the country could have inspired the writer :') I can now only wonder how will this garden look like in spring and summer. They have sun and flowers and it should be so pretty

Hans Christian Andersen statue in one corner of Kongens Have. Just by that time I realised that Andersen was an Odense born Danish.

And later I realise, this city has a lot bronze statues--with light blue colours like in Jakarta. I'm not a big fan of statues, but these are really good (bronze statues in Jakarta are really good actually, but they do not stand out among other tall buildings). I put some statues collection in other post :)

Don't forget about Strøget, the longest pedestrian shopping area in Europe. Located in the heart of Copenhagen, this place was full of people, especially near Christmas. Some Christmas Markets were located here, with its festive decoration. Sadly I didn't take too much pictures here!

And what is better than a Danish pastry? Walk along Strøget in the morning and smell the fresh bakery from the bakers. That was clearly a piece of heaven.

One thing I like from this place is, most of its tourist attractions are located within walking distance, if you don't mind walking for 30 minutes, of course. But I love to walk so, that was perfect.

Now you have to visit Kastellet. This is basically an army defence fortress with unique star shape. Although mainly this place is used for public, it still serves some military activities. I love this place, for real.

The ramps in main road of Kastellet.

Christmas is here! The yellow building in the back is Kastellet's church.

Inside part of North Gate.

This star-shaped fortress is surrounded by star-shaped canal as well.

St. Alban's Church, as seen from Kastellet.

Windmill in Kastellet

I feel peace, don't you?

Don't forget to taste smørrebrød, the traditional Danish open sandwich. And by saying open sandwich, it's literally a slice of bread with toppings on top of that. Cafes and restaurants around Strøget sell smørrebrød for around DKK 30 each, but I read that one worthy  smørrebrød to try was Rita's Smørrebrød. The location was a bit north in Nørrebro a bit far from Strøget but it offers conventional sandwich for DKK 12 each!

I hope this picture does not make your head turning up-down. But that is how the sandwich looks like. I ate three slices and feel enough. They're small but they do the job.

When I have nothing to do (or more accurately, I don't do things what I actually should do), my mind wonders about these places. I surely wanna comeback if I had the chance.