The Danish and...

Danish people and...

...their pastries

Of course, the first thing you think of when you think Denmark is Danishes. And I don't mean the people, I mean the delicious breakfast pastries that usual manifest themselves with custard, jam, and frosting (And if this in not your first thought when thinking about Denmark, then you obviously don't think with your stomach like I am wont to do).

I admit, from the beginning, I was determined to try as many pastries as possible in the 5 days I was in Copenhagen. And while my first day started slowly, by the end of the trip I was planning pastry runs before I left the house.

The best Danish I had was filled with raspberry jam, and I purchased it (along with a chocolate pastry) on the Norreport Street that leads from the center of the city towards the neighborhood where I was staying. Technically the coffee shop where, Truc (a friend from college) and I stopped was not in Central Copenhagen, but nonetheless, the pastry was the most memorable).

Bakeries in Copenhagen are marked by a golden pretzel topped by a golden crown. Find this sign and you have found the perfect place for Danishes.

Speaking of their pastries, let me tell you about Danish people and...

...their 7-Eleven's

But specialty bakeries are not the only place that you can find good pastries.

I found, one morning while running to a sightseeing tour, that the 7-Eleven's perched on nearly every street corner of Copenhagen offer 2 pastries for 10 Kronor. Because most pastries cost around 15 Kronor for one, this seemed to me a good deal. Plus, I was going to miss the tour.

Surprising, even the 7-Eleven's in Copenhagen seem to produce good pastries. They were fresh from the oven (though no telling how long ago they were first baked), and the abundance of 7-Eleven's around the city (that are of course opened 24/7) makes these pastries a cheap, convenient snack.

Speaking of 7-Eleven's, let me tell you about Danish people and...

...their Baresso Coffee

Another popular chain in Denmark (or at least Copenhagen) is Baresso Coffee.

Denmark's version of Starbucks, this store is seen quite often to one walking around Copenhagen (though never quite as often as the 7-Eleven's are seen). Opened by a Danish man who lived in Italy for 20 years, the story goes that he returned and was unable to find a decent cup of coffee.

Like all brilliant men who cannot find coffee to their specifications, he decided to create his own chain, and Denmark produced its major coffee chain.

While I cannot speak to their pastries, they do serve a good cup of coffee, if you are willing to part with upwards of $5 for a simple regular coffee.

Speaking of Baresso Coffee, let me tell you about Danish people and...

...their prices

Going to the supermarket in Denmark is not too expensive, but go out to a restaurant and the prices might surprise you.

Needless to say, Denmark dining is expensive.

The only thing that you can by for a meal that is not too expensive comes from a kebob restaurant. What Mexican food is to the United States, Middle Eastern food is to Denmark. You can find many kebob and durum restaurants in the ethnic suburb of the city, as well as many food trucks that sell durums to people within the city. They are about as common as hot dog stands.

So if you want a good, filling meal, at a decent price in Denmark, head towards the nearest sign with the word  "kebob."

Speaking of their prices, let me tell you about Danish people and...

...their free tours

But like many cities, their is always something to do in Copenhagen that won't cost you a dime (or a Kronor).

The tour I went to in Dublin (Sandeman's New Dublin Tour) also offered a 3 hour tour of Copenhagen (Sandeman's New Copenhagen Tour) which was enjoyable 3 hours. I saw the Royal Palace, the Royal Chapel, the oldest street in Copenhagen, the location of the beginning of the First Great Fire of Copenhagen (there were four Great Fires) the current City Hall, the past City Hall, the place where they executed people, the location of the attic where Hans Christian Anderson lived, the former Opera House, the Nazi headquarters during the German occupation, the channel, the current Opera House, and the Royal Guards (not precisely in that order).

Again, I recommend the Sandeman's tour if you are ever in Dublin or Copenhagen, or the other 12 cities that they provided free walking tours in. I just have one favor: if you are ever in Copenhagen and take the tour, and your guide's name is Gareth, tip him extra for me? I only had a 100 Kronor note in my pocket and was not able to get change to give to him.

Speaking of their free tours, let me tell you about Danish people and...

...their amusement parks

But while their are some amusements that are free, others are not.

As we all know, amusement parks are notoriously expensive. Lucky for me, Hope let me borrow her season pass to Tivoli (the world's second oldest amusement park and Disney's inspiration for Disneyland).

While I didn't go on any rides the experience of sipping hot chocolate with whipped cream in the Christmas market is not to be missed. The entire park is lit up with Christmas lights that would put even the most ambitious homeowner to shame. And the hot chocolate was quite good, too. I have heard that the best way to have it is with rum.

Speaking of their amusement parks, let me tell you about...

...their Mermaids

Tivoli might not exploit the story of the Little Mermaid like Disney did, but the city of Copenhagen did erect a statue of the mermaid on the east coast of the city.

Not much to say about this except that it seems like many Danish people consider this memorial to be one of the most disappointing tourist attractions in the world.

I cannot disagree.

Speaking of their Mermaids, let me tell you about...

...their idols

We all know that the Disney version of the Little Mermaid was written by Hans Christian Anderson, who also brought us children stories like the Emperor's New Clothes and the Ugly Duckling. What many people don't know is that the Little Mermaid is actually a very, very, very sad story that makes me want to never fall in love.

But, alas, Hans Christian Anderson is one of Denmark's most notable idols. And let me tell you they take great pleasure in reminding any tourist that he is indeed from their great city. He was, of course, the one to declare that "to travel is to live," so I suppose I'll forgive the original mermaid story.

Speaking of their idols, let me tell you about...

...their opera

So when H.C. Anderson first came to Copenhagen he wanted to be a choir boy in the Royal Opera Theatre, so he rented the attic space in the hotel across the street and bugged the Choir Master to let him sing. Eventually, this led to Anderson's involvement with the theater, where he eventually became a writer.

And let me tell you that their original Opera House is beautiful, though under renovation.

They currently have a new Opera House, brought to Denmark by the Moller foundation (The people who own Maersk. Unfortunately, the Danish people seem to be split on whether or not they like this addition to the city harbor.

Speaking of their opera, let me tell you about...

...their Royal family

The royal apartments are a stone throw away from the Copenhagen Opera House. And you can go right into the area. In fact, there is a museum located in the basement of one of the four houses where the royal family lives, so tourist are in and out all the time.

Spottings of the Royal family are common place, as members tend to leave their apartments frequently and venture out of the compound.

The Danish are very proud of their new princess (originally an Australian citizen) as the story is quite a fairy-tale romance. Two people meet in a bar, they fall in love, he proposes, she accepts, he tells her he's the crown prince, she gives up her citizenship, and they live happily ever after.