Christmas in Copenhagen, 2004

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COPENHAGEN, DK. 26-29 December 2004

Postnatalizio travel, quick blitz in Danish soil, with residence in Copenhagen and a visit to the castle of Kronborg in Helsingoer., For instance that dell'Amleto shakespiriano. We were five, father, mother, sons, a girlfriend. We stayed at Hotel Vesterbro FIRST, an excellent 4 star hotel, brand new and close to Central Station and the Tivoli park. We recommend it to everyone. Convenient for the exits "out door" on the train and just five minutes walk from the "Stroeget", the course - shopping area - pedestrian longest in Europe! Hotels with Wi-Fi Internet in all rooms, all different ammennicoli a doc 4 stars, an 'Office area - with free access - with a printer, scanner, free Internet (for those who can not connect from their room or without laptop) etc. .. Rich breakfast just 12 euros per capita, but especially if one is content - and many think - the possibility of mini breakfast with milk, coffee, chocolate croissants and "free" in the "reception" of the hotel. Newspapers included: many Danish and some English. Do not miss the Financial Times for the manager and the "spread."
Parentesi lexical / linguistic: the Danish alphabet (such as Scandinavian in general) is full of letters not present in ours. Features the "o" with the bar, the A with the ball at the apex. In these notes, for technical reasons, write "oe" whenever we come in "or" cross. The Danish, impenetrable by case, guttural, after all is not as difficult as it seems: many words - knowing a little 'German and English - you can easily decipher after an hour of awareness.
Refer to various papers and guides online to all aspects of tourism geography and visited (more than good and comprehensive website of the Danish tourist, easily found with any search engine), bearing in mind here only the main and classic, Dating inevitable: the Little Mermaid (a disappointment, as I imagined), Amalienborg and the change of watch at 12:00 o'clock every morning (Buckingham Palace is quite another thing!), the Castle and Rosenborg park - in the city center - Nyhavn -- the new port, with the canal houses multicolor, nice - some beautiful churches and of course, remains out in the Christian quarter of hippies (sull'isoletta face, but a little attention zone 'at risk) the Stock Exchange and the Royal Theater The GrandHotel etc. ..
To return to Italy, some friends have been told: "Who knows how beautiful Christmas in Copenhagen, who knows that the atmosphere typical Scandinavian-Christmas." Dear friends be disappointed! None of this. Copenhagen is a great principal, charming and elegant, always shrouded in winter mist from the typical "ghost ship", not a metropolis on a human, car traffic is acceptable, many bike course, impeccable precision Scandinavian management of affairs utilities, but atmosphere almost "zero." Do you think that December 26 morning, the employees of the municipality have the mammoth choreographic sawn pine agghindato, located in the town square and 27 already removing the lights in the center! An example: The Tivoli Park - a national emblem, remember well - is closed from 23:12 at the end of March. Still, every year. So we have seen from outside. The Danish Christmas - in the sense intended by the Italians: the atmosphere, religion and liturgy, rites, illuminations, street markets and events - begins in late November and ends on the antivigilia. Right in the spirit of pure Protestant Christianity, the rest is a feast privatized, private, home, made of looks, feelings, personal feelings, silence, readings, chamber music, especially "gloog" (mulled wine Danish and Swedish), "smoerredbroed" appetizer typical goose Danish (equivalent of American Thanksgiving turkey day).
The railways operate in a divine point per second, comfortable coaches., Quiet trains that seem to roll on the cushion of air. To reach the various places outside the city leave your rental car in the garage and take the train, cheap and convenient. And then there is a bit of Danish life: these Vikings serious compunti, Biondissima, beautiful girls, even if a bit all cloned from one another, very friendly - even too much - but very, very sad. Will be the weather, will be the geography of their locations, which will be at 15.00 in the winter set in the evening, you who are so kind, nature and modus vivendi.
Kronborg Castle is wonderful site to Helsingoer, a town north of Copenhagen, the train half an hour of convenience (it's one every 20 minutes on the circular line Helsingoer-Copenaghen-Malmoe-Helsingborg/Svezia). Down to the station, the castle you see immediately in front of you, behind the ferry terminal for dirimpettaia Sweden (Helsingborg). It's cold and pulls a strong wind, cold, arctic. The visit is highly recommended, if not what is going to do? Admission 50 kroner, about 6 / 7 euros. Shakespeare environment there his famous tragedy, the Hamlet. The construction is typical Nordic, a huge castle-fortress well maintained entrance to the narrow-channel leading to the capital and that separates Denmark from Sweden, here almost attacked. Inside the main courtyard have shot dozens of films of the Second World War. This is the set design. Only the cars and the Mercedes dell'oberstanhbahnfuerher and the SS.
For Danish emigrants was the symbol of their home when they saw the ship in the mist appear magically Kronborg knew now that I am home!
Last comment. The costs in Denmark. We were told: Denmark is carissima. There is absolutely true: it will be because of the strong and powerful our "euro", which is not yet entered in the "euro" (indeed, the Danes have voted to stay out of its temporary and he bitterly repent now) 's effect of doubling the price has not yet happened here, as happened in Germany, Italy, France above all. If they arrive with crowns changed in Italy, the better. Denmark accepted - of course - the euro banknotes (not coins, attention) everywhere, but the change is quite different. Then paid in cash or crowns with credit cards! In Copenhagen, the balances are left on 26th morning (to stay in line with the 'lack of atmosphere post 23.12) and the prices very reasonable. Gift shopping for clothing, CD (an "GUF MUSIK" cd in the Latin Quarter - so to speak -), shoes, fancy goods varies (Royal Copenhagen). To visit the department stores Illum and Magasin "(compared to Harrod's, with a lot of overstatement), but above all" Larsen "temple of smoke, especially tobacco and pipe.
For the food we arrange well everywhere, at all prices, all the international chains (usually from Mac to KFC) and excellent steakhouse Danes. There is also a great HRC (Hard Rock Cafe), just stuck in Tivoli. Coupons for a typical dinner can be purchased along with the package travel in Italy, with significant additional savings! Proliferating - as throughout Europe occ. - The kebabhouse also good. In the picturesque area of "Nyhavn" (pronounced "nuiaven" with the "u" closed, seated chicken), many restaurants, but prices go up, but never as in Milan, Italy.
Finally, we have organized the trip (by air overnight to Alitalia + First Hotel Vesterbro) via the Internet through www.expedia.it, with excellent results in terms of prices and discounts and savings. Air ticket included.