Copenhagen

First impressions of Copenhagen is that the city is dirty and covered in grafitti compared to the relative order and cleanlieness of Stockholm. That being said Copenhagen has a lot of old and new world charm. Upon arrival we toured the city by bus where we were treated to the various historical and architectural landmarks of the city. We even had a chance to tour inside the royal palace and parliament which is only allowed to those groups with special permissions. I guess it would be the equivalent of visiting the Buckingham Palace in London, however the palace is also a working parliament where politicians come together. Queen Margaret holds no power over the country but holds the official title of Queen.

The palace itself is very impressive but unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures in any of the rooms. We also toured the city by boat because Copenhagen has an extensive canal system and many people live in boats in the city. Also, bikes are a major form of personal transport and you will see many bikes parked in the city with no locks on them!

For all the beer lovers out there who have tasted Carlsberg beer, you will be happy to know that you are contributing to the Arts and Sciences of Denmark. Nearly fifty-five percent of the profits made from the sales of Carlsberg goes back into funding the Arts and Sciences. Of course, the Danes do quite a bit of contribution to the Arts and Sciences.

During the evening, Sharon and I spent our time in Tivoli Gardens. It is an amusement park/garden that has a number of restaurants, stages, and ride for the people of Copenhagen. Its like having Canada's Wonderland in the heart of downtown Toronto. For all of its hustle and bustle, it really is quite neat place and there is usually a lot of live theatre and music playing in Tivoli. Most residents have season's passes and will use this spot as a common meeting place or to go for a date. Also, Copenhagen's Jazz Festival was just starting so live music can be heard throughout the city. It was a great time.