Mermaids and Castles

 Our train got to Copenhagen around noon. We bought our train tickets for the next day to Oslo (most of our transportation we could book from Canada, but in Denmark we had to buy in person). It was a little tricky to figure out. There were kiosks/ticket machines to buy within Denmark, and to Sweden. We couldn't find one to Norway. A helpful tour guide showed us where the International office was. The attendant was patient, kind and helpful. I could see his co-worker at the next window barely containing her giggles at the helpless Canadians!

Train station lockers are a wonderful thing. We stashed our luggage for the day, had our adventures and picked it back up on the way to the hotel.

Of course you can't visit Denmark without visiting her most famous resident, The Little Mermaid. She did not disappoint, but it was a very cold, windy day in Copenhagen. We saw all these Hop On Hop Off busses and inquired if we could buy a ticket from the driver. We could! I tell you, that is an amazing way to see a city when you only have about 8 hours. Without it, we never would have had time to visit the Palace!

Rosenborg Castle was everything you could want a tour of a castle to be. There was a formal garden, fully enclosed by a hedge wall. All the beds were within meticulously sculpted hedges. It would be glorious in summer.

Touring through the castle, each room was dedicated to a specific monarch and their reign. The ceilings were phenomenal. 

Even the King of Denmark doesn't get a toilet seat!

We had to climb a long, winding tower staircase to reach the throne room. 

The crown jewels were housed in the basement (they called it a basement, but we all know it's the dungeon-right!?)

The royal family does still wear the jewels and you can buy replicas of some of the sets at the castle gift shop!

The Hop On Hop Off bus does a continuous loop past popular tourist spot. Your pass is good for the day and you can come and go as you please. While you are on the bus, they provide earbuds and you can listen to a tour guide talk about the city. I believe their were 8 languages you could chose from. You just want to make sure you don't miss the last route of the day, or you could be stranded! This is what made 8 hours in Copenhagen an incredible experience!