From Amalienborg we turned toward the heart of the city. Here we stopped at a café in a museum. During our rest, we were served some water. In my opinion we stayed here too long. Members of the group were getting bored. And we were not able to go into the museum. Nor could we go outside and explore on our own for a bit. Our lengthy break finally ended and we left the café.
As our walk continued, I realized how many bicycles there are here. I’ll put a bicycle tour of Copenhagen on my list of things to do next time I’m here.
We were starting to get a glimpse of city life here in Copenhagen. Construction and renovation going on; international companies such as Rolex and Tesla; people out on their balconies; businesses and residences sharing the same spaces. I guess this is one way to make the most of the limited amount of space available.
It was very interesting to see almost hidden flats down short archways through some of the buildings. I really liked their courtyards. They looked like cool places to relax and commune with your neighbors.
A few more turns and we found ourselves at Nyhavn, or New Harbor. Nyhavn is a canal, entertainment district, and waterfront. It was built by King Christian V of Denmark in the 17th century. Cafés, bars, restaurants, and townhomes line the canal. At any given time, you’ll find historic wooden boats moored, and long boats plying the waters. Some of these boats offer cruises along the canals. I should add a canal tour to my list for next visit.
While here at Nyhavn, we happened upon a music festival that was preparing to get under way. Unfortunately, our schedule had us leaving Copenhagen well before the festival ended so we could not stay to watch it. But it looked like it was going to be very nice. We did stop for a few minutes to look around. 
I think I could hang out here. I was getting a really nice vibe. Cafés and some nice-looking restaurants provide food and entertainment. And a couple of parks were within easy walking distance. Earlier on the tour, we saw the sights. Now I was starting to feel the city itself.
Rosenborg Castle (Rosenborg Slot) was our next stop. The castle, built by King Christian IV in the 17th century, sits in the King’s Garden. Rosenborg Castle contains the Danish crown jewels, tapestries, and Knight’s Hall. We walked around the grounds and through parts of the castle. Time constraints prevented us going inside the main areas. (Public tours are available and you can purchase tickets right at the castle.) An unexpected sight was serious-looking guards on duty wearing camouflage and carrying machine guns.
One thing I really wanted to try but was not able to was an actual Danish pastry right here in Denmark. Our guide stopped at a neighborhood bakery along the way but only bought one single Danish…to share amongst the entire group. Some of us asked if we could buy something on our own but were told there was not enough time.
Walking through the residential neighborhood now. We meandered down streets and quiet passageways. Flowers were just about everywhere. It seemed more like a Sunday afternoon than a Friday, which today is. I expected it to be busier.
We passed by St. Peter’s Church, an old camp, and some older, low, single-story buildings with high roofs. My thought was these were former factories that have now been converted to something else. I wonder what these buildings were in their former lives.
A few minutes more and we were back at our starting point and the end of our walking tour. I was surprised to discover how walkable the city of Copenhagen is. On foot you could probably see most of it in one day. On a bicycle, I’d bet you could see all of it. I wish we had a bit more time to explore the city on our own after the tour ended…and find that Danish I was after.
If I ever return to Copenhagen, I’d like to take a couple of the free walking tours that are quite popular here. Also, I’d like to visit a couple of the museums and see a concert or two. And no doubt try a few Danish pastries.
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