At være turist

"Being a tourist"

I love living in Copenhagen, but just because I'm living here doesn't mean that I can't be a tourist in my own city!

Throughout my stay here I have seen quite a few of the sites:

1. Den Lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid)

It's true that she is little - she is actually 5.5ft like me but since she is such a popular monument I would have thought that she would be bigger. I thought that she was amazing but she will be moving to Shanghai in April for the World Expo.

2. Carlsberg Glyptotek

The famous Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen created his own personal art collection. This exhibition (free to the public every Sunday) has a little bit of everything: mummies and things from ancient Egypt, Greek and Roman sculptures, contemporary Danish and French art, and ancient Mediterranean art. It is amazing that one person could accumulate so much in his lifetime.

Outside of the Glyptotek

Some of the Egyptian displays

3. Carlsberg Brewery

Carlsberg is probably the best beer in town. They offer a self guided tour through the brewery, a room full of beer bottles, the stables where the horses are kept, and Bar Jacobsens where most of our time was spent. With a group of more than 15 people, entrance to the brewery is 40kr (as opposed to 60kr) and includes two free beers at the end of the tour - I have never seen so many types of beer in my life. There was even one that tasted like Cola.

4. National Museum

The National Museum is the biggest museum in Denmark, all about Denmark. It follows Danish history through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, all the way to present day Denmark - there is even an exhibition on Christiania. They also have a room full of the cutest, most detailed doll houses I have ever seen! There is also an "Ethnographical Collection" and antiques from the Middle East and Egypt which I have yet to see, but admission is free!

One of the "doll houses"

5. Christiania

Denmark's own little Amsterdam. It is a colourful little city of about 850 residents in the middle of Copenhagen. In the 1970s after the army had moved out of the barracks, people took it over and it became a little hippie town. It has created a lot of controversy here in Copenhagen with the residents and the politicians. It wasn't until 1994 that residents paid taxes. It is really a cute area, but unfortunately I have no pictures. Several of the rules include:

1. No pictures

2. No running

3. No bulletproof vests

4. No hard drugs

5. No guns

This is actually in the National Museum, but it used to be in Christiania!

6. Rundetaarn (Round Tour)

This is located right in the center of the old city. It is a nice little tour with a circular ramp leading to the top. There is a great view and apparently on a sunny, clear day you can see to Malmö.

7. Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

This is actually just outside of Copenhagen in northern Zealand. It is a huge museum of modern art - when I was there they were having their exhibition of "Colour in Art" and "Homo sapiens sapiens". I went a few weeks ago with about 30 international students. We enjoyed an outdoor picnic in the negative seven degree weather which was lovely.

8. Nyhavn

This is the popular postcard picture! It was actually the first tourist attraction that I saw. I went here before I had even moved into my flat. It is now a picturesque little area, but during the war time it was a common spot for the navy to dock and spend their time.

And there is still much more for me to see.......