Intro:
http://bbs.qyer.com/viewthread.php?tid=25286&forum=25
Norway:
http://bbs.qyer.com/viewthread.php?tid=25287&forum=25
Denmark:
http://bbs.qyer.com/viewthread.php?tid=25288&forum=25
Sweden:
http://bbs.qyer.com/viewthread.php?tid=25289&forum=25
More photos:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/xiaodongyao/my_photos
10/20 Day 6
Arrived at Malmo at 6:00 in the morning, I changed my mind, instead of staying, I continued on the trip, which turned out to be another good decision since it's still early and because of what happened next.
7:00am I arrived in Copenhagen, just walked around 10min and arrived my destination – Marriot (I used 20000 Marriot reward points I earned before), totally a different world from the previous days. The young man was so nice that he offered me to check in now when I was just confirming my reservation and planned to leave my luggage. What's more, he gave me the water front on the executive level. Since when did I become an executive? And that's not done yet, he told me I can go to the executive lounge for breakfast now. that's great! I thought I can only do it tomorrow. So I had a nice shower and a very big breakfast and had a good rest.
Before arriving cop, I thought I had enough time for this city, not so.
I got on to the canal tour boat operated by DFDS at 9:45am for 50dkk, there is a station right by Marriott, another plus. Since that was a small station, I was the only passenger. The guide is a shy Danish girl. The scenery along the canal is very beautiful, just like the European city in my dream. Weather was nice, too. Many magnificent buildings, castles, churches. The boat picked up more passengers later. Sitting beside me was a Danish man holding his little son, around 1-2 year old. The boy was just learning to speak, and naturally volunteered to be my tour guide. His father was our translator. The little boy will excitedly announce, castle, look, splash, etc. When the boat arrived at the spot where little mermaid is, he also told me, that's little mermaid. when the boat was sailing away, he was saying, little mermaid
does not have cloth, she will be cold. When I asked him if he would like to give his own cloth to her, he though a while and said 'Nei'(means no). funny.
I got off the boat at around 11:00 from another place and started walking around, not sure where I was. Then thought I should go to use it to get some info and send emails, a deadly wrong decision.
After a long walk, I found the Use It, very hard to find, and it was much less impressive than the one in OSLO, especially I've got their magazine Play Time from oslo. I used internet for 20 min for free. But only a day later, before I was leaving cop, I found that there is an Internet cafe at the central station, offering internet access for only 19dk for an hour. Compared with what's in oslo, that's dirt cheap, which is another reason I should've never spent that much effort in finding use it.
Of course, during the searching process, I got familiar with the city and had a decent idea about where the hotel, central station, and strogget (pedestrian street, it was like Nanjing road of Shanghai) are. So that was not a complete waste of time.
Getting out of use it, I walked back to hotel, took a rest, and enjoyed the free ice cream the hotel gave me. Then started off to see the Christianburg castle since it was pretty close to the hotel. on my way, I visited
the national library, which was built completely in granite. Amazing, how many kitchens could have used these granite :)
At the castle, I was told I can pick up a free ticket for a guided tour tomorrow morning. I also found a small market where there were some people wearing middle-age costumes. I was told that the market will be open at 10:00am tomorrow and they have some nice performance for which the tickets were already sold out, but I can still see the show from the side though.
Then I walked to the train station to rent a bike. By this time I've already tried the famous free bike. It's hard to find one in working condition. and when I finally found one, it was too tall for me, bummer(actually most of the rest will not be that tall). I rent a bike for the cycler center at the back of the train station for 75dkk. was told that I need to bear the risk of losing it for 500dk. a bit afraid but still wanted to go ahead. I asked for another big lock though. They said out of the 5000 bikes they rent out, very few were stolen.
The whole city was made to be as convenient as possible to ride a bike, it’s really great to do so.
Then took rest at the hotel and got a big mac, for 27dkk, not bad. After the shock at the high prices in Norway, I found it much easier to breathe here at Denmark.
Only later I learned I squandered another opportunity to enjoy the executive lunge at Marriot – it is open from 6:00pm too. L
10/21 Day 7
I had such a good time this day that I didn’t write the journal,
It is the beauty of having an evolving schedule, just when you think you’ve already got the best, another kind of best just came upon to you at an unexpected moment.
I left the hotel at 10:00am. First got the ticket to Christianburg castle. Then went into the small market for 40 dkk.
The market was full of people with middle age costumes, living a life of that time and selling souvenirs. There are blacksmiths, Knights, farmers, etc. And children were all over the place, fascinated by every booth. One of the booth offered children the chance to shoot at target with arrows, with a nice looking lady as the coach. She was like a 侠女.
Look at the picture yourself. And I also got the picture of the youngest blacksmith in the world.
Then at 11:00am, show started. First 3 musicians started with folk instruments, playing joyful music. 秋日, 古堡, 悠然自得的音乐, 平凡喜乐的人们, 一股莫名的感动从心里涌起, 弥漫开来, 令我至今不能忘怀 (English is not enough here).
Then there are two other shows, one featuring two groups of soldiers, fighting with each other; another two groups of knights, showing off various skills on horse. A lot of fun and excitement. I had a real good time there.
After getting out of the market, I went to city hall and took a picture with Anderson using my min tripod. Then found national museum and bought a ticket for 50 dkk but planned to come back after the castle tour. At 2:00 pm, I joined the free tour in Christianburg castle, Danish parliament.
After that I went to National Museum. Danes were so nice, they allow photo taking in almost everywhere.
At the end of the day, I even visited the Museum of Erotic. In Rick’s word, “it offers a chance to visit porn shop and call it a museum”, funny.
Returned the bike at 5:00pm. Came across a restaurant opposite to the train station, 99 dkk for grill buffet. When I got in at 5:40pm, the waitress asked me if I mind that I only had 20 min to finish or the price will be 199dkk starting from 6:00pm. You bet I didn’t. Finished it within almost 15min. had a real good dinner. The only thing was they charged 24dkk for water.
After the dinner, I even found a free bike to ride back to the hotel.
Overall, I really had a good time in Denmark. Danes are the most friendly people during the trip.
Then at around 9:00, took train to Malmo and continued to Stockholm on another train.