Copenhagen – Day 4

Our last day in Copenhagen. A beautiful Sunday morning with clear blue skies and the odd patch of warm sun. I wanted to re-visit the gorgeous Royal Copenhagen Christmas store for a few last minute trinkets so I left the boys playing in a square along Stroget. I returned shortly to find James frolicking in steam that was rising from an underground vent. He was dancing around and having a great time and Martin was trying to capture a good shot. The steam got his pants a bit wet but they are fleece-lined (a very good thing!) so he was fine.

We walked the now familiar path along Stroget to the ice rink at the end. I was still undecided whether I’d skate or not but the lively atmosphere and bright sunshine lured me onto the ice. I hadn’t skated since well before James was born so I was pretty anxious. I figured that the Danes were good enough to avoid me should I fall!

I had such fun and only suffered a bruised knee – technically, not a ‘fall!’ As I skated around Martin and James shouted “Hi Mum!” from the side. Then they disappeared and I was later to discover them at a pile of ice just near the skate hire. James was creating a snowman and was most unhappy to be told it was time to leave as the snowman was as yet headless and featureless! Poor snowman! Poor James!

We left Kongens Nytorv and skirted around the square to take a back street route to the Rundetaarn, the Round Tower. This unique building was completed in 1642 and still has a functioning astronomical observatory at the top. Access to the observation deck at the top is via a cobbled spiral ramp, 7 and a half times around and up! At the entrance James was very eager to climb but was soon asking to be carried. No chance! He did very well though. On the way down we detoured into the toilet, set into the wall of the tower. 6 steep steps down and no room to swing a handbag let alone a wriggling toddler!

Oh, and the view from the top was terrific! We could see the bridge to Sweden and all the Palaces and parks we had visited in the last few days.

We had been granted a late check out from the hotel so we made it back with minutes to spare. We took a cab to Copenhagen airport and after check in had some lunch. James was happy to play in the family playground which was a good thing as our flight was delayed and there was very little warning about which gate to go to. But, we were soon in the air again and James was soon snoring again! Poor chop! Again he missed out on a meal and thought that the flight attendant had forgotten him.

Well, there are a few more stamps in the passports! Wonder where our adventures will lead us to next…!

Photos here and video here.