Copenhagen (and at sea)

Monday 14th April 2008

Today we were at sea on our way to Copenhagen.  Days at sea are great on the ship as there is so much to do.  The bed was huge and so comfy so we slept pretty late.   We had some food in the Windjammer and went to the Solarium which is always lovely and warm.  The sun was shining.  There are two hot tubs and a pool here with trees and bird sounds piped into the place.  Very relaxing and chilling.  Plenty of bikin's and cocktails around.  Stayed there until our massage which was great.  Couldnt resist heading back to the Solarium afterwards with a book and almost fell asleep.  I had a hair appointment then as it was formal night on the boat and I had the Portofino booked as a surprise for Ray for later.  Never again will I get my hair done on the boat.  The head was reefed off my by some Canadian gay guy who didnt even brush my hair but was trying to dry it.  Fucker!   Headed back to the room where Ray's tux had been delivered and we got ready for our meal.  Ray ordered some champagne and it was all too perfect.  Sunset in the background, table by the window, champagne, tuxedo's, satin dresses - we cant afford this lifestyle so it was nice to soak in it for the moment it lasted.  We had a talk and decided that we would tie the knot next year and then go travelling.  Every cent would count after this trip so enjoy it while it lasted.  I have been dying to see Spiderman 3 for ages and turns out that was the movie in the cinema.  We went to see it but half way through champagne got the better of me and Ray went to Casino and I hit the bed.

Tuesday 15th April 2008

Got our breakfast delievered to the room this morning as wanted to be up and out as we had landed in Copenhagen. I have been trying to get to Copenhagen for years. Would love to come for the jazz festival but might have to wait a few more years for that. Didnt have any travel books, no Danish money, no clue as to where we were going but got off the boat and started walking. Didnt know where the town was but on our travels noticed a sightseeing tour bus stop. Ok, we could hop on that. All we needed was some cash. Found a bank machine eventually. Didnt know the exchange rate so had to ring Derry who is always beside a computer somewhere. Got some funds and ran to the bus stop as we saw a bus. Lucky we ran as it was the last tour bus of the day. Couldnt believe it. Note to self - get Danish tour buses first thing in the morning cause they stop pretty early. We couldnt get off this bus except for one stop which was The Little Mermaid. Took a few photos. Didnt realise she was so close to the shore and you could actually touch her. There ya go! Back on the bus and it dropped us off in the town centre. Wanting to try the open sandwiches Denmark is so famous for we found a cute little restaurant. We were starving. With my prawn sandwich came some caviar which I found I liked. Tried it before and didnt like it. This holiday was decadence. Huge cruise ship room, champagne and caviar. Yep, next year is gona be roughing it big time. Got a small map along the way and headed towards the castle. We got lost a few times as the Danish simply cannot give directions. About 4 or 5 people sent us in the wrong direction or else they were very Kerry directions. Just down the road (about 5 miles!). We cut through the Kings Gardens to get to the Castle. Copenhagen is very beautiful and lovely to walk around. Very clean and the Danish seem very nice. Would love to come back here someday. We came eventually to the Castle and much to our disappointment the Castle was just closed. Things close early enough over here. It was only 15.30. Another place that was recommended to go and see was the Tivoli Gardens. We made our way there with help from a map and when we got there there was crowds outside. Turns out the Tivoli Gardens closed in the winter time and only opens again around mid April. Today was 15^th April, it opened on 17^th April. We had missed out on something else. The crowds were members who had been invited to a special opening before the park became open to the public. Gutted we headed to a giant pink building beside us and saw a flick before deciding what to do. When we came out we went over the to Tivoli gardens. The crowd had gone at this stage. Ray went inside to work his Irish charm and ended up buying two annual passes for the Park. Nutter! That meant we could go into the gardens. www.tivoligardens.com. The second oldest amusement park in the world. The place was very full. It reminded Ray of the Efterling in Amsterdam. Plenty of stuff for children to do. The gardens themselves are very well maintained and very pretty to look at. Couldn’t resist the roller coaster for an adrenaline rush. As night comes in all the lights come on and it is just gorgeous. Tivoli has plenty to see including buildings Oriental style, band stands, restaurants, flower gardens and apparently on certain evenings specially designed fireworks can be seen reflected in the Tivoli’s lake. After spending some time in there we were hungry. We had stopped into a restaurant earlier that day to ask for directions. The restaurant looked gorgeous and cosy and Ray took his card. Ray rang to see if we could book a table and happy days there was one available. Restaurant Els, Store Strandstraede 3, 1255 Kobenhavn K www.restaurant-els.dk . We spent a happy couple of hours in here with gorgeous food and equally lovely staff. Again it seemed to us that it closed very early as we were the last leaving the restaurant and it was only 22.30. We walked around for a bit and came near the canals and went into a small Hobbiton like pub called Fisken’s. A lot of people were sitting outside but was too cold for me. The pub was very small, very cute, very narrow and reminded me of something like the Prancing Pony from Lord of the Rings on a smaller scale. There was a long haired hippy on a guitar singing some choons. We had some drinks and bought the singer a drink too and made a decision to head to the Absolute Ice Bar which we saw when walking around the place. Plenty of ice bars on this trip. We headed up and was happy to know that you could spend as much time in it as you wanted compared with the half hour in Amsterdam. This was a much much nicer Ice Bar and would come back to visit it again. It was very like the Ice Hotel in Sweden complete with proper ice glasses and the gorgeous cocktails that we remember. There was a big gang of Italian students there who were loving the fact that they had just left school. We had a big of craic with them. I ruined the floor at one stage as I put my glass on the bar and due to my merriment knocked over the “glass” which ended up on the floor. Thankfully the bar maid came to my rescue and whipped me up another one at no extra cost. Yipee! Apparently it was the first anniversary of the Ice Bar complete with shower sculpture and it was based on the theme of raindrops. We sat on the ice couch for a while and then decided to head somewhere else. We headed into a nearby hotel and had a drink whilst deciding what to do. A local flyer told us of a blue bar. Lets go! Couldn’t believe it turned out to be only up the road. When we went in there was our group of Italians. Half of them wearing shades and the other half slobering all over each other. This time they came complete with their teachers. The music was great complete with a Reggae version of Knocking on Heavens door. Sweet. Two fairly drunk people later we made out way back to the boat. Don’t ask how we found it. Exiting the taxi was followed by peals of laughter at everything and the staff on the boat couldn’t help laughing and smiling at us and probably thinking “eejits”. We headed up to the club on the top of the boat but didn’t stay. Ray hosted a balcony party with just the two of us complete with rum and Voodoo Ray playing on repeat. Class!