FOOTSORE AND FANCY FREE

June 27, 2012

 

This morning, we had a shorter albeit interesting lecture by Mikkel Holm, a man who returned to Denmark and to the University for a more conventional life as an historian after having trained as an actor in NYC. After his talk, he led us on a tour of the old historic area in which our hotel is located. We were armed with audio devices like you'd use in a museum so that we could all hear his remarks. Helpful, since our group numbers 30 and it's a challenge to keep us all properly herded.

I believe I am getting a good sense of the city, at least as far as what is within walking distance of our hotel. We've walked to all of our destinations except yesterday when we took public transit to the Art and Design Museum. Love those good walking shoes and I cleverly brought along two pair.

This afternoon half of us walked to Christiansborg Castle while the rest chose to visit a museum. You can guess that some members of our foursome were particularly in favor of the castle but I must commend their choice because our guide was exceptional and very knowledgeable about the castle. Danish royalty, much like the British, have no power in the government but seem to be quite beloved by the people. The current monarch is a very tall (over 6 feet) and stately 70-year-old woman. She is married with two handsome sons and 8 grandchildren, all of whom mingle frequently with their subjects. Later, I dipped into a museum across the courtyard while Ron stayed outside on a nice bench and enjoyed himself relaxing and checking out the street scene.

The Danes love to be outdoors and moving. Whatever the weather, they can be seen out and about on their bicycles, occasionally are at odds with the pedestrians who need to be quite alert to avoid mishap. The cycling appears to have several benefits since I have seen very few people who are not fit in spite of eating all of those delicious breads and pastries and drinking their beloved beer. You know they have to keep moving to have any hope of maintaining a decent physique. We should take a lesson.

Tonight we had dinner in Tivoli Gardens and then had a chance to look around. We stayed until 9 P.M. when the lights came on but it was, of course, not dark so we got the idea if not the full effect. John could get no takers for the crazy rides. For a brief moment, I contemplated the roller coaster that went crazily upside down but then we computed that it cost $10 to ride the thing so we walked on. Tomorrow the Sisks have the day planned since, as you may recall, we won't be receiving the lecture on Hans Christian Andersen and Soren Kierkegaard which I probably would quite like but I'd much rather be with my family. We've got some exploring to do, Lucy!