By: Marcia Abramson
On my last visit to this glorious Danish city, I was only able to marvel at some of the Tivoli Gardens attractions until the rains came. On this trip the weather was perfect with plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the mid seventies. Another plus factor was that it was neither a Sunday nor a national holiday. This gave me a chance to walk down Stroeget, a pedestrian shopping street, see all kinds of street performers and stop in at the world famous Royal Copenhagen factory and retail shop. The shop's second floor is filled with hard to notice seconds at more favorable if not inexpensive prices. Georg Jensen silver and jewelry is also in this complex with very attractive Danish designed watches and baubles. Cruise passengers will find as I did, a comfortable lounge and classic tearoom with delectable Danish pastry, coffee, and tea or hot chocolate in the Royal Copenhagen shop. All in all this can be very conducive to helping the Danish economy. I believe that Tivoli Gardens has not lost its ability to thrill young and old alike. More than 160 years in the amusement park business has not dulled this exciting family funfair destination.Particularly enjoyable to me was the free pantomime, puppet shows and marching bands. Additionally, the Divan II Restaurant in the park served some divine food. Before leaving Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark, I was fortunate to have two excellent guides Anette Jensen and Karen Jaehger, who led me through quaint narrow cobble stoned side streets to an oasis (Grabredre Torv) in the midst of the city. It was full of old houses recreating the atmosphere of bygone centuries. The city's history started in the 12th century when Bishop Absolon built one of Denmark's many castles whose ruins can now be found under Christianborg Castle, the political center of Denmark. Denmark is a monarchy with a beautiful Queen Margrethe who lives at Amalienborg Palace. When she is in residence there, you can see the Royal Guards perform the changing of the guard to band music every day at 12 noon. This is a spectacle not to be missed. Not too far away is the waterfront where perched upon a rock is the legendary sculpture of the Little Mermaid immortalized by Danish fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen. You can find tourists from everywhere poised at the ready with their cameras to photograph themselves with the Little Mermaid to bring back home. I, too, have my photo with the forlorn mermaid who is still waiting for her prince charming to return to her. After some more castles and museums and wonderful memories of Copenhagen, I was ready to board the fabulous Silversea Cruise Ship, the Whisper to start my voyage on the Baltic Sea. Upon my arrival to a spacious veranda suite, there was a tray of caviar canaps, a bottle of Champagne and a box of Godiva chocolates waiting for me as well as my stewardess Angelica and her assistant. What a glorious way to spend a week in northern Europe where the sun does not set until after midnight! I was also very curious to learn more about how my ship, the Whisper, prepared for the dinner visit of President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian President Putin and other world leaders in the ship's beautiful dining room. This meeting took place just a few weeks before my sailing. Future columns will describe the menu and the fanfare of that momentous meeting and why they chose the Silversea Whisper for this auspicious occasion.
Copyright © by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
