Today we visited:
Christiana – a colourful counterculture squatters’ colony.
Christiania has 600 adults and 200 children living there. In 1971 the original 700 people established squatters rights in an abandoned military barracks in the city. Locals build their homes but don't own the land, there is no buying or selling of property. When somebody moves out, the community decides who will be invited in to replace that person. 1/3 of the people work on the outside a 1/3 works on the inside and a 1/3 does not work much at all.
Drug screening is done (not sure who by) the community decided they do not want any hard drugs being used. Random screening is done and if the person is positive they are excluded for 3 months and can have a second chance, if they test positive a 2nd time they are excluded permanently. Our guide book described people who live here as idealists, hippies, non-materialists, happy children and potheads
- Rosenberg Castle – King Christians IV’s summer residence
- Our Saviour’s Church – climbed the spiral spire to the top.
Today we went outside Copenhagen to a museum dedicated to Viking boats and Fredericksborg Slot (castle in English).
In the 1960’s they found and recovered five Viking ships that had been sunk by the Vikings at the entrance to the bay to block access to the attacking enemy.
There was also an outdoor area with demonstrations covering how a Viking boat was built from rope making to a shipyard where replica boats are built by Viking shipbuilder enthusiasts.
Afterwards we made our way to Fredericksborg Slot which had a mini-Versailles like garden out the back. It was a pretty big with some impressive rooms.
Danish Royal Palace – Mary wasn’t home. The dome ceiling is from Frederiks Church next door to the palace.
After recovering from the long flight we went for a look around the city in the lovely weather.
Surprisingly the place we stayed at was also mini museum of Samurai warrior armor and Japanese paraphernalia. Apparently the helmet on the left was about 500 years old. Definitely no ball games allowed.
The metro trains are driverless and fast. They arrive about every 90 seconds 24/7. No timetable required!