JUNE 4 2014

June 4, 2014

When we finally arrived in Copenhagen, it took us a while to figure out how to get train and got directions to the National Museum.  It was with in walking distance, except for one r rather frustrating development.  The wheels on Mary Jo’s luggage had been damaged and the wheels were bent at an angle.  So we had to drag it along the sidewalk the 8-10 blocks to our destination. Though we took turns, Roger pulled it most of the way.

One of the museum employees directed us to a special closet where we were able to store our luggage, free of charge.  The museum, itself, was also free on Wednesdays (which is why Mary Jo planned to visit on that day.  Also, our room would not be ready until 5 p.m.)

Roger was very pleased to find that the museum had internet access, so he checked his e-mail.  Then we started to tour the section of th museum that covered the Danish Middle Ages.  After proceeding only a short distance, Roger said he had to sit down.  He was so quite exhausted- not only from dragging the suitcase, but he had had almost no sleep within the past 24 hours.  He told Mary Jo to continue on her own and meet him downstairs whenever she was ready,

I (Mary Jo) was very impressed by the exhibits.  There was really too much to see within the 2 hours before the museum closed.  So I did a quick walk-through the respective rooms, taking photographs along the way.  I was surprised that so much of the collection included Christian artifacts.  There were numerous statues, many of which were painted wood carvings, golden rings and chalices, an ivory crucifix and horn are but a few.   There was an elaborately painted coffin with a cathedral type cover, a wooden wagon with embossed metal decorations.  The section which included the old palace had huge wall-sized tapestries.  In one of the palace rooms, there is the figure of a warrior seated on a horse, who reminded me of a crusader.  The plaque which describes the statue indicated that it was forged in 1545

When Roger started to research motels in Copenhagen, they were so expensive that he decided to try a room in a personal residence.  There were hundreds of choices, but Roger finally settled on a room in the home of Frederic Collett, at 15 Thorvaldsensvej.  Frederic sent a detailed e-mail with directions for the bus route to his home, which was about 15 minutes from the central station.  (bus 30 Flintholm) that arrives about every 30 minutes

After touring the museum, we located bus route 30 and proceeded to the home of our host.  He is a very enthusiastic and friendly man in his 40’s, who supplements his income by renting out one of the bedrooms.  After Frederic gave us a tour of the house, we took a much needed nap.  Then we walked down the street a couple of blocks and found a small Chinese restaurant.  Believe it or not, we ordered a hamburger and French fries, which tasted very good.  By the time we got back to our room, we were both ready for an early bedtime.  (Jet lag can be a killer.)