That's Some Mad Bling, or Day 5 in Copenhagen

Our last full day trying to be reasonable in the most expensive city in the world. We've definitely changed perspectives (a $20 meal is a good deal, and any alcohol that's less than $8... well, it doesn't exist. )

This morning we had an earlier start because we both wanted to take showers in the shared shower. We got in before the 9am traffic jam, so had some time to make it over to the botanical gardens across the Old City. There was a very steamy Palm House filled with a field trip full of children, so we dodges around the waist-high beasts to see titles of plants we couldn't understand.

As we were walking out of the grounds, the cloudy and cold day gave us a bit of sun (and hope!). We got to Rosenborg Slot (palace) across the street for a rather small palace experience. Only four floors high, and each maybe 50x20 yards, it was the summer home for (the prolific) Christian IV. He had a long reign, but he was also definitely the builder king.

The palace had all of the rooms decked out, but the treasury underneath was really where all the shiny things were. The christening stuff was at another palace, since it was used in April for the twins of the Princess. But the crowns and crown jewels... as Alisa said, "That's some max bling."

The grounds were teeming with more schoolkids (of a more annoying middle school variety), when we headed toward Nyhavn (New Harbor) for a more relaxing bit of touring.

The English couple that we met yesterday suggested a canal tour, and it was sunny enough to warrant one, so we toodled around the numerous canals. We had seen a lot of the sights before, but it was refreshing to take transport instead of walking everywhere.

It is our last day in Copenhagen, so I wanted to try to see Radhus again (last time, it was closed or something). We walked in, and it told us to get tickets, so we asked the staff at the ticket office. There was an astronomic clock we could see for $2, or something about a tour the next day at 11am. We asked which one we could do, and they said we could only do one. So we got the clock ticket, and went into the room across the way for... a very large clock in a room.

I mean, it's impressive that it's accurate within a second every 300 years. But it really wasn't worth $2.

A nap and we decided to finish our list and head to Christiania (on my request) and the JazzHouse.

Christiania was started when homeless and young people started squatting and stopped paying taxes. So now there's a community that doesn't pay taxes and is ok with marijuana (though not hard drugs... or cameras, apparently).

Getting away from the tourist center, we had one of the cheapest and best meals yet. A pizza that wasn't salty (so I think that last one was just because of the restaurant) and some kabobs (meat on a stick). However, Alisa didn't take a picture of it, so I have no idea how we'll remember it!

I forgot to mention that on our walk to Christiania, we tried out this drinking in public thing. We had our cans of Carlsberg ("probably the best beer in town"), and walked with them. In broad daylight. It was super weird.

Anyway, our last stop of the night (and in Copenhagen!) was JazzHouse. It was a loud, moody bar with a fog machine, lights, and DJs mixing some techno beats. I loved it.

A bit more American and British comedy, and it's bedtime here in Europe! Off the two blocks to the train station in the morning, headed for Gothenburg!