We put lots of miles on our sneakers today from going out to breakfast at a local farmers’ market to seeing the iconic statue of the Little Mermaid and so much in between! Copenhagen is very walkable and we were surprised how much we were able to see from one side of the city to the other. Let’s show you what our day was like:

The Farmers’ Market that is only a few blocks from our hotel has everything from open stalls with fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants, etc. to individual shops selling all kinds of meats, cheeses, and prepared foods. We had been told that the best coffee in Copenhagen could be found at a vendor there so we made that our first stop. Clint doesn’t look too enthused considering how much he was looking forward to this first stop. It turns out it was a premonition because the coffee turned out to be quite blah. We’ll try the same place tomorrow but different preparations.

However…one vendor to the right is all it took to change the expression on his face! We can see why they call breakfast pastries danishes. They were the best we’ve ever had. We already have different ones in mind to try tomorrow so we can taste them all before our time runs out here. Yummers!

Here are some close ups to whet your appetites for when you come to Denmark. It will be worth the trip, believe us!

And, you can always balance out your intake with some fresh fruits and vegetables. Did we? Heck no! But, in a fit of guilt, Clint did go to another shop and get a smoothie made with spinach, cucumbers, mint, lime, and pears. They have something for everyone in this great market.

As we’ve mentioned before, Copenhagen is a city full of cyclists. Perhaps that’s why the residents look so fit and healthy. Or, maybe they don’t frequent the pastry selection at the market the way we do. But, nevertheless, you see tons of bikes parked all over the city.

But, they don’t just park the bikes…they ride them! As a pedestrian you really need to watch carefully before stepping off sidewalks or crossing streets because of the endless parade of bikes whizzing by.

On the complete other side of Copenhagen from where we’re staying is a colorful, scenic area along an inlet known as Nyhavn. It is where sea captains and sailors would go when they returned from their voyages to drink and carouse. Now it is full of tourists and features boat tours, shops, and restaurants. We also found out that the three houses Hans Christian Andersen lived in were along this waterway.

A beautiful part of Copenhagen on a spectacular day!

Sorry for the shades in the photo but it was just too darn sunny without them.

This house in Nyhavn gives you an idea of how old the area is. It was built in 1681.

Next stop was the Design Museum of Denmark. We both love Danish modern furniture and design so this was a must see. It didn’t disappoint.

We only wish this was a showroom with availability to purchase. Clint is making his list. Oh well, we couldn’t afford any of it anyway. These photos only show a tiny part of what was there and it was interesting to read and see examples of how Danish modern design had gained its style and prominence over the last 150 years.

All that walking had built up an appetite and we found a wonderful place right along the water that served seafood “done right”. That’s their slogan and they weren’t kidding. Ryan chose lobster and chips and Clint the fish and chips. The fish and chips you see in the photo was the “small” size. After those pastries in the morning, even that was too much! The greens were full of things like raw beet slices, fennel, radishes, and carrots that looked and tasted like they had just been picked right from the garden. It was amazing!

We were pretty tired from all the walking and thought we’d head back to our hotel on the other side of the city. But we noticed on a map that the Little Mermaid statue was just about a 10 minute walk away. We thought we should see it while we were that close and so we did. It was given to the city of Copenhagen in 1913 by a local brewer who loved the Hans Christian Andersen fairly tale by the same name. He had his wife pose for the sculpture. It is now one of the most famous tourist spots in all of Denmark. We left there for our 40 minute walk back across the city to our hotel and some much desired rest. We’ve got to gear up for whatever tomorrow will bring!