Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark - July 3-6, 2015

Well, it has been a very crazy start to the summer, and after all of our family’s goings on for the last few months, we are most welcoming of a vacation! 2015 is turning out to be a year of some major transitions. After a year long, very demanding, extensive house remodel project, we packed up and moved out of our rental on June 15 and into our almost-completed dream home. Our remodel project had consisted of demolishing and reconfiguring half of our existing home, and adding an extra 650 square feet of living space. Later that same week that we moved house, I finished out my school year and packed up my classroom. After teaching 10 years at Murdock-Portal, (13 total in Cupertino) I decided it was time for a change, and took the opportunity to make a move to a new school and district. I accepted a 3rd grade position at the school where Ewan attends, our neighborhood school, Latimer, in the Moreland School District. In two weeks we packed up our rental house, moved to our new house, packed up my classroom and moved all my stuff to my new school. Then, we worked on settling into our new house, attempting to unpack as much as possible before having to pack for vacation and head to Europe. Crazy! But I am not complaining! I am feeling very blessed and appreciative of the fullness and wonderful opportunities in our lives right now!

This summer, we were lucky enough to be invited on a very special vacation to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Gavin’s parents, David and Joyce. They are treating us to a 12-Day Baltic cruise where we will visit the ports of Copenhagen, Denmark; Kiel, Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Rostock, Germany. We decided we would arrive in Copenhagen a few days early to settle in before embarking on our journey and explore the colorful city. 

Ewan, Gavin and I arrived late in the afternoon on Friday, July 3, but after a tiring day of travel, we just chose to dine at our hotel and retire for the evening. We took our time getting out the next morning and set off on foot to explore. We headed to Thorvaldsen’s museum, who was of one of Denmark’s most celebrated artists and sculptors. His classical style sculptures captivated Ewan, who is currently somewhat obsessed with Greek mythology, and we all enjoyed reading the stories about the various gods and goddesses and other mythical creatures. 

From there we refueled and headed toward the famous “New Harbor” (Nyhavn) which is the picturesque narrow harbor with colorful houses and historical boats, where we caught an hour long, narrated canal cruise taking us past various highlights of the city. 

We returned to our hotel room in the afternoon for a brief rest and then we spent the evening at one of Europe’s oldest amusement parks, Tivoli Gardens. We had a blast and made good use of our unlimited ride wristbands, which were well worth the expense. 

The next morning, we walked to Joyce and David’s hotel to anticipate their lunchtime arrival. There we met Gavin’s Aunt Margaret, who had flown it from Glasgow to surprise her sister Joyce and spend a few days visiting with us all. The surprise was a huge success, and Joyce was completely shocked to see her sister there sitting at a table, enjoying a drink with us in front of the hotel. We gave Joyce and David some time to settle in, then we had lunch and headed off to Rosenborg Castle where we saw more impressive works of art, intricate Flemish tapestries, and most stunning crown jewels of Denmark, with sapphires and rubies practically the size of hard-boiled eggs.

After the castle closed at 5:00, we strolled back to our respective hotels for a brief rest to freshen up, then Gavin, Ewan and I walked back to pick up the seniors at their hotel, and we strolled out onto the nearby Strøget (pedestrian zone with lots of shops and restaurants) to find a suitable place for dinner. After ten minutes or so, we came upon a lovely Italian restaurant with outdoor seating and very friendly, attentive, handsome, Italian waiters. Aunt Margaret flirted shamelessly throughout dinner, much to all of our entertainment. 

The next morning, Joyce and Margaret asked us if we would mind if they went off to do their own thing for the day, given they so rarely get to spend time together. Of course we  understandingly obliged, and welcomed Grandpa to join us in our day’s explorations. From the moment we landed at Copenhagen Airport and Ewan spotted the massive photo murals of delighted children gazing at giraffes and polar bears advertising the Copenhagen Zoo, he had been begging us to take him. We agreed and thought it would be a fun way to spend the day, especially since it was Monday, and all of the museums and most other city highlights were closed. Grandpa walked over to our hotel in the morning, and we took a taxi to the zoo. We spent the next four hours or so traipsing through the various continents, but first beginning at the children’s petting zoo, where we befriended the most adorable baby goats.

 We then traveled to Africa, where we gazed at the lovely, graceful giraffes, zebras and rhinoceroses. We moved on to the tropics, then to Asia where the elephants were the star attraction, and we finished in the nordic region at the Arctic circle where we happened upon the polar bears at feeding time. The zookeeper kept her distance, as she chucked giant 7-pound roasts from across the moat at the bears. 

As we watched the bear tear the raw flesh from the bone, we understood why! After glimpsing this highlight, we exited the zoo after a not-so-brief excursion to the gift shop where Ewan emulated his mother’s indecisive nature in choosing a friend to accompany him home. As taxis were scarce in front of the zoo, we opted to hop a bus to get us back to our hotels for a brief nap before coming together again for dinner. 

Once again, we walked the mile or so toward the senior Reids’ hotel and together, headed out on foot along the Strøget in search of sustenance. Sticking with the Mediterranean theme, we settled on a Greek restaurant run by a friendly Eritrean man. After dinner we walked the senior Reids back to their hotel and said goodbye to Margaret, before heading back to our hotel and preparing for our embarkation the next morning, and anticipating our exciting Baltic cruise!