The next day found me walking all the way to the Christiansborg Palace, where I took the elevator and steps to the top to view the city on a clear sunny day. Four different viewing stations with pictures point to and explain its’ special landmarks. As I returned to the palace square, I noticed the door to Parliament had opened with two Danish men conversing, then, as I mentioned that I had come all the way from Los Angeles, California, but did not have a reservation, they motioned me to follow them. One of the men, who happened to be undercover security, requested that the lady at the entrance allow me to privately make my way through security and up many stairs, to see the Danish Parliament in session! Wow, even though, of course, it was in Danish, there I was in the middle of history, where for centuries, lawmakers had discussed and passed their laws.

As I descended the outside steps of Parliament, there stood a man being interviewed, so I introduced myself after it was finished, as I heard two words that I recognized, “Ukraine” and “Russia”. The man being interviewed happened to be the President of The Danish Soldiers Union and was more than willing to speak with me, as I shared my heartfelt concerns for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and my sincere appreciation for the Danish Armed Forces and their assistance to Ukraine! Never had I imagined I would be honored to experience these special events in just several hours.

Around the corner from the Christiansborg Palace sits the Thorvaldsen Museum. As I traversed the canal walk on the opposite side, admiring the glimmering water and tourist boats, I returned to the square from the palace, where I entered the Holman’s Church, with its’ green steeple spire and where in 1967 the present Queen Margrethe II was married. I had a delicious dinner at the restaurant, Zolt on Stradet Street.  Back in Nyhavn, I crossed over the pedestrian and bike sliding Inderhavnbroen Bridge, called the Kissing Bridge, because the two sliding, or retractable sections, “ kiss “ when they come together. This led me to Christianshavn,  Copenhagens’  “ Little Amsterdam “ district, with canals, trendy restaurants and Our Savior’s Church, where you can climb the unique spiral spire, with its’ outdoor staircase winding up to the top.

I returned the following day to the Christiansborg Palace to take the tour of The Royal Reception Rooms which provide a magnificent setting for Queen Margrethe II to carry out her official duties. Her Majesty receives her guests in these rooms surrounded by green marble pilasters, golden silk wall coverings and tapestries. She also signs acts of parliament into law and holds New Year banquets in the palace, just as her predecessors have done over the centuries. The Great Hall where the Queen holds gala dinners when there are state visits is a beautiful chandeliered room with boldly colorful tapestries. I especially loved this room, along with the red Princess Chamber, the Throne Room, the Queen’s Library and the remarkable Velvet Room where royals privately greet VIP guests before big functions.   Having taken the audio tour made this so much more interesting. Exploring more side streets and upon returning to Nyhavn, I embarked on a 1 hr. Netto Boat Cruise past the Opera House, the Royal Family Yacht, a WW II navy destroyer and onto the canals of Christianshavn, past Our Savior’s Church, the Thorvaldsen’s Museum and the Royal Danish Theater’s Playhouse.

On my last day in Copenhagen, I toured the Amalienborg Palace Museum, bought myself a shiny red and gold chariot with a magnetic crown souvenir at the Christiansborg Palace, then proceeded to the National Museum, which is filled with remarkable treasures. Luckily for me, a nice Danish tour guide escorted me to the Bronze Age galleries, where I had specifically chosen to see the small bronze  “Chariot of the Sun “, depicting a horse pulling the sun across the sky. In the next room were huge cases filled with Lur Horns and into the Iron Age with the beautiful large 2,000-year-old Gundestrup Cauldron. Finally, my expedition was complete seeing the awesome Dagmar Cross, along with the Roskilde Cross.

What an adventurous special time in wonderful Copenhagen!