Denmark

The home of the Little Mermaid and the Markets, Denmark has always been the place to go if you wish to celebrate Christmas in style. Seeing as Saint Nick's night was last Friday, I thought I'd treat you to a taste of what Denmark has to offer.

The Flag of Denmark!

 During my travels, I've visited Denmark a few times but the time I spent there as a holiday was a couple of weeks before my 8th birthday, to do just that.. Celebrate Christmas and Saint Nicks night in true Danish and Nordic style. Nowadays, it might sound like a case of hell to a 7-8 year old. A few days without their electronics. But 10-15 years ago, eight year-olds didn't have Nintendo Switches and the newest I-Phone to play games on. So, I did what I do best -

Explore this new place to my heart's content.

My parents were perfectly fine with letting me explore and be adventurous. I was never out of calling distance, it wasn't so crowded I couldn't find them again, and seeing as it was freezing cold I was wearing a dark blue jacket and a distinctive wooly hat, plus I have a very distinctive pitch of voice. Its pitch is lower than the average person. I don't know why, it just is. Besides, as I've recently heard: "a parent can always spot their child in a crowded street or area with hundreds and thousands."

However, like I explained in my Norway Blog, my right hand doesn't do so well in the freezing cold temperatures, so to keep it warm I kept it tucked up inside the jacket. At that age, I also struggled to comprehend the meaning of Cerebral Palsy, Right-Sided Hemiplegia. I thought it was an illness I'd grow out of, much like I did with my epilepsy three years after this wonderful visit. So, as you can imagine I was pretty embarrassed about it being seen, hence it stayed inside the jacket arm until I was inside a nice and warm building, whether it was the hotel I was staying at or a restuarant, where it could warm up.

Copenhaven's Chritmas Market - the
week of Saint Nicholas Day and
Night. 

But, it was the odd shaped object near to the hotel that I remember most from that visit. Hint *Its got the same name as Disney's Princess Ariel.

You guessed it yet?

The Little Mermaid Statue, which
is now the unoffocial mascot of
Denmarks Capital -
Copenhagen. It is one of the
countries biggest tourist sites. 

That's right, the Liitle Mermaid Statue is one of the most famous landmarks and tourist attractions around the world. The statue is simply a blue and green coloured woman, looking out at sea with a deep look of sadness, sat on a rock, yet it has a mesmorising quality to it that makes people want to view it all day. Its not very big or flashy with a sign saying: I'm here surrounded by neon lights. Its just a statue but it catches the eye all the same. Just before my visit, it had to be entirely remade since someone blew it up with explosives in 2003. Inspired by the stage play of the same name, it was commissioned in 1913 to be a beacon of the harbour and as a monument depicting the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, who originally came up with the story of The Little Mermaid and new Disney story Frozen. The statue since being built became the victim of vandalism and once recommissioned after being blown to pieces, the unofficial mascot of Denmarks Capital Copenhaven (Copenhagen).

Collage of Copenhagen/
Copenhaven's
biggest landmarks.

Yet the Little Mermaid is only one tourist attraction you have to look out for, for if you arrive the week and/or weekend of Saint Nicholas Night, you are welcomed with open arms by market stalls, traditional folk dances and other wondrous sights.

Map of Denmark, showing it as
the border between Europe and
Scandinavia.
Denmark's in orange. 

Denmark is a country set into the middle of Europe and Scandinavia, bordering the top of Germany and the south of Norway and Sweden, split into two landmasses with the capital city being located on the second and small landmass. It may be on the smaller side when surrounded by these three other countries, but the welcome you receive on arrival, the various places to visit that can entertain yourselves and your children alike are numerous and the cuisine over there is a must see.

During my trip, we were staying in a nearby town or city, Tivoli, which at my age wasn't very exciting. In truth, I thought it was very boring and very cold. I never inherited what my family term

The Gate to Tivoli Garden - where I
got bored looking at flowers.  

'the Dack Green Finger,' so being made to stay close and traipse around looking at flowers was not something I wanted to do. Not at 7/8, or even now as a nearly 23 year old.

So, take a chance on this fascinating country. See all it has to offer and you may find yourself greatly surprised.