Atlantica - 01.11.2001, Page 32

watch tourists follow the rigid soldiers
marching through the cobblestone
square, from station to station. Two of
these older tourists just happened to be
riding on two remarkable City Bikes.
Forget the procession of soldiers. I
wanna know where that couple found
such quality bicycles.
IN THE NIGHT
Part of the charm of Copenhagen is the
numerous plazas spread throughout the
city, picturesque courtyards with
streaming fountains, statues and bench-
es that form a natural gathering spot,
day and night.
Rådhuspladsen is the most spectacu-
lar of these plazas at night, as billboards
and adverts light the square that busies
with pedestrians. Tonight there’s a con-
tinued flow of people from Strøget head-
ing towards Tivoli (you all know about
Tivoli, right?), and vice versa. They all
seem to be crossing through
Rådhuspladsen, home to City Hall. With
everyone dressed and ready for a night
out, the square is juiced with energy.
I’m standing with my photographer
and we’re chatting to two young girls on
their way to a disco for a birthday cele-
bration. They stopped after noticing my
photographer’s kilt. Since they’re going
to a touristy disco, we take a rain check
on their invitation.
I want to see true Copenhagen hang-
outs. My photographer’s been to
Copenhagen dozens of times, so I follow
him down Strøget. Heck, that’s the direc-
tion taken by most of these night owls
anyway. There’s not much on the street
as far as interesting pubs, so we side-
track off Strøget to East Avenue, a
trendy cocktail bar.
I don’t really notice the dimly lit bar,
except for the two gorgeous, seductive-
ly-dressed women standing outside,
each one chatting on a cellphone. I fol-
low my photographer inside and imme-
diately notice that something’s not as it
should be. East Avenue is also a sushi
restaurant. But that’s not troubling me.
Then it hits me. Everyone inside is
beautiful, and there’s an air of exclusive-
ness. Dressed in raggedy shorts, I
decide that the doorwoman must’ve
been asleep at the switch and missed
me as I walked in. As I watch her turn
other well-dressed Copenhageners
away, I solve the riddle. My photograph-
er’s kilt has a measure of cachet in this
place. And with my paltry wardrobe, she
must’ve figured we were different.
Copenhagen’s nightlife is different. It’s
LOTTE VISTISEN is studying to be a speech, reading and hearing therapist.
She’s 24 and works at a fruit stand at Hojbro Plads, just off Strøget.
What’s your favourite area of Copenhagen?
I like Nørrebro (Northbridge). It’s a multicultural centre full of artists,
students and lots of cafés.
Why is Copenhagen such a popular city to visit?
It has a great history behind it. And the people are more laid back than in the rest
of Scandinavia, or Germany. It’s a great city to party and relax in.
POUL WULFF is a 26-year-old bike messenger.
Why do you enjoy Copenhagen?
The atmosphere in the summer is perfect. There are
always people out on the street or sitting at outdoor
cafés. When the sun is shining it’s a great place to live.
What do you like most about Copenhagen?
Definitely the cafés. A typical Danish café is hygge
(cosy). We love our cafés.
But I also like how the city uses old buildings and makes
them into shops or apartments.
If touring castles is why you travel, then you’ve
come to the right country. Within a day’s trip of
Copenhagen is the famous Kronborg Slot, located in Helsingør, 25 miles to the
north of the capital. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, it’s because the castle is
better known as Elsinore from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. No one knows for sure
if Shakespeare actually visited Kronborg Slot, but after winding your way
through the labyrinthine of corridors and rooms, the play nearly unfolds
before you.
A short car ride from Helsingør is Frederiksborg Slot, a 17th-century, red-brick
castle with copper spires and a sandstone facade. Perhaps even more impres-
sive than Frederiksborg are the courtly baroque gardens that make you want
to quit your day job and become a horticulturist.
For the castle hat-trick, drive the flat countryside to Fredensborg Slot, the pre-
sent-day royal summer house. While it’s downright shabby compared to
Frederiksborg, we should all be so lucky to have a summer residence as grand
as Fredensborg, an elegant, white-walled manor house with copper roof.
30 A T L A N T I C A
Faces in the Crowd
COPENHAGEN
Frederiksborg
Castles Galore
026-032 Kaupm.ATL501-rm 21.10.2001 14:20 Page 30