Back at the Amalienborg Palace
We decided to make our way away from the crowds and begin our walk back to the ship. We retraced our steps back to the square. After the archway we could see a group of news people with cameras set up, all aiming at one of the palace doors.
It seems the new Danish Prime Minister was inside meeting the Queen. The journalists were all waiting for a quote after the meeting.
While we waited we chatted to two Danes, who like us were interested in the goings-on around this palace in Copenhagen. Around the square we watched as the guards marched outside the nearest buildings. Then one of them ran towards tourists on the steps shouting as he ran.
We had to move off the pavement as the guards marched past us.
One of them was telling us about how he had worked in the UK installing a production line for cement making in East Anglia. It seems he goes back to the town in Lincolnshire every year for a holiday.
As we chatted one of the Danes was now leaning against the palace wall as we talked. Suddenly one of the guard ran to our side shouting “MOVE MOVE MOVE“. The walls and steps are clearly sacrosanct at the palace’s buildings.
Back to the Langeline Pier
We decided not to wait for the appearance of the politicians and said goodbye and set off back to the ship. Rather than walk back through the Kastellet Gardens we turned right and walked towards the water. To our right we could see the artificial beach, Ofelia Plads.
The walk to the Little Mermaid passed museums, offices and apartment complex is. We could see the Danish Navy ships on the opposite side of the river including a submarine (perhaps another visit?)
This museum houses a collection of thousands of plaster cast of European classical sculptures.
A small exploration ship was now docked close by.
The crowds had thinned around the Little Mermaid and we pressed on towards Explorer.
The polar bear statue.
The shopping outlets were not very busy as we passed and we went up the steps to get a closer look at what was being sold. The discounts were not as steep as we might have expected from the shop being called an outlet.
We gave up and moved on past them to the ship.
Leaving Copenhagen
After the security gates we watched a sniffer dog checking at the piles of luggage waiting to be taken onto the ship.
Once on board we went to the buffet for a snack before relaxing on our balcony reading our books. The Captain spoke to the ship at about 5.30 pm but again we couldn’t hear a word properly on either the balcony or in our room. Then we left Copenhagen
Helsingborg, Sweden
To get to the Great Belt Explorer had to re-trace her passage and go out through the narrow straight between Copenhagen’s island and Sweden. Our balcony was on the starboard side so we had great views of Sweden and of Helsingborg.
We passed yachts and a power boat that came out to see Explorer.
The beach past the town hall was empty except for one couple.
The port was as busy as always with ferries crossing over to Helsingor in Denmark.
One last look at the Karnan Tower.
We had visited Helsingborg back in May 2018 and here is a blog about our experiences onshore.
Our evening
Schooners was our bar of choice to meet our friends before dinner. We were early enough to be able to get seats for the seven of us. Our table booking had been lost but we were able to get a table in the dining room. I had deep-fried cheddar, BBQ ribs followed by rice pudding. The starter and the desert were easily the best part of the meal.
Through the dining room windows I grabbed these images of a warship and other cruise ships making their way past.
I asked when we were going under the Great Belt Bridge and the headwaiter came back to update me. It seems the ship would not be going under ‘the bridge’ as the bridge was not high enough. I realised that the bridge officers thought that the enquiry was about the Oresund Bridge rather than the Great Belt Bridge.
After we have finished our meal we went up to the Royal Promenade and had a look for somewhere to sit to have a drink. Unfortunately there were no seats so we just went to bed. Our steward had left us a hanging monkey.
