travel
Copenhagen
MAKING
WAVES
What better way to spend a rather long promenade deck.
your summer hols than on a The fi rst Scandinavian capital of the
scenic cruise along the Baltic? itinerary beckoned, though. There was
Anna Marie Espsäter climbs something undeniably classy about gliding
on board… into town aboard such an impressive ship.
Within minutes of docking, we were in the because the following morning – it was
heart of Copenhagen, heading towards that chucking it down. Still, when only in town
Setting out from Dover on a sunny Sunday famous Hans Christian Andersen fairytale for a day, it seemed best to brave the rain
afternoon, I was about to spend almost two creature, the Little Mermaid. But hold on a and have a wander among the tall
weeks travelling from port to port aboard a minute – had she suddenly grown to blondes. At 5’2” I was feeling
stately vessel called the Braemar. On the way, enormous proportions? Just look at those conspicuously dwarfed by a population
I would be checking out a series of gorgeous tits – I mean, fi ns! The mermaid towering hell-bent on living up to the national
cities along the Baltic Sea, from Copenhagen above me was rather more overwhelming stereotype, so I took refuge in Gamla Stan,
and Stockholm to St Petersburg and Gdansk. than anticipated, but as it turned out, she was the oldest part of Stockholm, dating back
First stop was to be Copenhagen and by just the Little Mermaid’s bigger and to the 13th century. Full of cosy cafés and
the time we arrived, well over 40 hours of somewhat tackier sis, guarding the entrance quirky shops down tiny alleyways, I settled
cruising later, life at sea was starting to take on to the ferry ticket offi ce. The Little Mermaid in one of Gamla Stan’s many gay bars,
a distinctly timeless appeal, the hours quietly herself still sits, rather more demurely, on top forgetting all about sight-seeing for the day
blending into each other. With most on- of a rock in the harbour, the Danes – it was just too comfy. When I fi nally
board food, drink (sadly not alcohol) and apparently having tried everything from dragged myself away and headed back to
entertainment included, it was wonderfully painting her to blowing her up, adding a bit of the ship, the rain had disappeared,
easy to spend an inordinate amount of time colour and blast to her fairytale life. meaning I didn’t miss that brolly until
89
stuffi ng your face but luckily, there was also a The Nordic countries are renowned for Poland… by which time it was way too
gym, several pools and ‘the great outdoors’ – their gay-friendly attitudes and walking late to return to the lovely Torget bar to
through the centre of Copenhagen I look for it…
immediately came across rainbow fl ags in We sailed out of Stockholm’s beautiful
café and restaurant windows, gay couples archipelago in glorious sunshine to the
holding hands and a generally tolerant everso slightly scary tunes of the cruise
atmosphere. The lively area around Nyhavn ship band playing Reach for the Stars
(New Harbour) is packed with lovely heading east across the sea to the Finnish
eateries and watering holes. There’s also capital of Helsinki. Smaller than its
shopping galore and plenty of parks, palaces neighbouring Nordic capitals, Helsinki is
and gardens – enough to make you want to somewhat quiet and understated in
stick around a few days at the very least. appearance. The cruise harbour lies a
However, by late afternoon I was back short walk from the centre of town and
onboard looking forward to my next stop the sun was still with me as I ambled
and plotting my return to the Danish capital down to the harbour market. A compact
before long. city, most of Helsinki’s sights can be visited
The Little
Stockholm, city of islands and water, was in a day of brisk walking, from said market
Copenhagen
Mermaid,
leaking just a bit too much water for my liking, to the imposing, brilliant-white Lutheran
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100