POSTCARD FROM COPENHAGEN
Summer of Jazz
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Copenhagen is a city to be strolled through and experienced at leisure.
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The first thing that captures the eye is the presence of cobblestones lanes…
Photo: Nitin Chaudhary
Unique architecture: The city square.
The rubber soles of my soft leather shoes made mild sounds as I walked the back-lanes of Copenhagen, gently reminding me of the cobblestones roads that lay beneath. The first thing that captures the eye of the tourists to this beautiful city is the p
resence of cobblestones lanes that so intricately mix with the cemented pavements. The pavements on the other hand are well laid and neatly divided into the biking area and the driving area, punctuated at appropriate places with traffic lights, all together giving off an impression of great discipline.
Copenhagen is a city to stroll through and to be experienced at leisure. Perhaps, being lonely in this city of love played up the subtle romance of the capital even more. Wait at the electric pole for the lights to turn green to let you cross, and you will find yourself gently brushed by the groups of kids coming out from Tivoli, young radicals jetting across on their bikes, old couples strolling and casually putting their hands on your shoulder for support — all this while the music blares from the Hard Rock Café nearby.
An ideal way to start a beautiful summer tourist day is to catch the open roof ferry from not very far from the city centre. With guides versed in English providing apt commentary along the way, the boat ride familiarises the city’s new entrant to the hidden wonders of Copenhagen — the new Opera house, a grand building, its glass windows shining in all its pride; the little Mermaid mournfully watching the city from an unsuspecting corner in the shallow waters; the Queen’s palace; an old military ship; canon locations, part of fortification of Copenhagen in 1800s; and apt museums thrown in here and there. All these are teasers for the traveller to explore at greater depths later on.
Tivoli!
Tivoli — the name rings different emotions in different age groups. From gut wrenching amusement rides to the fragrant rose garden, this nest in the city centre offers a pleasant alternative to the real world outside. Who can undermine the effect of Tivoli on the Danes’ daily lives.
Denmark is also the home of Hans Christian Andersen, the author whose fairy tales are staple of every kid’s childhood. So much is the grand daddy of fairy tales revered that Tivoli has an entire segment devoted to the author’s tales. Sit in one of the baskets and let yourself be enchanted by the magic play of sound and lights playing on the puppet characters from the famous stories; a 20-minute break back to the childhood.
All that Jazz
They call Copenhagen the capital of Jazz. Lean on any traffic light pole for support after a long day of walk and let your eyes gaze at the stuck bills; a few might be in English, but even otherwise you can easily make out looking at the familiar words that they are Jazz schedules of the city bars. Hardly a day passes when something is not happening on the music front. For those not wanting to make the effort of visiting a pub, the music presents on the streets itself, for, some bands play for public out in the open demanding not more than few minutes of attention and appreciation. That being said, the violin bag would still be open to accept the pennies.
Why just the Jazz capital? Two of the best beers originate from here —Tuborg and Carlsberg (“probably the best beer in the town”). So much is the loyalty to the brands that there is a museum dedicated to it, The Carlsberg Museum, maintained by the founder, the Jacobsens’ family. The museum houses a collection of the bottles and advertisements associated with the brands and the famous Jutland horses housed in a stable. For 40 kroners, two glasses of beer are also provided to the thirsty traveller in the pub located next to the bottling plant.
Free world
Take out time one cloudy evening to walk through the alternative world located up north. The Old Manali of Copenhagen is splashed with colours at every corner. Call it modern art or the screaming of psychedelic souls, these paintings at every turn don’t fail to surprise the new entrant. Walk a bit further to the small groups huddled together, and suddenly you will find eyes turning towards you in tandem; one of them will slant towards you and whisper the words: Hash.
. Though selling and distributing Marijuana is illegal in Denmark, surely there was a small portable shop selling the cakes of the dark green material.
“We believe in organic stuff, and free world”, my contact told me.
Well connected
Marked with beautiful roads inside the city, the motorways outside are worth driving on. People in Denmark, however, sulk that they can’t drive at more than 110 km per hour on their motorways because of the curves that marks these motorways, unlike the Germany motorways.
The day was still making its presence felt at nine in the night, as I walked the streets of Copenhagen. Despite the sun, the wind was cold enough to penetrate the sheets of clothing I was wearing. I was leaving Copenhagen for some other part of Europe. I looked through the misty evening, to as far as I could make out in the accompanying drizzle that had just started. I could just make out the elegant skyline of the city, the old buildings accommodating a few new ones in between. Somewhere in between, there stood the station building, a reminder of the unique architecture that the city offers. They say there is no New Copenhagen in Copenhagen. And one realises this as one walks through the city glimpsing the buildings to wonder if these beautiful buildings have stood here for ages.
NITIN CHAUDHARY
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