We had breakfast as we rode the train into Copenhagen with our phenomenal tour guide, Dorte.
Train Station
We were one week to early for a visit to the world famous Tivoli, the second oldest amusement park in the world.
Interesting trivia: The original bakery was founded in Hiroshima, Japan by Mr. and Mrs. Takaki in August 1948. They opened a restaurant and bakery called "Andersen" in a building bought in Hiroshima in October 1967 from Mitsui Bank. The bank building, which had been built in 1925, was damaged by the atomic bomb during the World War II. The "Andersen" in the company's title (Andersen Bakery/Institute of Bread and Life Co., Ltd.) is in reference to Hans Christian Andersen. The inspiration for making Danish pastries and other European breads, came from a study trip founder Shunsuke Takaki took to Denmark in 1959. The company operates a restaurant and bakery in San Mateo, California which opened in 1981. They also operate two bakeries in Copenhagen, one of which is located in the famous Tivoli Gardens. Seiichi Takaki, president of Andersen Institute of Bread & Life, donated 200 Japanese cherry trees to the city of Copenhagen.
Another thing we missed: Eurovision 2014. Heard it was a spectacle.
The Rundetårn was built as an astronomical observatory by Christian IV. In addition to serving as such, today it provides the skyline with a recognizable historical monument and offers panoramic views of Copenhagen.
The kissing bench is being put to good use.
Our climb was rewarded with these views.
Nyhavn, or New Harbor, is a 17th century waterfront canal constructed under orders of King Christian V from 1670 to 1673.
Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish Royal Family. It is made up of four identical buildings - Christian VII’s Palace (used as guest residence), Christian VIII’s Palace (used as guest palace for Prince Joachim and Princess Benedikte), Frederik VIII’s Palace (home of the Crown Prince family), and Christian IX’s Palace (home of the Queen and Prince Consort).
Changing of the Guards
The Royal Cathedral in Copenhagen.
Adding this to our wish list: a steel and glass grand piano. Is it a Schimmel Konzert Grand?
Lunch at Nyhavn's Tinder Box.
Harbor Tour
Hans Christian Andersen's Nyhavn Home
Copenhagen Opera House
Prime Real Estate
Royal Palace Harbor Entry
The highlight of our tour: The Church of Our Lady Cathedral with Bertel Thorvaldsen's marble Christus statue. Interesting to note that it was completed in 1821, an exciting time in church history.
The Christus was not well known outside of Denmark until 1896, when an American writer noted that the statue was "considered the most perfect statue of Christ in the world."
Statues by Thorvaldsen depicting the apostles line the walls. Of important significance is the statue shown here and I need to reference a talk given by President Boyd K. Packer titled The Twelve.
"In 1976 an area general conference was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Following the closing session, President Spencer W. Kimball desired to visit the Vor Frue Church, where the Thorvaldsen statues of the Christus and of the Twelve Apostles stand. He had visited there some years earlier and wanted all of us to see it, to go there.
To the front of the church, behind the altar, stands the familiar statue of the Christus with His arms turned forward and somewhat outstretched, the hands showing the imprint of the nails, and the wound in His side very clearly visible. Along each side stand the statues of the Apostles, Peter at the front to the right and the other Apostles in order.
Most of our group was near the rear of the chapel with the custodian. I stood up front with President Kimball before the statue of Peter with Elder Rex D. Pinegar and Johan Helge Benthin, president of the Copenhagen stake.
In Peter’s hand, depicted in marble, is a set of heavy keys. President Kimball pointed to those keys and explained what they symbolized. Then, in an act I shall never forget, he turned to President Benthin and with unaccustomed firmness pointed his finger at him and said, “I want you to tell everyone in Denmark that I hold the keys! We hold the real keys, and we use them every day.”
I will never forget that declaration, that testimony from the prophet. The influence was spiritually powerful; the impression was physical in its impact.
We walked to the back of the chapel where the rest of the group was standing. Pointing to the statues, President Kimball said to the kind custodian, “These are the dead Apostles.” Pointing to me, he said, “Here we have the living Apostles. Elder Packer is an Apostle. Elder Thomas S. Monson and Elder L. Tom Perry are Apostles, and I am an Apostle. We are the living Apostles."
The oldest bakery in Copenhagen, La Glace, is a scrumptious pastry shop that transports you to another time and place. The treats taste as amazing as they look.
You can tell everything was delicious because we cleaned our plates. We were too hungry and forgot to take pictures before we devoured every crumb.
We ended the day in the rain.
No comments:
Post a Comment