The Spiral Staircase in Copenhagen

                

The plan for the day was relatively simple: head out in any direction and see what happens.

                          

I read somewhere about the mixing of styles in the old and the new architecture of the Library....and it looked to be a distance from where I was staying....and that seemed like a good excuse to traverse the city.

                 

Naturally, the Danes had found a way to mix the old and new and in the bargain they had chez lounge seating just outside the Library for people to enjoy the canal which was right out the front door.

                        

Amidst the hi-tech studying being done in the library itself, there were reminders of where this all began....with a Viking Ship work of art.

                            

    I found myself a park bench at the far end of the Library outside....and had my lunch.

                   

Earlier I came across a decidedly modern and yet ancient style church. I walked in and besides the name of the church, there was little other direction on what to do....so I walked all over the church. Workers were there seemingly discussing some major project as they discussed things near the altar.

                   

Like any big city....it is the stuff that you pass by....and may not normally notice that makes the city unique. I sat and had a morning cappuccino .... It was across the street from an elementary school. The kids were on recess and I noted that they played vigorously (no one using the basketball court)....much like school kids do everywhere.

At one point a group of girls had their ball bounce across the street. One of the girls...probably about 12...went to the street....looked both ways....retrieved the ball....and they resumed their game. It struck me that such a thing would never happen in the U.S. unless the kid had a note signed by the Governor and a SWAT team to accompany them to the street. Or so it seems.....

The panel of fish (above) was from the base of a Crusader statue...or some sort of statue...celebrating some great hero. All I know is that he was wielding a rather lethal battle ax.

It was soon after that I passed a guy sitting in a  Red 1968 Ford Mustang. I gave him the thumbs up for having a vintage car in Copenhagen....he seemed to appreciate that I knew it was a Mustang. (What American guy my age wouldn't?)

            

The guide book says that it is hard to miss the Vor Frelsers Kirke....a 17th Century Church with a 95 meter high spiral tower. Turns out is it easy to miss when you are at street level. I found it in the guide book...realized it was in the neighborhood just across the canal from the Library...so I went in search.

                              

The worship space...Sanctuary....was stunning but today I am going to show you a bit of the climb to the top. It's filled with lots of styles of wooden stairs...these above are among the straightest and least cramped.

                     

I was climbing up through the bell tower which made me check my watch for fear of entering the bell chamber as it struck 2 pm. The place as dusty, but countless tourists like myself have made the climb.  Just when you thought you might be coming to the top there were more wooden stairs, then spiral stairs then stairs that made a submarine seem spacious.

                    

Nearing the end of the climb...one emerges on the outside of the spiral steeple and we used the stairs (above) to reach the end point....where people crowded in to touch the top....

          

                       

            ......And to admire the view

                         

    

I had to smile when I was sitting in a cafe and another tourist asked the waitress if she spoke English.

"Are you kidding me?" I thought. The Danes speak English better than most Americans and Brits and with less of an accent.

                              

There's a lot to love about this spacious city that somehow manages the complex task of directing both auto and bicycle traffic all over the city....coupled with the greatest array of espresso shops that I have ever seen.

Peace,   Bob