One week in Copenhagen: dont forget to say please

Our week in the Danish capital has come to an end. Wow! did Copenhagen show us a good time. It was great fortune that the sun shown on us nearly the whole time revealing the beauty of the city.

Ilya and Mom at Copenhagen's Tower Playground

With its comfortable cycle tracks, diverse neighbourhoods, many parks, public drinking, innovative playgrounds and sparkling canals Copenhagen exceeded our expectations.

can you spot Kate in the bike parking?

Danes are a take charge, seize the opportunity and get it done people. Initially this was a little chilling for a couple overly apologetic Canadians. When we learned that the Danes do not have a word for please I gained a little more tolerance and understanding for some of general habits of Copenhageners.

Before our visit to Copenhagen our greatest fear was the cost. We had heard so much about how expensive Denmark and Copenhagen are.  Our experience was that as long as you don't eat out the city can be fordable to frugal visitors. Instead of eating out we mostly took our prepared food, and a beer, to the park just as many Copenhageners do.

Now we say goodbye to Copenhagen. We have arrived at another beautiful cycling city, Seville. 30 degree temperatures ancient streets and wonderful apartment have welcomed us. And, for all the cycling nerds, there will be a dedicated biking Copenhagen blog to come shortly.

Rosenborg Castle and more Copenhagen

Panorama of Throne Room in Rosenborg Castel

Sunday was another sun-shining day in Copenhagen we continued are tour of the city's play grounds with an early morning visit to one of the play grounds in the centre. The ongoing quest to satisfy Ilya's never ending thirst for play structures, swings and sandboxes takes us to ever neigbourhood.

Ilya and Dad ride the dragon in the Copenhagen early morning sun.

When finally were able to remove Ilya from the play ground we when to Rosenborg Castle which was fill with 800 years of Danish History. The third floor crown room was spectacular. Then hidden in the basement vault were the Danish crown jewels.

stopping for lunch in the Queens Garden, back of Rosenborg Castle

And then of course it was time for more playgrounds. But, after prying Ilya away from another play-structure it was time for his mom and dad to geek-out on bikes, biking and more bikes.

the sun always shines in Copenhagen

Copenhageners enjoy the sunshine at a waterside park.

I'm not sure it is true that Copenhagen is always sunny. Talking to residents of the city I get the impression that the forecast for the next week may be the best stretch of weather the City has every seen. We are going to enjoy it and the Danes are also outside soaking up the sun in late April.

On Saturday we went to visit a former coworker of Kates, Andres, and his family. It was great visit and gave Ilya another opportunity meet and play with some other kids. Ilya not speaking Danish and the other kids not speaking English seems to have little impact on their play.

We had a great lunch in the courtyard of their building where there were lots of other families and children enjoying the common space on this fabulously sunny day.

(sunny?) Copenhagen

Panorama of Gråbrødretorv Square

Yes, tha'ts right. Copenhagen is being very kind to us. The sun is shining worming body and spirit. We have fully enjoyed Friday and Saturday in the Danish capital.

On Friday we visited Copenhagen City hall where the well photographed statue of Hans Christian Anderson sits out front. Inside City hall is spectacular. After passing through the entrance area the first room you encounter is The Main Hall, a grand interior public space. The entire building, just over a hundred years old is gorgeous. During our visit there was a constant stream of brides and grooms making there way to the Banquet Hall (registry office) for quick ceremony.

After our visit to City Hall we took a walk down Copenhagen's pedestrianized shopping street, Strogte. It was packed with people on a sunny Friday morning. Wandering just a couple of blocks off the main street the crowds dwindled to a small trickle and maybe a better glimpse into real Copenhagen life.

The Stroget

Side street just off the Stroget

Also just off the main street is the Cathedral of Our Lady. A spectacular church that was originally a pagan temple. Inside Ilya lighted a candle for his Grandma Mijker and took a moment for a special thought. But, I suspect he was hoping for a return visit to the Winnipeg Children's Museum.

Inside The Cathedral of our Lady Church

Kate and the boys inside Cathedral of our Lady

We also dropped into a large toy store on the Stroget to let Ilya pick out a birthday present for himself. The experience did not disappoint.

Ilya riding merry-go-round inside the toy store

After our walk down the Stroget both the boys were worn out, so we took them back to the cargo bike where they could rest. Kate and I took the opportunity of sleeping children to ride round the centre of Copenhagen and test out some of the City's cycling facilities.

bikes

more bikes

Oh, did I mention that nearly everyone rides a bike here. For those of you not in the know, Cycling in Copenhagen is why this City is one of our 2014 destinations.

and more bikes

We love it! Trying to fit in with the Danes, giving up our Dutch Bakfiets for the more traditional Danish three wheeled cargo bike

Kate studies guide book outside Danish Parliament Building.

Luckily Ilya woke from his afternoon nap in time to see the Royal District and the Changing of the guards at the Danish Royal Palace.

We have been blessed with the great fortune to experience this wonderful cycling city with our children. Our family is having a wonderful time here in Copenhagen.

Lots of love to our friends and family back home. We look forward to seeing you all.

Goodby England, Hello Copenhagen

Our last day in England was spent casually tramping around Bristol. Our family loved visiting Bristol for the warmth and energy of the city and its people.

More great street art from Bristol.

Thanks to Rachel and James in Bristol for hosting us, feeding us and cleaning up after us. Hope you guys have a great year with all the wonderful motion in your lives.

We are now in Copenhagen. Arriving much the same way we did in Amsterdam three years ago, in the dark and rain. First impressions of this international cycling capital: Colossal, Rainy and Windy. But we are among our people.

More on Copenhagen and Ilya's fourth birthday soon.

Ilya the Wild invades the Children's Museum in Copenhagen.

Easter Egg Hunt

Good Friday walk panorama 1

Good Friday walk panorama 2

Easter marked our last weekend in England. Our wonderful hosts in Somerset organized an Easter egg hunt for their grand children, some family friends and our Ilya.

the kids getting ready for the hunt

Ilya had a great time with the kids especially Raffi (pictured next to Ilya above) who seem to take ilya under here wing.

After the hunt the kids gathered around the dining room table and even divided the the spoils between them.

As super big thanks to the Bindon Family for the great kindness generosity they gave us during our stay in Somerset. We could not have hoped for a better time.

Riding the West Somerset Railway (SWR).

On our second day visiting the local railways we finally took the opportunity to ride the SWR. We have walked along the tracks, sat in the engines and took pictures of the picture takers, but we have put off riding these rails until our last week.

The SWR runs from 37km from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard. It was a branch line of the British Nation Railway until 1971. In 1976 it was re-opened as a heritage railway and currently carries over 200,00 passengers a year.

inside our lovely compartment.

The four of us(Kate, Ryan, Ilya, Jasper) purchased a one day rover pass which would allow us ride all day and jump on and off at any station. We started our journey at Bishop Lydeard, catching the first train out this morning. At Willington Station we were joined by Kate's family.

Private booths in the coaches let you ride in comfort and privacy. A canteen car is included in the train for passengers to enjoy a snack, coffee or beer. In addition to this you are able to bring on your own beer, wine or cider if desired.

Spectacular engines and gorgeous coaches have been wonderfully restored. Many volunteer hours have been given to the railway to make this the most successful heritage railway in the UK.

Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway: brilliance simplicity, elegance

Passenger car moves down the rail after being filled with water.

Its our last week in England and we have two days riding two very different railways. On day one we road the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway. This is a funicular water powered railway that connects the two villages Lynton and Lynmouth.

Us and Kate's England family at the top of the cliff in Lynton

The rail line connects Lynmouth at the bottom to Lynton at the top, moving people and goods up the cliff. Two passenger cars capable of carrying 40 people each can be replaced with flatbeds to move goods and cargo.

Lynton High Street leading to the rail station.

The railway opened in 1890 and has been in continuous use ever since. Each car has a 700 gallon water tank underneath its body. At the top of the hill the tank is filled with water and the weight of the water carries the car down the cliff and lifts the bottom car up.

Cleeve Abbey: oh my god!

panorama of Cleeve Abbey Courtyard-click image to enlarge

Two miles (three villages) down the road from Kate's family place is Cleeve Abbey, near the town of Washford. Construction on the Abby began in 1191 and full construction of the abbey took several decades to complete.

The monastery was one of the first dissolved by Henry VIII in 1535. Although the monks were forced to surrender the monastery and all its possessions, most of the monastery was left intact. The exception being the abbey's church which was completely demolished.

After it became property of state, the abbey became a farmyard and many of its building used as barns and stables. The importance of the site wad not recognized until the 19th century, and it became a tourist attraction in the 1860's.

Not only is it the most intact abbey from the time, it also has some beautiful tile work. Only some of the tile work was visible as preservation work is ongoing.

After visiting the Abbey, we spent two hours slowly walking back to Williton. The route was along the 'mineral line' (an old railway route), through Watchet, and over the hill home to lunch and clotted cream ice cream.