DRAGOR

Rab certainly made excellent choices for our first two ports of call and we had two great days ashore.

First stop was Copenhagen on Saturday with an arrival at soon after noon. That gave us time to go to a second lecture from our spy who spoke about the KGB and his experiences in Moscow. It really was amazing just how much surveillance went on and how many people the KGB employed. Must have created a significant blip in the unemployment figures when it was disbanded. He tells a good tale and it will be interesting to listen to the third of his lectures later today.

The sun continues to shine on us – breaking several heat records in Britain, but not too hot here in the Baltic. Just a pleasant temperature for strolling around. It seems somewhat cooler today, a day spent at sea, but what is surrounding us may well be sea mist which will burn off as it warms up – or not!

We had decided not to do our own thing in Copenhagen because we have been fortunate enough to visit the city on a number of occasions over the years, although our last visit was some years ago. One of the tours on offer was a visit to the village of Dragør on the island of Amager. It was established in the sixteenth century and has not changed very much since then. Beautiful little houses, narrow lanes, photo opportunities.

Before heading for Dragør we had the compulsory stop for the Little Mermaid pics. We had been somewhat disappointed by the statue when we first saw her. I suppose the fact that pictures in tourist brochures and the like lead one to expect something larger and that seemed to be the view of many of the ‘first timers’ in our group. The walks along the harbour were crowded with people chilling out and celebrating what will probably be the last sunny Saturday before winter starts to really chill them. And when we got to the Nyehavn area where the tour boats leave from people were as thick on the ground as fleas on a dog.

We had another photo stop at the Gefion Fountain with its magnificent bulls before starting a short, but unexpected walking tour around the spacious cobbled square where the Amalienborg Palace is situated. The guards were changing duty while we were there, giving us an insight into what dickheads some tourists can be. The paths followed by the troop are clear to anyone with half a brain because they are bordered by dark stones. That didn’t stop people – and one stupid man in particular standing right in the path of the soldiers and leaping out of the way at the last minute. Who’d be a sentry?

Back to the busses via a photographic diversion or two – there are such good opportunities with water, sun and boats and I got a couple I liked. The harbour seemed to be as busy as the land with boats of all sizes everywhere. We had a brief stop in a conveniently located souvenir shop for an eis each and spotted a Daim flavoured one, but couldn’t taste the Daim – one of our favourite chocolate bars. Running a bit short of time to meet the coach, so didn’t actually look out for some Daim bars to purchase. Could have done with one last night as for the first time a chocolate craving kicked in.

Although some of the drive out to the island was past industrial areas, which are seldom good looking, the rather grim buildings were interspersed with some truly unusually designed structures, many being government owned. There were also hotels in astounding designs. I know we’re old, with old-fashioned views and no great admirers of modern art and design, but it is difficult to envision these blots on the landscape achieving the longevity and beauty of the beautiful old buildings in the city. In one new area where ‘exciting’ blocks of high rise flats were being developed, the rail service to the city is entirely automated with driverless trains departing every four minutes – amazing stuff and something our guide was pretty proud of as an example of Danish ingenuity. He seemed to be less sure of the development itself, suggesting it might land up as either a focus for similar developments or a slum. Being the same age as us, he seemed to lean to the latter point of view.

The proprietors at the coffee shop where we stopped for our complimentary (and delicious) pastry and coffee seemed to be somewhat overwhelmed by the arrival of the three coaches from the ship. Perhaps they had already had an unexpected run on the pastries from other visitors who had arrived before us. There was a good deal of rushing around and last minute baking (or micro waving?) and the ugly side of some guests flared as they rejected goods that didn’t meet their strict requirements. I felt like saying “It’s only a freebie fancy bun you’re missing out on. Not the Danish Crown Jewells.”, but I didn’t. I’ve learned over the years to keep such witticisms to myself!!

The leisurely walking tour through the village presented so many photo opportunities that I know it will be difficult to pick examples, although I have started the sorting process. I have to say that I’m not sure, if I were an inhabitant of the village, having scores of tourists peering through my windows and over my back fence would constitute s peaceful life – one of the phrases used in the touring brochure.

Still and all it was a lovely day with lots of laughs – new best friends Carol and Reg were on the tour nd they have a lovely sense of humour, but we were happy to get back to our cabin and put our feet up. Cobbled streets are hard on old trotters and joints.