Thursday, August 23, 2018: Danish Countryside: Kronborg (Hamlet) Castle, Fredensborg Castle, Fredericksberg Palace

Today we are off on a visit to the Danish countryside learning the history of Denmark with expert commentary from our National Geographic expert explaining the historical importance of controlling the waters of the Danish Oresund as we visit the Kronborg Castle, also known as the Hamlet Castle as it was the setting for the filming of the movie Hamlet.

But first as we approach the castle, we pass the National Maritime Museum and the concrete faux dock rope tie-ups which spell out maritime museum in Morse code.
Kronborg Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the unique singularity of the geographic and historical importance of this castle in controlling the Oresund strait which necessarily controlled trade between England and Eastern Europe.


Kronborg Castle interiors ...

with our guide, Elizabeth, explaining an historical painting.
The castle comes complete with Shakespeare actors in period dress.
Having worked up a good appetite, we stop for lunch at Asminderod Kr in nearby Fredensborg where we have a "traditional Danish lunch buffet" with herring, of course, followed by pork and then cheese.



Oops, I didn't get a clear photo op at the buffet table before our hungry group dove in.
The tour promised a "photo op" at the nearby baroque Fredensborg Palace, and that is what we got ... a photo op out of the side of the moving bus as it drove by.
We continue on to the Renaissance Fredericksborg Castle


surrounded by beautiful gardens.  This is as close as we got.
We return to Copenhagen and enjoy a great lecture on the Nordic Social Contract describing the nearly almost perfect people and uncovering the Nordic myth discussing the world class stature of Nordic countries in health and happiness but also discussing the taxation burden the social contract requires.

Arriving back at the hotel after having dinner, we discover a rock concert going on in the Town Hall plaza directly outside of and below our hotel window.  Happily, the concert is over by 9:30 p.m. easing any possible burden on our sleeping.
After a morning canal boat excursion in the morning and lunch in Nyhavn, we are off to Helsinki by air tomorrow.   Goodnight.


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