Chapter 7 - Day 8: Louisiana and Hamlet

June 16

This day was our first and only "day trip" out of Copenhagen. We left the quiet beauty of our apartment for our adventure.

We took the coastline train, first to Humlebaek to see the "Louisiana" art museum and then on to Helsingor to see Kronborg, "Hamlet's Castle", as shown on this sorta map :)

Walking from the train station to the museum, we saw our first "art" in clashing color :)

Louisiana's name derives from the first owner of the property, Alexander Brun, who named the villa after his three wives, all named Louise. "The museum is acknowledged as a milestone in modern Danish architecture, noted for the synthesis it creates of art, architecture and landscape and is one of the most visited art museums in the world" [WikiPedia].

It sits on the coast with a pond off to one side - a bucolic setting.

This is the original villa, now incorporated as the back end of a series of contemporary exhibit spaces.

 We discovered interesting international contemporary artists - this was one.

And another...

And a third....

There was a room of mirrors and shimmering lights that made you feel you were in outer space.

Unexpected, but interesting for us, was a pottery exhibit.

Inside, the highlight for us was the gallery full of Giacometti sculptures.

Outside, Henry Moore and other famous sculptors works were set beautifully into the landscape.

Next stop was Helsingor (Elsinore), the home of Kronborg, "Hamlet's Castle.", which, like Louisiana, sits dramatically on the coastline. As you walk up, you get right into "castle mode".

There is even a moat complete with swans!

And then it's into the Shakespearean entrance.....

Inside, the rooms and fittings are fit for...a king!

Here is the chapel.

And the "surround" for the throne, very rare and kept on display separately.

There is something about castle architecture that screams for photos.

 Even as you leave...

The gift shop outside continued the feeling of another time, another place.

Walking home from the train station, we caught a glimpse of the windmill in the park near our apartment.

This night we returned to warm new Nordic eating at Radio.

The waiter was charming and almost as good at selling wine as the sommelier at Bror.  The dinner was fun, beginning with tiny bay scallops with seaweed and green asparagus in a wonderful foam.  Elaine had a German Pinot Noir that was a white wine. Next we had plaice, a mild white fish, again with a wonderful sauce. Lester had tiny new potatoes in a light cream foam--very yummy. We both ate veal with a savory "barbeque" sauce.  We finished with a Danish raw milk cheese (actually made in Germany) with lingonberries.  A perfect end to the meal.  

They even had a Danish sparkling wine on the menu, although we did not try it - it was $150 for a half bottle and the waiter said it wasn't very good...kinda what we expected for a Danish wine!