Captivating København

I know I left you all in the lurch as to the whereabouts of my next adventure but I’m sure some of you guessed Copenhagen, a cutting-edge city that boasts avant-garde art and architecture as well as chic and inventive new restaurants including a place that I’ve been dreaming about for months: noma, the world’s best restaurant.

The 4-day Copenhagen city stay is a great opportunity for me to become familiar with a city that is somewhat of a mystery to me. I’m making the Axel Hotel Guldsmeden my home base while here and I couldn’t be happier with it. From its Balinese oak and bamboo furniture to the organic mini-bar in my room, I’m starting to think this place was made just for me!

I hopped on and off with the best of them on my second day in the city on an incredible bus tour that helped me get my bearings. Since the ticket is valid for 24 hours, I was even able to use it to make my way to noma and back that evening.

Because I am drawn to beautifully coloured, shiny gems (especially vintage ones) I paid a visit to Rosenborg Slot, a 17th-century castle built for King Christian IV as his summer home. The lower level contains a dazzling array of crown jewels, including Queen Margrethe II’s current collection which rivals Elizabeth Taylor’s.

Continuing on my vintage-inspired way, I paid a visit to the Tivoli Gardens, an old-fashioned amusement park, originally opened in 1843. The Tivoli is lit by coloured lights and has an open-air theatre, a Chinese pagoda and 20 acres of gardens… stunning!

I’ve always loved walking around old fairs, carnivals and amusement parks… they have such an interesting, faded, fairy-tale feel to them that makes me feel like I’ve stepped back in time. I sat down on one of the old rides and thought about Louis. When I got back from Italy he told me that he too had been in Venice, with his sister (!), which should have made me feel better but somehow only made me feel silly…

To clear my mind, I made my way to noma, set in a 19th-century former salt warehouse and widely considered the best restaurant in the world.The meal I had there was, as the Danes would say, utrolig, or incredible! Porcini dust, Norwegian wild duck, Swedish truffle, smoked cheese, gently steamed oysters and apple aquavit all made for an incredible experience.

While snagging a reservation at noma isn’t easy (think one-year ahead!!!) getting there is, especially with Air Canada Vacations.

On my third day I decided to do something a little crazy: a day trip to Sweden! I’m a huge fan of the Millennium trilogy written by Stieg Larsson and I couldn’t stop myself from walking in Lisbeth Salander’s footsteps, if only for a day! Sweden is only a short trip by ferry from Copenhagen and I was able to see the cities of Helsingborg, Lund and Malmo.

With my city stay in Copenhagen complete it’s now time for me to pack my bags for Princess Cruises’ Emerald Princess Baltic Sea and Russia cruise, so my next post will be sent from Russia with love!

Cruising has been compared to being on a city at sea; do you think I will find Mr. Right on this love boat?