Friday, June 26

Today was a travel day for all of us, but unlike many of its kind, there was no need to get out early. Heidi and Doug's flight wasn't until 2:00 and ours was at 7:40. So, we had a leisurely breakfast on the canal that consisted of bacon and eggs, yogurt and granola, sausage, and coffee. 

We walked back to the hotel and checked out. Heidi and Doug left in their taxi. We kissed and Linda cried. It had been a good 3 weeks together. Nice family trip.

Here is what we all contributed to and accomplished:

What do you see?

Linda and I stowed our bags in the hotel and set out to shop. We had goals: I wanted a dress shirt with either red or black buttons. I've seen these on men each year we've been in Europe but never in a store. Also, I wanted a white hat like the one I had been borrowing from Linda but one that fit my head.

We started down the main pedestrian street and after a few inquiries, went into Magazin's: a 5 story department store. We started looking in the men's department on one of the upper floors and only found shirts that were way too expensive and the wrong size. Even on sale they were over $60. However, we did find one we thought would fit Nicholas and wasn't too expensive.  Blue with orange buttons. But, Linda found a really nice lightweight scarf for me at a reasonable price. We have a friend named Carlos who is a very dapper dresser and he almost always wears a scarf. I like the look and have been looking for one that wasn't too heavy. This one was just right.

As we returned to the ground floor, we noticed a display of hats and men's dress shirts. One of each for me and we were set: blue dress shirt with red buttons. Mission accomplished.

Back outside, we returned to the main square and to a cafe we had sat at yesterday with wicker couches to watch the crowd and drink espresso and mint tea (Linda's new, preferred drink). Linda decided she needed to find a dress and left for about an hour while I stayed and watched newly graduated high schoolers celebrate by running into the square and jumping into the fountain. About every 15 minutes, another group would come running in. Most of the time this was preceded by the group riding in a truck that looked like an old military transport. Yelling and blowing whistles, they paraded around the block in the vehicle and then ran into the square to the fountain. Girls dressed in white and most of the boys too; all with white naval looking caps on. 

One group had some boys who were a little more rowdy than the rest and took off all their clothes and jumped into the water. When one came out he was in no hurry to put his clothes back on. He just walked away with some of his friends with his hands covering his "jewels".

We were told that this kind of thing was going on all over the country. We wondered what was going to happen in the evening.

Part of the square without the kids

On the couch wearing my new hat and scarf

When Linda returned, with her new dress I eyed a good looking Cesar salad with chicken and bacon on it that the couple next to us had ordered. I asked them how it was and she said it was good. She also said that Cesar salads always come with a big piece of bacon in Denmark, chicken is optional. We decided to share one. Very nice.

Child labor

Now it was time to head for the airport. Back to the hotel, pick up our bags, call for a taxi, and get into Copenhagen rush hour traffic. Our driver cut through the royal palace courtyard to get around some of the traffic. It took awhile, but we arrived in plenty of time.

Same old thing: check your bags, go through security, find your gate and wait. The Copenhagen airport terminal is a gigantic shopping mall. There are so many shops that sometimes its hard to locate the airport specific information. Anyway, we found a pub-like restaurant named O'leary's and each of us had a burger.

Then an hour flight to Amsterdam, walk downstairs and catch the train and home at 11:15. A full day but no drama.