Around the city

Yep, time for another time lapse video, this time from around Copenhagen (we start with the sunrise at Helsingør, though).

He

Apart from the time lapse video I showed you yesterday I also got a few other shots Friday morning in Helsingør. This one is of the merman in the harbour, starring at the rising sun. The sculpture called Han (Danish for he) is made of steel by the artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset in 2010 as a modern version of Copenhagen's Little Mermaid. It got a mixed review by the public; the county and the politicians loved it but the department in charge of the castles and public buildings, the landscape architect responsible for the new harbour area in Helsingør and the foundation that financed the new area were not pleased.

The alternative Little Mermaid

The alternative Little Mermaid (and small she is) is still sitting gaping at the Royal Library called the Black Diamond. In the background is the bridge called Langebro (Danish for Long Bridge).

Harbour bus

 

When visiting Copenhagen many people opt to take the sightseeing canal boats to see a bit of the city from the water. For people on a budget the harbour busses might be an option instead. For the normal bus fare you can be sailed from Nordre Toldbod in the north near the Little Mermaid to the newly developed area of Teglholmen in the south, and you can even take along your bicycle or babycarriage. You'll miss the commentary from the onboard guide of the sightseeing boats, though. Well, maybe you won't actually miss it... 

Yet another mermaid

 

 

Just outside the Royal Library's modern building called the Black Diamond is this small, modern mermaid looking inland. I still like the original better, but this one is nice nonetheless.

Where is the Little Mermaid?

A tongue-in-the-cheek look at the fact that many tourists are surprised at how small the world-famous statue actually is and many walk around asking where she is.

-RS

Little Mermaid alert!

Now what would a photo taken towards the eastern side of Nyhavn (known as the "Sunny Side" by locals) have in relation to the world-famous statue in Langelinje?

Well, H.C. Andersen the writer of the tale lived on this side of the harbour for quite a while and, the word on the blue building on the right hand side of the picture Havfruen means The Mermaid in Danish.

Elephant Parade

A few weeks ago brightly painted elephants pushed their way into Copenhagen life when they took up residence in neighbourhoods and landmarks over the capital. This one is being admired near the Langelinie are which is home to The Little Mermaid and the Gefion waterfountain (background).

Not the Swan Lake

This swan couple has decided to nest at one of the busiest tourist places in Copenhagen; just off Langelinje with the Little Mermaid and right next to the Gefion Fountain. I guess they're not concerned about the throngs of camera touting people passing by while they're nesting.

A Cold Place

The Little Mermaid on her new stone in Copenhagen Harbour. When seeing her for the first time, many tourists are a bit disappointed as she isn't the big monument that many expects. She is only life-sized but pretty nonetheless.

Black Diamond and Mermaid

A forth mermaid can be found outside the Black Diamond, the new building for the Royal Library. It's a bronze copy of Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen's 1921 sculpture Mermaid and it was placed here last year as a gift from the National Museum of Art, where the original is.

A not-so-little Mermaid

Between the real Little Mermaid and the genemodified one is this one, which is not exactly little (or subtle). As it's standing right where all the cruise ships dock, this mermaid is the first one that a lot of tourists see when they visit Copenhagen.

A Gene-modified Mermaid

A short distance from where the Little Mermaid were before her trip to China, is another mermaid. This one is of another kind entirely. She is part of group of sculptures called The Genetically Modified Paradise by the Danish Professor Bjørn Nørgaard. I guess it's a matter of taste if you like this one or not:-) I did the rest of the sculptures in a previous post in Danish.

Where's the Little Mermaid?

"Where's the Little Mermaid" is a question much asked by tourists in Copenhagen at any time and answered by some quick directions, but at this time the directions will not be easy; she has been moved to Shanghai as part of the Danish pavilion at the World Fair there. Now all that is left is a very small version of her at her usual place and a video installation showing her in Shanghai. A copy can be seen in Tivoli though.