Dates: 30 – 31 May 2015

Modes of Travel: British Airways

Cast of Characters: Dan, Bruce, Chris, Jeremy, Lucas, Curtis, Liesbeth, Paul, Bigg Al and Tall Jim

Hotel: Copenhagen Crown

Day 1 –

We booked this trip quite sometime ago when our friends Chris and Jeremy told us they would be finishing their Disney Cruise there. We met them back in 2011 on a Disney Cruise and have kept in touch since then. This has been the first time we could meet up and it was far too long.

We woke up at 4 am so we could get ready and get to the airport for a 7am flight. We got checked in and headed to the lounge and enjoyed our usual BA lounge breakfast and associated Bloody Mary (Bruce) and TGL15 & Ginger Ale (for me as they had no Jameson). Bruce was looking around Facebook and saw our friends Tall Jim and Bigg Al had just checked in at LAX on their way to Copenhagen. So he commented that we were going to be there and we should meet up.

I always choose an exit row for our seats and today was no different, however I was hoping a free middle seat and had no luck in our exit row, but the nice lady in the lounge found us an empty row and we could spread out a little.

After an uneventful flight we arrived in Copenhagen a little early, got our bag and made it on the train to the city.  It was packed and we had to stand for the 20 minute journey. I would like to say it was horrible, but I ride the tube daily.

We walked to the hotel and were able to check in at 10:30 so was a nice bonus. After we checked in we walked over to the hotel Chris and Jeremy were staying in and found them chilling in the lobby with their new cruise friends Curtis and Lucas (they will also be joining us on the Penguin cruise in 2017). We all hung out for a bit waiting for Paul and Liesbeth to join us. We met them on the 2011 Cruise as well.

Once we were all together we headed across the road to Tivoli Gardens.

I went a few years ago and wanted to take Bruce when we were in Copenhagen in September, but it closed for the season he day before we arrived.

We paid our entrance fee and we walked around for a bit. I wanted to try a few rides and everyone was else was game so off we went. First stop “The Roller Coaster” built in 1914 it is one of the oldest running wooden coasters in the world. It is also quite cool as the brakes are operated by a guy who sits/stands in the middle of the train. After this we toured the park more and Lucas took a ride on Aquila, which I am sure I would have died on. It is shaped like a bird and it spins every which way.  The Demon was up next for Chris and Lucas. It’s a big looping coaster and once they got off it was time to say bye to Paul and Liesbeth as they had a flight to catch.

When I was at Tivoli last I went on The Flying Trunk and I thought it was pretty good. It is basically a dark ride through Hans Christian Anderson fairytale scenes. I talked everyone else in to going on it with me and quite frankly it was cool but kinda boring. Bruce told me I talked the ride up too much and hosed everyone. So I then bought 12 tickets and took everyone on The Mine. It’s a water ride meets buzz lightyear.

We all enjoyed ourselves at Tivoli, we popped back to the various hotels and the guys checked in and it was food time so we roamed the streets and ended up at MAD. Bruce had dinner there is September and it was ok, but this time it did not really impress either of us. For those of you that know me, I love onion rings. Real Onion Rings and it really pisses me off when people serve onion rings made with chipped onion instead of real full onion rings. Yes I am picky like that!

After lunch Curtis and Lucas went off to take a nap and get ready for their night. So we took Chris and Jeremy to Mikkeller. I had been a few times and they have some great beers so we spent some time there and enjoyed a few.

It was time to walk around and see what we could see and as luck would have it there is a locals bar just up the street that Bruce and I found last time and thought lets take Chris and Jeremy. So there we were standing in front SPUNK!

We had a beer (outside) as inside it was pretty scary and very very smoky (didn’t know you could still smoke in pubs anywhere in Europe)

Curtis and Lucas joined us and we were off to find a beer.  Mikkeller it was again as Lucas had heard about them, so a few more beers and they parted ways for their dinner plans. We all wanted one more beer before dinner so headed to Vesterbro Brewery across from Tivoli. Bruce and I went in September and it was nice, not so much this time, none of us enjoyed our beers. So once done we packed up and found dinner.

On the way to dinner we got a text from Bigg Al who said they had arrived and wanted to meetup. So we arranged to catch up after dinner.

Dinner we headed to Wagamama, Chris and Jeremy had heard of it but never been and as they say when in Copenhagen you should at least dine there once for authentic Danish Asian cuisine!

We had a nice dinner and walked them back to their hotel with a detour to Dunkin Donuts as I needed something sweet. We said our good byes to Chris and Jeremy as they had an early flight back to the states.

Bigg Al and Tall Jim met us at the hotel and we were off for drinks. I bet you can’t guess where…… Yep Mikkeller again! This time as it was around the corner from our hotel. We said we could meet them for a drink and a few beers and a few hours later (and a phone call to Alex and Cathy back in the states) we were being pushed inside and it was time for us to call it a night.

So we said our goodbyes and we turned in for the night.

Day 2 –

We woke up after a few tries but still managed to make it to Breakfast. It was a decent cold spread. We decided to take a short walk around and then it was time to head back to the airport. We queued to buy our tickets for the train. I thought the machines here sucked but the machines in Denmark are possibly the slowest machines I have ever seen my in life. We finally about 20 min later got the tickets and made it on the train. It ended up being a fast train so 10 minutes later we were at the airport. We made the trek to check in which was quick and easy. We popped up to security and the queue was possibly the longest I have ever seen. Amazingly about 10 min later we were through and just a few min later chilling in the lounge. Just like that our 27 hours in Copenhagen was over.

Next Up the Aberdeen and the Brewdog AGM!