As children we learn the useful adage ‘never judge a book, by its cover’. The premise being, that what we see with our eyes from the outside, doesn’t always reveal what’s on the inside.
Nowadays, it can be all too easy to gather opinions. Get fooled. Make snap judgements. Without giving too much thought. Like fishermen in open waters dragging nets along the murky deep. Catching all and sundry. Giving little consideration as to what’s worth keeping, or what should be thrown back as worthless.
Yet, what we hear, see and read across every media platform does exactly that. Fills those nets. So called influencers’ continuous snippets swim freely across the airwaves. Alongside edited news-reels. Creating shoals of masterful mind-bending illusions. Undercurrents flow with a caustic cauldron of truths, half-truths and lies. What to believe, or what not to believe becomes paramount.
Day 7 – The town of Nyborg, presents us with a welcome break en-route to today’s two-nighter at Absalon Camping, Copenhagen.
One would be forgiven for thinking that we stumbled on a delightful and ancient township. Yet after an hour’s stroll, accompanied by a bone-chilling north easterly, we wonder why we’d stopped here, wishing we’d never even bothered. Agree to give a wide berth when passing on the way home.[true or false?]
Day 8 – We catch the commuter train into ‘bike-city’ – AKA Copenhagen. We have an 11am walking tour booked. With a 1.3K walk at either end, we surpass ourselves. Arrive at the meeting point with seven minutes to spare. 15C, little wind and clear blue above. Perfect city gawping weather.
Highlights of Copenhagen, by Politically Incorrect Free Tours is led by ginger-nut Conrad, our half-English, half-Danish guide. Before we set off, Conrad warns that if there is anybody who is sensitive, or easily offended, then this walk is probably not for them and they may as well f*** off now. The couple of dozen in our young group (apart from us and the two Scottish ladies), are a mix of English, Canadian, Scots, American, French, German, Spanish, Andorran, one girl from Japan, one from India, plus one from Burma.
Conrad’s spiel is a comedic mix of facts, hearsay and invention. He quickly has us hanging on every (swear) word and quip. At each stop he doesn’t stop to draw breath. Most countries in the world can find good reason to take the mick (not his word) out of their nearest neighbours. Danes are no exception, as Conrad constantly reminds us, that amongst other things, the shape of Sweden resembles a flacid penis, with that connotation somehow reflecting on the Swedes’ national character.
Two hours fly by, but not before everyone’s mobile receives a Public Warning from the Danish Emergency Management Agency. They are about to test their air-raid siren!
We come away remembering very few facts (the whole point of the tour perhaps), other than at whichever building, or establishment he chose to stop, then at some time in its history it had burnt down, often more than once – it became the groups’ mantra.
After lunch we have the afternoon to ourselves. A calm relaxed mood emanates over the city. There’s no rush. Not much sound. No exhaust fumes.
We amble over to Rosenborg Castle – highly recommended on-line. A must see. It houses, amongst other things, the Danish Crown Jewels.
Inside, it’s a disaster darling. Ugly, or dark and dreary empty rooms, do nothing to conjure a feeling of the grand and luxurious past. It just goes to show, that you can’t . . .
We drag ourselves around the meaningless distraction. Feeling only too happy to drag ourselves away, but not before a spiral down to the cellar to view the prized possessions.
We finish our recce, but not before being reminded of the Genocide occurring in Palestine.
