MUNICH TO COPENHAGEN

Had a final Westin Grand executive club meal and drinks yesterday.  Red wine, white wine and sparkling wine with snacks, then a chicken dish with salad.

We had a hotel credit so ended the night at their bar for Ballantine's and Johnny Walker Black on rocks.

The taxi ride from the Westin Grand to Munich Airport cost around $100.  Those red numbers stand for maximum  speed in kilometers/hour.  The 120 thus means 75 MPH.  If there are four thin lines over the number, there is NO SPEED LIMIT.

Airport check-in was swift and easy.  Went to the Lufthansa Senator Lounge.  There is also a Business Class Lounge.  Had just about exactly same meal as yesterday, salami sandwich with a German beer.

Our Lufthansa flight took off on time.  

Copenhagen Airport, CPH, is the largest airport in the Nordic countries, with 31 million passengers/year before the pandemic.  The Daniel Inouye Honolulu Airport only handles 21 million passengers/year.

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark with a municipality of 1.4 million people, just about the number for the State of Hawaii.

• Began as a Viking fishing village in the 10th century.
• Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in the early 15th century.
• Ruled Scandinavia during the Renaissance.

• 
  The University of Copenhagen was founded in 1479, before America was discovered by Columbus.  Today, a student enrollment of 39,000.
• Was neutral during World War I, thus prospered by trading with both Britain and Germany.

• In 2023, was ranked #2 in Global Liveability.
• #1      Vienna
• #2      Copenhagen
• #3      Melbourne
• #4      Sydney
• #5      Vancouver
• #10    Osaka
• 
  Also came in #2 in  the 2023 Monocle Quality of Life Survey.
• #1      Vienna
• #2      Copenhagen
• #3      Munich
• #4      Zurich
• #5      Stockholm
• #6      Tokyo
• #10    Melbourne
• #15    Singapore
• #20    Seoul

• 
  Note the absence of U.S. cities.
• Bikes are popular, for 62% ride them to work or school.

I've been to Copenhagen several times.  

• It must have been at least a third century ago when I picked up a car in Stockholm, and on my way to Italy, stopped by this city.
• 
  Here is my blog from 2010 on COPENHAGEN AND UMAMI.
• I mentioned that Copenhagen is known for bicycles, in two days I had not seen one person riding one.  Of course, it has been snowing.
• The Little Mermaid is the most recognized attraction, symbolizing Hans Christian Anderdsen's fairy tale.
• 15 years ago Monocle picked Copenhagen as the second most livable city.  Note that it remained #2 last year.

• 
  The Umami in the title is the name of a French-Japanese fusion restaurant I experience, and loved.
• In this posting I indicated that tomorrow I would be going to Noma.
• So my blog the next day was titled, NOMA AND CHEF RENE.
• In 2010 Noma was only the third best restaurant in the world, to #1 El Bulli and #2 Fat Duck.
• However, Rene Redzepi had recently been voted the best chef on the entire globe.
• You can read the rest of this posting.

I seem to be following my same 2010 itinerary, as I was scheduled to then move on to Amsterdam, something I will do next on this trip.  So, anyway, should you wish to read that 25February2010 article, it is titled TODAY IN AMSTERDAM.

So anyway, we checked into the Marriott Copenhagen.  Our view is that of the Nyhavn, the waterfront and entertainment district of the city.  Plus, a short walk away Tivoli Gardens, the signature attraction of the country.  Return tomorrow to see what we will do on our only full day in Copenhagen.

Walked 4963 steps.

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