A day in Sweden.

This is celebration, this is levitation
Look at how you winning now, this took dedication,
This is meditation, higher education
This the official competitor elimination
I was taking trips with Web to move face,
Came back home then hit up a new place,

- Champion, Nicki Minaj. 

 It is only a thirty minute train ride from Copenhagen, Denmark to Malmo, Sweden. 

And, by God's grace I even caught the right train first go and got off at the right station. I was so proud of myself. Look at how I've grown since leaving Sydney, I now take public transport and I can now follow direction on public transport. I'm not gonna get too cocky here but you've gotta be impressed with how I can now perform simple tasks. GO ME!!!

It was cold as I stepped off the train. Much colder than Copenhagen was. I could see my breath and remembered the rare occasion this happened in Sydney and we used to pretend we were smoking. And being the loser child I am while no one was around I pretended to smoke. 

Malmo like Copenhagen is a beautiful city. However, unlike Copenhagen it is a very quiet city.
I arrived at 10:00am to basically empty streets (who would take my photo?) and shops not yet open or just beginning to open. I walked the quiet streets soaking in the surroundings and the quiet town feel. I stopped for coffee and watched the people as they began to fill the town around 10:30am.

The architecture is similar to Copenhagen. It is equally as stunning and detailed. I found many buildings, alleyways, streets and monuments where I just need to stop, step back and look. Even now, after 10 months of living in Europe I am still amazed by the places I am witnessing. I am so thankful for this opportunity. 

The parks in the city were absolutely breath taking. Another opportunity to stop, sit back with God and enjoy His astounding imagination and colourful creation.

(I'm the one on the grass, just so you know) 

(Yea...On second thought maybe I haven't grown up at all since leaving Sydney)

The city has many big name shops along it's main street - though nothing you couldn't get in London - and has just opened a new large department store.  I do enjoy a good excuse to shop...and hey I was on holidays! 

The city streets were clean, colourful and full of culture - even if the people were not as friendly as the Danes. Some even refusing to stop and listen when I wanted to ask for directions. But, I put my earphones in my ears and continue to walk around the bright streets, soaking up Sweden. 

This stone is in memory of Raoul Wallenbergs. 

Wallenbergs helped rescue many Jews from Budapest from 1944-1945.

 He was taken prisoner by the Soviet forces and his fate after that is unknown. 

The plaque here read, "Throughout the world, the name Raoul Wallenbergs stands as a symbol of hope and light in the struggle against persecution and oppression."

This town was so Zen I couldn't help doing some cheeky yoga before heading home. 

It was fantastic!!! 

As much as I enjoyed Malmo, one full day was plenty of time to see it and I was glad to be returning to Copenhagen for the night. I love that city! 

Well, that's it, 

See you in your dreams and fantasies, 

Joey!!!! 

P.S. I'm still stoked I made it to Malmo and back on the Scandinavian trains. 

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark...I STRONGLY disagree Marcellus. In fact, I bite my thumb at you sir!

And really, I think I like who I'm becoming
There's times where I might do it just to do it like it's nothing
There's times when I might blow like 50k on a vacation. 

- Crew Love, Drake. 

"Copenhagen better be awesome." 

That was my thought as I pealed? back my blanket and opened my eyes to the pitch blackness that surrounded me at 3:30am. Agh!

I arrived in Copenhagen at 10:30am local time. It was cold! Colder than London cold. I grabbed another layer from my bag. A shirt, a jumper, a jacket. This boy from Australia is still not used to Europe cold.

I caught a bus to Central station, stored my bag in a locker and left to explore the city.

Ah-may-zing!!!

I loved the architecture, the people, the colours, the city. The cold, the early start 

they all faded away, it was insignificant to the beautiful city I had before me.

Before I could fully explore however, I needed a coffee and a danish...

Being a lover of palaces my first stop was Rosenborg Castle. It was built in the traditional dutch style of Christian IV. Construction beginning in 1605 and ending as it stands today in 1624. 

The palace was amazing. So much detail everywhere you looked, it was overwhelming. I LOVED IT! Maybe that's what happens when you work in Essex but gold and bling excites me!

 This joke chair was one of my favourites in the palace. Once a huest is seated in the chair an assistant opens a valve that allows water to run in from a tank. The water sprays onto the rear of the person on the chair, wetting also his socks and leaving a puddle beneath the chair. A small nozzle also drips onto a brass tray inside the chair, to represent the sound of someone weeing. 

If the palace was not amazing enough already the great hall with the thrones were memorising. As soon as I entered I felt small, insignificant, yet honoured to be there. I wanted to bow, yet I knew no one was sitting on the thrones. 

I thought to myself, wow, if this is what I feel like here, in a man made room, how amazing, breathtaking, awesome must God's throne room be, where Christ is seated on His right hand. 
I got chills.


The King's Garden just outside the palace was really lush and beautiful!

Made me feel like a king! 

The amazing thing about Copenhagen is how friendly the locals are. Every time I stopped and pulled out my map a local would stop to ask if I needed help and then give me directions. SO FRIENDLY!!!

The Church of Our Saviour is part of old city. 

It has a spire that is 90m high and I climbed it. 

It was a beautiful view of the whole city, up high, looking down at God's creation!

I then ventured a little further out to Christiania. 

A separate state - not part of the EU - set up as a social experiment. 

The town has its own society where drugs are legally bought, sold and used. It is a place where the 'down and outs' can find a simpler and judge free way of life. The area is covered with beautiful street art that makes you feel more comfortable in an area with quite a 'creepy' feel. I was quite happy to return to the safer and beautiful streets of Copenhagen.

I ended my night with a visit to the peaceful fishing village of Nyhavn. Where I strolled down the streets, visited small shops, people watched and just relaxed.

I loved this place so much I decided to eat here. I stopped for a delicious dinner of oven baked cod and baby potatoes. So scrumptious!!!

The next morning I headed out to Copenhagen's National Museum for the Viking exhibit. 

It was an interactive -game based- exhibit, with wonderful artefacts too.

I proved myself to be an excellent Viking. (Not bad for a boy who refuses to sleep in hostels, maybe I'm no longer such a princess...I doubt it though, Ha Ha!)

I also took a walk around the Danish History and Stories exhibits. Was a great concise background to this city I had already fallen in love with.

Of course for me Denmark is always connected to the marvellous Hans Christian Anderson.

I couldn't wait any longer I had to visit the World of Hans Christian Anderson. 

Wow! Fantastic. So many interactive and bright displays. 

It was pretty much story hour. 

Which I love. 

Walking around listening and reading many HC Anderson classics and a few I had never heard of before. I so enjoyed my time here. 

So many people walked passed me but I stayed in my little world taking my time. When I left the lady said people normally spend 15-20mins walking through not the hour and a half I did. But it was like a mini-Disney land for me. I didn't want to miss a thing.

Afterwards, I headed over to the Little Mermaid statue. Is there anything more Copenhagen.

That night I strolled around the city just soaking in the atmosphere. 

The city was not very well lit but I felt so safe the whole time and so enjoy the atmosphere of the town. 

That night I ate a modern twist on a 'traditional' Danish burger. 

This amazing Danish burger contained: beef, bacon, cheese, red onion, white onion, tomato, lettuce, cheese sauce, cucumber, carrot, capsicum, smothered in pesto on a herb roll. Delicious!!!

Now you should all know by now I am all about food when I am away so let me share with you some more of the amazing things I tasted...

Chocolate kebab.

Mine contained: fudge, banana, marzapane, strawberries, marshmallows, swallowed in white choclate and coated in crushed nuts. 

SO GOOD!!!!

My feasting also included Danish feta, Danish Salami with black pepper and freshly cooked seed bread. 

Copenhagen, Denmark. Put it on your list. 

IT IS AMAZING!!!!