Constitution Day



Copenhagen



The Danes celebrate their Constitution Day on June 5.  It is a national holiday so we did not have to go to the library school for lectures.  Instead I began my tour of the many fabulous museums of Copenhagen.  There are many old palaces with museums and my first stop was to the ruins of the first castle in Copenhagen.  On the way to find the ruins we just happened to stumble upon a speech being given by the Prime Minister of Denmark, Helle Thorning-Schmidt.  Of course the speech was in Danish but it was interesting to see because of the contrast of this type of event in the US.  There was hardly any security at all, maybe ten policemen, and on Constitution Day government officials go around the city giving speeches. 



Prime Minister's Speech



After the speech we went on back to finding the ruins.  They were discovered in the early 1900's and sit underneath Christiansborg Palace where the Queen conducts royal ceremonies, banquets, and state dinners. 

Delicious Fish Cakes

After the ruins, I just happened to find the National Museum right around the corner.  After an amazing lunch I was only able to get through the first floor of the museum before it closes.  I know I have to plan for a whole day next time.  The exhibits I saw though were ancient and really blew my mind.  For the first time in my life I saw a mermaid skeleton and this really shocked me and now I think I know nothing!



The Mermaid Skeleton



At the museum we also discovered a fantastic place called the Library Bar which was opened in Copenhagen Plaza Hotel in the 1960's.  The hotel is a hundred years old and it feels like you've stepped back in time when you walk in. 

This was a nice holiday because we will be in lectures the rest of the week...even though we're in Copenhagen its back to the grind tomorrow :)

Love you all!