Copenhagen and Brussels

Spring break has started for NUIG, and I intend to make the most of it! I am currently sitting in a hostel in Brussels, trying to give me feet a break from constant walking. But I am getting ahead of myself, I left Galway on Friday afternoon to travel to my first spring break destination: Copenhagen. The capital of Denmark was cold, beautiful, and expensive. I bundeled up with all the layers I had (I am traveling with just a backpack for these two weeks of break) to brace the Baltic temperature. (0°C aka 32°F)That may not seem to bad for a Minnesotan, but with only a light raincoat, this Irish lass was a bit chilly. I started my day at the Nyhavan Canal since my hostel was located right next to it. This street is everything I dreamed Copenhagen would be: brightly colored buildings and boats made even that chilly day warm and friendly. I even got to go on a canal ferry ride to experience all of Copenhagen’s beautiful canals.

 

Before this visit I was not aware that Denmark even had nobility, but after touring three palaces I can’t deny the powers of some kings and queens. Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Castle, and Rosenborg Castle are all extremely beautiful and ornate. Below are picture of each (one outside and one inside) in alphabetical order.

I walked through Copenhagen all Saturday and most of Sunday until I had to hop on the metro to the airport. I got into Brussels late Sunday night and started yet another day of walking in the morning. There are so many beautiful buildings and statues in Brussels; the most impressive being the Grand Place. The picture below is only the beginning of the beauty because every point of a 360° spin fills your eyes with impressive buildings.

The architecture is amazing, but the best part of Brussels is the food. Belgian waffels are certainly better in Belgium than in America, Belgian frites beat McDonald’s fries any day, and meatball means a whole different thing over here. Not to mention the souvenir of some good old chocolate that I will struggle to make last until I get back to Ireland. All in all it’s been a good start. Tomorrow I will hop on a bus to Amsterdam, but that’s a story for another time.