What I liked best in Copenhagen were its parks.

Copenhagen was a very green city with many well-kempt parks and gardens.

We were very lucky to see it at its very best, shrouded in vibrant, spring green.

Even though the temperature that day wasn’t above 15C, it certainly lifted the heart to be in the spring sunshine.

Copenhagen reminded me a lot of Amsterdam because of its pragmatic architecture and its canals – a remnant from its days as a busy port and trading post.

In the city centre there were many canals to see, although the boats and ‘warehouses’ are now pleasure crafts and converted apartments.

And on the northern edge of the city centre is Copenhagen’s most underwhelming tourist attraction.

The Little Mermaid was certainly little and didn’t do much for me. Still, it didn’t stop others from mauling her.

Copenhagen has its share of grandness too. They are though quite pragmatic about the use of their palaces. One is currently being used to house parliament.

While this set of four (by British standards) smallish palaces house the Danish Royal Family. Princess Mary was nowhere to be seen that day, by the way, but it certainly is a long way from the Slip Inn.

It was an altogether more casual set up than at Buckingham Palace. No Secret Service-like security guards, just the ceremonial guards. And the no heaving crowds either, just small groups of casual tourists. Just the way I like a tourist attraction to be.

Copenhagen was rather depressing in the middle of a rainstorm…

But a different creature altogether when the sun was out.

The city centre was quite a grand place, with a wealth of 18th Century buildings.

It was the period when the English and the Dutch were at war, hence all the Baltic Sea trading that used to go through Amsterdam and the English east coast all came to Copenhagen. Using the funds, the Danes built a city to equal old Amsterdam.