The Copenhagen University Library is the main research library of the University of Copenhagen. Founded in 1482, it is the oldest library in Denmark and it is stunning.

In the Copenhagen Fire of 1728, the University Library was devastated and 30,000 volumes were lost to the flames. Only some materials which against the rules had been removed from the premises by students and professors and were saved. After the fire, the library was restored. It was rebuilt along with the rest of the Trinitatis Complex. Steps were taken to build a new collection. In 1730, Árni Magnússon bequeathed his book and manuscript collection to the library. It included an extensive collection of Icelandic and other Nordic manuscripts. This collection has since become known as the Arnamagnæan Manuscript Collection after him. The library introduced the capacity to loan books in 1788.

During our tour yesterday, Steen reminded us that the stories crafted by Hans Christian Anderson were tragic. They were not the happy tales of love concocted by Disney. The story of the young mermaid is a good example. She saves a prince from drowning at sea during a storm. She dreams of falling madly in love with him and wants to trade the ocean for dry land. To find her prince, she gives up her voice in exchange for a pair of legs. And the ending … ugh! This little mermaid makes the ultimate sacrifice and becomes a spirit of the air. She does this to spare the prince. In the end, she doesn’t find love or a welcoming life above water 😢

This little sculpture has been vandalised several times and decapitated twice! It is said to be the soul of Copenhagen, standing resiliently in the water. It is very busy there. While it’s not impressive in size, people are drawn to her perhaps because of this tale of sacrifice and longing.

While we are talking about such happy times – what about those Norse gods and goddesses Fiona? Thanks for asking 😀.

This 1908 fountain is another public piece of art on the harbour (not too far from the Little Mermaid). It depicts the Norse goddess Gefjon on a plow being pulled by oxen to create Zealand. Gefjon is the goddess associated with ploughing (funny that). She is also linked to fertility – there did seem to be a few young people hanging around. Her story is an excellent one. It includes her sons becoming oxen. These oxen pull the plow that she is driving through Sweden to create Zealand. Hmmm, I would love to have been a Norse goddess in a past life 😁.

Another very late lunch at another fabulous place – Mormors. It is just around the corner from the Royal Palace. You sit surrounded by knick knacks on mismatched chairs, simply delightful. The beer is cold, the tea hot and the food delicious!

It is also a great spot to avoid the torrential rain. It came out of the blue. Actually, it didn’t. We were unprepared, so we pretend that it’s a surprise 🤣😂