this is Dennis Callen for Hawaii
Geographic Society in Copenhagen this is
one of the great cities of Europe behind
me as the New Haven Canal which is one
of the main gathering places in the city
as you've got to see The Little Mermaid
of course you also just want to take a
stroll on the Main walking Street
Copenhagen is perfect for walking as the
center of town is small enough to cover
on foot and the narrow streets that wind
through it offer wonderful discoveries
to the attentive Explorer you cannot
really get lost here so wandering a
little off the beaten path is well worth
the effort there is an amazing shopping
Lane called the straight that runs for a
mile through the center of town claimed
to be Europe's longest pedestrian street
with various side lanes that are also
free from automobile traffic the Central
Square Mile will be a major focus of the
visit supplemented with a few easy
excursions to nearby palaces and
attractions the envelope please the
award for best country to live in goes
to Denmark this premier social ranking
accorded by a recent University of
Pennsylvania study puts Denmark's
capital city of Copenhagen very high on
any list of places to visit yet another
recent survey of world happiness ranks
Denmark as the third happiest country in
the world just behind Puerto Rico and
Mexico I'm not sure what the people of
Puerto Rico and Mexico are so happy
about but there is plenty to be happy
about in Denmark and yes Copenhagen is
the most visited city in Scandinavia
most likely due to the mix of
sophisticated modern culture and a
well-preserved
historic past the architecture and town
plan reflect this mix a picturesque
harbour surrounded by the old town
with many palaces museums gardens and
shops to keep everyone happy Copenhagen
is a medium-sized city of 1.2 million
that gives you the benefits of a
cultured metropolitan center without the
problems of a vast congested city it is
similar in size and character to
Stockholm and Amsterdam with historic
old brick buildings lining a picturesque
waterfront that extends for 30 miles
along the edge of the town Hagen means
harbour
so water is integral to this alluring
city's identity and history including
that Viking chapter when they ruled much
of England and parts of Europe
Copenhagen has been an important
commercial town ever since the time of
the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages
when it was connected into a vast
northern Europe trading network
highlights of Copenhagen include
Rosenborg palace a Malian borg Palace
City Hall Square and the Little Mermaid
you will also want to see Tivoli Gardens
and several of the art and history
museums in town but the greatest
attraction of all is the city itself
especially along the narrow pedestrian
lanes that run through the heart of the
old part of town lined with historic
buildings shops cafes bars and
restaurants
and so let's start our visit with a bus
tour with a local guide good morning and
welcome to Copenhagen oh I should maybe
say thank you for bringing the Hawaiian
Sun to Copenhagen Copenhagen is our
capital and it's an oh boy lat Oh 800
year old city and we thought first we
would show you a little of the downtown
city around the Town Hall on the
highlights and then we will be walking
just in the neighborhoods of your hotel
so that you are familiar with the
neighborhood around the after a hotel
you are in a very nice part of corrugate
I would say
because you are right at the walking
street this is me huh here ahead of you
that means the new harbor this is just
your area where your hotel is located we
also call it the longest bar in
Copenhagen many artists have enjoyed
living here I know at least three
different houses where hands Christian
Andersen our Danish fairy tale rider has
lived and this was a new harbour 350
years ago when it was built it has been
for hundreds of years an area where you
would only meet drunken sailors and
light-footed ladies if I can put it that
way you could actually still get a
little tattoo here I mean in case you
would like to bring home a souvenir from
Copenhagen the last 30 years it's very
fashionable look at these colorful
houses they were all built in 16 1700
today only wooden ships can come in here
and in the houses you have one
fashionable restaurant next to the other
as soon as the Sun comes out so does the
tables at the chairs it's not only the
Danes who like to come here to you know
the tourists they enjoy it too then you
can also take a canal tour it starts
here at the end of the canal and that
takes about 50 minutes and costs just as
much in Danish kroner and it's a nice
way of seeing Copenhagen from the water
side
we're going to rejoin the bus tour in a
little while but for now let's get off
the bus and take a little stroll around
New Haven and have a closer look here
and at some of the nearby areas behind
me as the New Haven Canal which is one
of the main gathering places in the city
for locals as well as tourists it's just
a great spot to be it's lined with
restaurants and bars and cafes and it's
really incredible how busy it gets
people here are out to see their friends
and hang out drink some beer have some
good food and have a good time
that's nee Alvin for you right in the
heart of Copenhagen it's really one of
the most remarkable places in all of
Europe in terms of its outdoor party
atmosphere it's a huge area it goes for
a couple of hundred yards and there's
restaurants all along one side and
people sitting down in the pain
what to enjoy the scene this is really a
highlight for us first of all welcome to
new home which is one of the most famous
streets in the Copenhagen C we have no
kaze no traffic at all it's all beer
drinking Danes mainly and French usually
hang out here a lot probably at least
once a week usually when you get off
work Friday so you get in here depends
on the weather of course right it's a
Friday night very busy Friday night very
busy Saturday afternoon you'll see in an
hour two hours it'll be very busy here
already yeah and all night - all night
so this is a popular hangout here right
it is just in the summer yeah so what's
the big attraction in the summer here
this I guess yeah why everybody comes
here oh it's a drink beer beer here good
reason things like beer yeah but I
noticed a lot of guys just bring their
own beer yeah they do that I'm sorry
convenience store just around the corner
we go buy cheap beer oh I see carry over
that store does good business and the
boat rides we'll take you through the
city on the canals it's almost like
Amsterdam here with all the canals the
canal boat tour offers one of the best
ways to get a quick overview of the city
where it gives you an easy orientation
enhanced with narration from a guide who
fills you in on a little history and
provides descriptions of the passing
sites most shops close at 5 p.m. or 6
p.m. which is a good time to hit me
Hovind an amazing outdoor party happens
every evening along the picturesque me
Holland Canal in the centre of town
where people gather by the thousands to
drink and talk
this is the biggest ongoing party in
Europe it is one of the world's most
amazing gathering places in a beautiful
setting framed by old sailboats tied up
along the dock on one side and a long
row of bars and restaurants facing them
with colorful old houses on both sides
of the canal but ironically the street
party is fueled by beer that's purchased
in nearby shops and carried in rather
than from the more expensive bars lining
the canal most of the partygoers are
young professionals relaxing with
friends after working all day enjoying
some laughs and a few beers you're
welcome to join in if you feel
comfortable in this setting because the
locals speak English and are quite
friendly