A Christmas Paradise by the Water: Nyhavn

When my two friends and I traveled to Copenhagen for four days, visiting the iconic waterfront at Nyhavn was at the top of our list of sights to see. We went in late November, which meant that the Holiday spirit was in full force, and the Christmas markets were up and running.

Our first walk in Nyhavn was beautiful, but short-lived, as we hopped on a boat to take a cruise through the canal. The tour was mesmerizing, and I’d highly recommend doing one if you ever find yourself in Copenhagen. The boat took us past The Little Mermaid statue, which depicts a mermaid becoming human. There was a large crowd viewing the bronze statue from land, so it was cool to see it from the perspective of the water.

The three of us ended up returning to Nyhavn three times throughout the short time we were in Denmark. During our second visit, we walked past all the colorful buildings and checked out the Christmas market more in depth. I wanted to buy one of everything I saw. However, I settled on getting a Flødeboller, which is a Danish cream puff. I got a honey almond flavored one, and it was really similar to a Tunnock’s tea cake. I became obsessed with tea cakes after discovering them in Scotland, and I hate to say it, but the Flødeboller wasn’t as good as my beloved tea cakes.

During our slow stroll near the water’s edge, we came across a poet for hire. We figured that this isn’t something you get to experience everyday, so we stopped for a poem. She asked us a couple questions about what we were doing in Copenhagen, and what we like to do. Then, she typed us a short poem, and after paying her, we were back on our way. The experience was incredibly heartwarming. I have the poem tucked into my travel journal for safe keeping.

We eventually left the little Christmas market to go find some dinner. I tried a Franske hotdog, which was so delicious I could have eaten three of them. Then, we ended up back at Nyhavn to have a drink at one of the outdoor restaurants.

Looking around me, I could see the crowds of people, joyous, while they took in the Christmas market. I could feel the bite of the cold, but was kept mostly warm by my black coat and the outdoor heater next to me. I heard laughter, and chatter, and the sounds of people living. While I sat next to my two best friends, I felt the warmth of happiness seeping through me.

Mags

The red travel journal series