[Photos taken 11 – 12 August 2025, posted online 26 September 2026? Life is getting more routine-ish again, phew!]
After assembling the sleeper-sofa, we decided to play tourists, and visit the nearby (30-ish minute drive) Kronborg Castle! Thankfully, it wasn’t my first rodeo with this particular type.
At the marina in Helsingør, we were pleasantly surprised by the enormous food hall, which surprised us all. The castle (of Hamlet fame) was big, impressive, and well maintained. There were a lot of sore feet by the end of the day! The “in-laws” were back in Lyngby by then and we had dinner together.
The following day was a slow shopping day in downtown Lyngby, before I drove to the airport in the evening to pick up Finnur and Bjarki, who had then finished his summer semester finals (and passed!).
Monday 11 August 2025
At the Marina information sign in Helsingør.
Before arriving at Helsingør, we assembled the sofa! Scissors out at 12:14.
Fully assembled and boxes cleared at 13:38! (That’s about an hour and a half…) It was a snug fit, but it fit! We were happy that the cardboard recycling bins outside had some free space.
We arrived in Helsingør around tea-time.
We were all a bit hungry, saw signs for food, and entered, not expecting much at all.
The food hall was huge, and wildly colorful!
Yum!
Walking towards the castle visible in the distance. Down there was apparently a cafe?
The orange building is where you buy tickets. I guess formally this was the bastion? Or a pre-bastion?
By one of the cannons.
Emma reading a sign, with more cannons visible.
Maybe it was this sign?
The outer entrance gate…
It had impressive doors and pretty arches.
Getting closer to the castle… The walls were being fixed.
Thankful for learning a bit of Danish back in the day, so the heading actually made sense.
Of course, there was a bit of a walk to the actual castle entrance. It had an impressive moat!
Finally!
A welcoming sign.
An interesting “was the king in residence or not” comparison. Apparently the king traveled with a bunch of his furniture and tapestries, etc! If he wasn’t there, the castle was essentially half-empty!
Informative text.
The fashion.
The building stages.
The evolution of a fortress/castle. Of course this whole thing had to do with money (aka customs/tolls).
A look into the past.
Back outside, but inside the inner courtyard.
We were a little bit late for everything except the 15 minute tour in English.
After the 15 minute lesson, we quickly made our way up to the ballroom, hoping to see the last little Hamlet bit, but we were too late.
Feeling royal?
Lounging royals.
The view out the window.
The next fashion?
Some bricks were older than others.
Obligatory skull in the gift shop.
Old style wagon for ambiance.
Next up: the chapel.
The foot of multiple touches.
It was surprisingly roomy.
Complete with organ!
Pew decoration.
We then started wandering around the rooms, there were sooo many!
A tiny but impressive bed. The castle is surprisingly roomy and with large doors, in spite how tiny the people were.
That’s Sweden over there! (Also where our train rode.)
Following another sign to …
… the basement?
Feeling jumpy!
We found Holger Danske, he who will wake from his sleep to save Denmark when needed?
Daylight.
“Ignore the bats that like to live here.”
Thankful to all be walking around with flashlights in our phones.
Real lamps, very authentic.
The last bit that was left… the cannon tower.
“Only” 145 steps.
A very quick photo of the view, as the castle was about to close, and we were being shooed off the balcony.
Proof I was there!
Feeling victorious!
Feeling less victorous.
The true lord of the courtyard.
That was a long time ago!
The castle closed promptly at 18. Walking back to the car, but keeping one eye on Sweden.
Awww, cuties!
Walking alongside the moat, the view was very Danish (that orange is less popular in Sweden).
Emma was suffering from a severe case of low blood sugar, that got fixed and then some, by this ridiculous ice-cream she ordered at the food hall. She felt a lot better afterwards!
Looking for snacks.
Classic sayings on the wall…
Street photo, as we headed back.
Back at the airBnb, it was time to rest tired legs for a bit.
The TV channel that came up by default played nothing but this show, over and over again!
Time for some Korean BBQ!
Our food was delivered by a robot!
Proof I was there!
Good stuff!
The door to the kitchen was robot-accessible!
Hello again!
The younger ones shedding a bit of post-dinner energy outside.
Whee!!
Tuesday 12 August 2025
Another nice day!
Emma patiently waiting for some of us to try on some clothes.
Flash from the past?
Next on the shopping list were bikes for the twosome. These new ones were all pretty pricey.
Thinking hard.
Pizza for dinner after a day of lazy shopping.
Greenery on the main street.
Moving-in presents unwrapped!
Game-night starting as I drove off to the airport.
One of the bags played hard to find, so I had to wait a while for Finnur and Bjarki to emerge…
Two tired ones. Bjarki was particularly wiped out as his last final had been earlier in the day.
We made it back in one piece, and finally everyone was present and accounted for!
