She has a wistful and pensive face, sad, unsmiling. Her small curved body perches above a rock next to the shoreline as she looks out to sea. Her legs end with hybrid feet over fishtail. Tourists smile and take turns taking pictures in front of her, oblivious to her inner tumult.
She is the Little Mermaid immortalized by Hans Christian Andersen, sculpted by Edvard Erichsen. A gift to Copenhagen in 1913 by brewer Carl Jacobsen of Carlsberg Breweries.
After hours on the road and crossing two long bridges in Denmark, I arrive on the island, Zealand. After crossing to the other side of Zealand, I reach the outskirts of the capital. The straight, wide and endless road has a modern and industrial look, not exactly what I expect. A long time afterwards, I reach the heart of Copenhagen, the old city luxuriating in fairy tale weather.
The Danes speak good English. One theory is that people of minor languages speak major languages well. Signs bear the letter "ae" attached like siamese twins. Kobenhavn is spelled with a diagonal slash over its “o.”
Exploring the city on foot, I learn to look closely at the amusing traffic walking lights. Each is different from the other. For example, one green light shows a man with a crown on his head, while another is skipping rope, and still another has puffy bell-bottom pants.
Parking is difficult and only free on weekends at certain times. There are bicycle stations though. For 1 euro I release a bike which shall later be returned to any bicycle station. A trisikad is also available. It looks like an egg of dinosaurian proportions lying on its side. The driver sits inside the narrow end on one wheel as the two passengers sit within the broad end on two wheels.
With the aid of a city map, I watch for numerous detailed architecture counted in age by the centuries! Two of them are the Train Station, and the Town Hall. The latter has loudspeakers in the square for shows and performances.

Right next to the Town Hall is Frederiksberggade, the entrance to a section of cobblestones roads. My head turn from side to side and looking up, I see Hermes, launching from the roof of an old building with head and feet wings spread. Another special building is the Round Tower which is as well-loved by the Danes as the Little Mermaid. A spiral ramp leads to the top for a view of the city and at night a view of the heavens.
The width of these historical cobblestone roads was never widened to accommodate cars. Thus, it has evolved into a pedestrian area of specialty shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. Today it is a major tourist area with merry traffic on foot from morning till night. One these quaint roads, artists and art lovers daily converge. Street performers play on saxophones, violins, flutes, and the piano! Painters add deeper dimensions to their canvasses. Fire jugglers draw appreciative exclamations as well as laughter.
Since the pedestrian section is also residential, police cars quietly check that the festive crowds stay within cafes and bars after 10 pm. This is the chance for stargazers and moonwatchers to enjoy the brilliant sky in silence.
The Danes’ strong sense of history is evident all over Copenhagen. The former royal residence, Christianborg, now serves as the House of Danish parliament. Tours are conducted in several languages. In the summer the crowd may enter the assembly hall and sit on a minister’s seat.
Another former royal residence is Rosenberg. The garden is now a public park of trees, hedges, and rose gardens. People come to relax, play ball or sunbathe on the lawn. A bridge over the moat leads to Rosenberg Castle. It was built as a hunting castle 1606-1617. Eventually, it became the favorite residence of King Christian IV. Its rooms can be viewed including the Silver Lion Throne Room (named after its lifesize silver lions) and the private quarters of the king and queen.
The Rosenberg treasures are kept in the vaulted cellar. There are three