Katfish Kapers: Arctic Adventure Part 6 - Copenhagen odd sea mammals

Odd title, but "Coping in Copenhagen" just seemed too obvious (and stupid (yeah, like this is a really high brow blog)). Copenhagen could be called the land of blonds and more blonds. Loved walking around there (if it wasn't for my Tilley bush hat and camera I'd fit right in). Copenhagen (from a tourist standpoint) is most famous for a statue. This goofy thing is as iconic as the Statue of Liberty in NY, or Christ the Redeemer in Rio. It's incredibly famous, and yet it's only 4 feet tall.

THIS isn't it (but I like it)

It's just a couple hundred yards from her more famous little sister

The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid has been on my bucket list for years.

It's always amusing to see how much the role of alcohol plays in the history and shaping of Europe. In 1904, Carl Jacobson (son of the founder of Carlsberg beer), was fascinated by the character played by the ballerina Ellen Price. Little Ellen danced the role of the Little Mermaid in the Copenhagen Royal Theater production of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid". If you're thinking of Disney's "Little Mermaid" - forget about it. The real Anderson fairy tale is quite dark. Carl was so taken with the character that he commissioned the famous sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create a bronze statue. But, he ran into problems. Look closely at the statue. This isn't the body of a 16 year ballerina. The body is actually modeled after Edvard's wife, Eline Eriksen.

Only the head is modeled after Ellen Price

I still have no idea exactly what this is. Beach towel?

For some reason, the statue seems to attract all the political nuts and vandals in the area.

(These are just tourists)

Since it's so close to shore, it is easy to get to. Over the years her head has been chopped off (twice), her arms have sawn off (twice). She was even blown up in 2003. In 2004 someone draped her in a burka (supposedly in protest of Turkey's application to join the EU). There are 13 copies of her around the world. Due to copyright (which doesn't expire until 2029 - 70 years after the death of Ervard) not all of the statues are exact.

This is The Girl in a Wetsuit in Vancover
By Bobanny - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2513754

Copenhagen has several statues of note. This is the Gefion Fountain:

Once again, thanks to a Carlsberg beer money donation. The statue was sculpted in 1897

It's very well done, but what makes it stand out as screwy is the story it depicts. It's a representation of the mythical story of the creation of the land Copenhagen occupies. In a 9th century poem the king of Sweden promises the Norse goddess Gefjun (good luck with that pronunciation) all the territory she could plow in one night. She turned her 4 sons into oxen (thanks ma! 'preciate it) and went to work.

The Danish Royal Court also has a really funny statue.

Drone photo of the Royal grounds (note the statue in the middle of the main square). Each of the 4 buildings are palaces that house various family members of Queen Margrethe II.

The statue is of King Frederic the V:

Here's the problem. That isn't what he really looked like. It's been speculated that King Freddy was the inspiration for the character Lord Faraquaad

in the Dreamworks movie Shrek.

In the movie, Lord Faraquaad is actually quite short.

See the legs still on the horse?

So was King Fred. Makes you wonder if his voice sounded like this guy's:

John Lithgow

I fear for the Royal grounds (Amalienborg). Here's the problem. The royal guards:

Everyday working uniform ("you eyeballin me boy?")

Formal headgear (hibernating bear cub)
By Wolfgang Sauber - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9509059

are good guys. They're real soldiers picked for their height and their ability to shout (don't approach the palace too closely or you'll quickly find out just how loud these guys can be). The problem is that the royal grounds, while guarded, aren't blocked off to traffic. The royals refused to allow street barriers to be erected. Anyone can just drive through royal grounds. All it takes is one of these loaded up with explosives:

and some nut case and you wind up with this:

Oklahoma City bombing in 1995

Keep in mind that Danish F-16's are currently participating with the coalition forces in Syria.

Love the spire on top of the rotunda in the square:

This ones caps a different building

When this structure across the harbor from downtown Helsinki is completed it will be difficult to believe what it really is.

This will be a waste to power plant and it's ground breaking. The curving, sloping roof is deliberate. In winter it will function as a snowboard run. That's way cool, but what will put the power-plant on the world map is the smoke ring blowing chimney you see under construction on the right side of the building. No kidding. The world's first steam ring generator will puff out a huge ring every time a ton of CO2 is emitted by the plant (which burns trash to generate electricity). The idea is to remind residents of their carbon footprint.