Scandinavia 19 Changing of the guard

At noon we witnessed the changing of the guard, a process which takes quite a while. Sometimes it wasn’t possible for us to tell if anything was happening. The formal guards wear the big black hats and look a lot like Buckingham Palace guards. There were one or two outside each of the 4 palace buildings, but a much larger contingent (about 40) were involved in the guard changing.
 There seems to be a lot of construction in Copenhagen involved with improving/expanding the metro. Near the Amalienborg Palaces is a construction fence around the side of the nearby church. Perhaps it has been adopted by an art school?
There were a series of foam panels covering the fence with a depiction of a colonnade or aqueduct with pictures in each of the arches. All were in a classical style, but some had modern anachronisms, such as the flying saucer in this idyllic scene. Another had a harbor scene with sailing ships and a helicopter and submarine added.
(to be continued)

Scandinavia 18 Danish royal family

 There seem to be some interesting museums to visit, and Tivoli Gardens is practically next door. Lots of bikes on the streets, including many with a compartment on the front for children, packages, etc. Bike lanes on almost all streets, and I have to remember to stay on the sidewalks and not in the bike lanes. The bike lanes tend to be asphalt, and the sidewalks are often cobblestones, and we are VERY tired of walking on cobblestones.
There are enough bikes in Copenhagen that bike congestion and tie-ups seem more common than automobile tie-ups.

 Today we took a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus to Amalienborg Palace. Actually, it is a complex of 4 palaces in a diamond shape. One is occupied by the queen when she is in town, one by the Crown Prince, one is for guests, and the 4th is part museum and part a residence for another member of the royal family.
   The museum was interesting. Many of the rooms are as they were when a particular person occupied them. Mostly very cluttered with art, photos, etc. The Danish royal family seem to be related to all the other royal families of Europe. And I think most of the kings have been named either Frederick or Christian. Nowadays the monarch (currently a queen) does not get involved in politics. It is mostly a ceremonial position, and the royal family also tries to be accessible to the people. There is evidently a debate among the Danes about the cost/sense of maintaining a monarchy, but that seemed to be an internal
Danish debate not to be discussed with outsiders — particularly not in the royal residences.
(to be continued)