Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens opened August 15, 1843. It is the second oldest amusement park in the world, the other being just ten kilometers north in Dyrehavsbakken. The 21-acre park is beautifully landscaped with fountains and flower beds, more than 111.000 custom-designed lights to illuminate the park at night and more than 400.000 colorful flowers. It also has the world's oldest roller coaster and tallest carousel.

We have read that the people of Denmark are the happiest in the world, not coincidentally they also have the highest level of income equality and the country is frequently ranked as the least corrupt country in the world.

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Hans Christian Andersen wrote "The Little Mermaid" in 1836. In 1909, greatly affected by Hans Beck's and Fini Henriques' ballet of the story, Carl Jacobsen (founder of the Carslberg brewery) commissioned the Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create this four-foot-tall statue that has graced in the harbor of Langelinje since 1913.

Since Langelinje is where the cruse ships now tie up, and since Disney made her famous beyond balletomanes and readers of 19th century children's stories, she is arguably the most popular tourist attraction in Denmark.

Moving nonetheless; if that is not an oxymoronic comment on a a statue.

In 1961 a young Danish girl joined Gayle's family as an AFS exchange student. The next year, Gayle went to Denmark to visit Elsebeth who now felt like her sister. When I married Gayle, I got to join the family, too.

Here Elsebeth and her husband Peter walk toward the sea from their cottage in Liegaard.

Gamelvye is a museum of vernacular architecture in Copenhagen.

This house in Gamelvye seems like it might have some Norwegian heritage in the family.

The curtain of the Chinese style Pantomimeteatret (Pantomime Theater) is a peacock's tail which opens by folding down.

Since 1874, the theatre has been the home of Italian pantomimes, introduced in Denmark by the Italian Giuseppe Casorti. Based on the Italian Commedia dell'Arte, the cast includes the characters Cassander (the old father), Columbine (his beautiful daughter), Harlequin (her lover) and the stupid servant Pierrot.

For a peek at Pierrot at lunch, see http://smu.gs/14sj7VN

Christiansborg Palace is the only government building in the world to hold all three branches of government.

It also includes a Royal Reception Room, Royal Chapel and stables used by the constitutional monarchy.

The progenitor of the current royal family Prince Christian of Glücksborg was known in the 19th century as the Father-in-Law of Europe after the marriages of his offspring connected the House of Glücksborg to most of the reigning families.

Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens opened August 15, 1843. It is the second oldest amusement park in the world, the other being just ten kilometers north in Dyrehavsbakken.

The 21-acre park is beautifully landscaped with fountains and flower beds, more than 111.000 custom-designed lights to illuminate the park at night and more than 400.000 colorful flowers.

It also has the world's oldest roller coaster and tallest carousel.