What do you do on your final day in a place when you find yourself a solo traveller again… you go exploring some more of course. Waking a little later than I would have liked the plans were to visit Rosenborg Castle and make my way to the Carlsberg Brewery. Who am I to deny a visit to a brewery??
With my late start already putting me behind I rushed off hoping to have enough time to make it to the Castle and then the brewery after lunch. At least that was the plan until I walked through the gate at Rosenborg Castle and wandered about. Now this isn’t a big castle, but with the beautiful gardens that surrounded it and the things to see inside, it was clear even I wouldn’t make it to a brewery.
I think the most interesting thing to see at the castle besides the awesome painting that changes depending on what angle you look at it from (see even back in the day this was cool) was the crown jewels they store down under the castle in the treasury.
The crowns and swords are just beautiful. Then when you stop to think that people actually used them back in the day it really makes it amazing. I was itching to grab one of the swords and wield it around like I knew what I was doing. Obviously that would have landed me in the hands of the military that guard the place, but hey a guy can dream right???
Finally leaving the castle I realised that I was never going to make the brewery, so with a heavy heart (and dry mouth) I headed into town to get one last look at Copenhagen town before I was to leave the next day. Sadly after having roamed the streets with Cailin for the last two days I just couldn’t get into exploring so after a short time I made my way home for a bout of laundry and relaxing before having to be up early for my train to Stockholm.
As always thought, your day is never over when your living the hostel life. While chilling in the hostel with a beer on my last night I met Caitlin from Tennessee. She was only in town for a day or two and was trying to work out how to get to her train the next morning. Lucky for her or maybe me I was off to my train at the same time so after a bit of a chat I organised to meet her in the morning and travel to the train station together.
It’s funny but I’ve never been the type of guy to just strike up conversation with a random stranger, but after having seen a couple of hostels now I will pretty much talk to anybody that even looks in my direction. It’s one asset I’m happy to have gained as otherwise I’d never have met Caitlin and would have had to drink my final beer in Copenhagen alone.
That’s so great that you feel more comfortable talking with strangers now. Some of my best friends were strangers that I just struck up a conversation with at some random place. 🙂
Hey Andi, I’m am so much more confident talking to people than I sued to be. It’s made for some funny and horrible encounters but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Given your friendliness on Twitter alone I find it hard to believe that you even hesitated talking to people in the beginning.
Ah Ayngelina, it’s easier to talk to people when your hiding behind a keyboard.
The castle looks amazing! I think that is what I am hoping to gain from travelling too! That I will be confident enough to talk to anyone!
Hey Kirty, the castle was really cool and the crowns etc that they had in the treasury were just amazing. I love that stuff so to see it in person was well worth the visit there.
See, this is the thing I love about solo travel. You wind up stepping outside your comfort zone and becoming more extroverted. I was like you, Chris, I was never one to strike up conversations with strangers until I started traveling solo. It’s such a growth experience.
Hi Gray, when your travelling solo you have no choice but to step out of your comfort zone. I think that by taking the step to solo travel, everything else afterwards is easy.
It only took the first couple of days in my hostel in Paris to learn that the only way to survive and enjoy my trip was to open my mouth and say Hi to the person next to me. Haven’t looked back since.
Yes! I’m not the world’s bravest traveler, but for someone who is shy, just choosing to travel solo in the first place is a brave step.
You forgot to mention how much you missed me and how sad you were that I was gone!! 🙂
You forgot to mention how much you missed me or how sad you were that I was gone!! 🙂