For our first full day in Copenhagen, Casper decided to take us all, (Grasia, her mother and brother, Ellen, and me), to Hamlet’s castle in Kronborg. We hopped on a train and headed north. The castle is located at the narrowest part of the channel between Denmark and Sweden. This so that the king could collect taxes from all ships passing through.
We had the added benefit of actors playing the parts of Hamlet once we arrived.
Polonius and Ophelia
King Claudius and Queen Gertrude
Swordfight between Laertes and Hamlet. Something was rotten in the state of Denmark.
Polonius and Hamlet
We toured the castle which was quite impressive. Every summer they produce Hamlet here. There was a picture gallery of the various actors and actresses. This included Richard Burton, John Gielgud, Lawrence Olivier, Janet Leigh, Jude Law, and many more famous actors.
One of the more unique parts for me were the carvings on the pews in the chapel. Here are a few –
Click on any picture for the slideshow mode –
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- Train station in Kronborg
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- Written on wall on the way to the bathrooms in our restaurant
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- Main street in Kronborg
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- Casper, Ignacio, Maricella, and Grasia
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- Church tower
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- Table cover – one of two surviving in Europe – taken as spoils of war by Sweden, on loan to the castle
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- Swan in harbor
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- That’s Sweden across the water
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- Barracks outside the castle
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- Ellen and Steve in front of fish made from garbage that has been recycled
