Easter Holiday Trip

After a tiresome week, packed with endless submissions and exams, the completion of the Corporate Finance exam finally marked the onset of a week-long Easter holiday. With no concrete plans to travel around during this spring holiday, I decide to explore the Danish museums and country sides with friends from Arrhus School of Business. The remaining days would then be lots of eating and sleeping which I have been deprived thus far.

Visit to Elsinore Castle:
Before my lethargic plan of emulating a piggy lifestyle, we start our exploration with a visit to the legendary Kronborg Castle aka Elsinore Castle aka Hamlet's Castle. Elsinore Castle became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in year 2000.

Elsinore Castle is an elegant Renaissance castle and monumental military fortress, surrounded by major fortifications. Known all over the world from Shakespeare's Hamlet, it is also the most famous castle in Denmark.

An abstract from the Hamlet goes on as...."On a dark winter night outside Elsinore Castle in Denmark, an officer named Bernardo comes to relieve the watchman Francisco. In the heavy darkness, the men cannot see each other. Bernardo hears a footstep near him and cries, “Who’s there?” After both men ensure that the other is also a watchman, they relax."

The play reminds me of my days at Sherubtse College, Kanglung studying in the XII standard, studying Hamlet under the shadowy clock tower which to an extent resembled the imaginary tower in the play. Never did i expect that after more than a decade, my fate would bring me to the very castle described in the play. I doubt if i was a member of the Danish infantry in my previous life guarding the castle of Elsinore in the dark winter night. Whatever be it, the trip to the castle is very much a journey down the memory lane.

Visit to Rosenborg Castle:
The castle was originally built as a country summerhouse in 1606 and is an example of Christian IV's many architectural projects. It was built in the Dutch Renaissance style, typical of Danish buildings during this period, and has been expanded several times, finally evolving into its present condition by the year 1624.

Visit to Amalienborg Palace:
Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish royal family, and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of four identical classifying palace facades around an octagonal courtyard; in the centre of the square is a monumental equestrian statue of Amalienborg's founder, King Frederick V. Amalienborg was originally built for four noble families; however, when Christiansborg Palace burnt down on 26 February 1794, the royal family bought the palaces and moved in. Over the years various kings and their families have resided in the four different palaces.

Visit to Carlsberg Museum:
The Carlsberg brewery was established in 1847 at Valby on the edge of Copenhagen and became one of the city’s largest industrial establishment. The earliest parts of the brewery (Gamle Carlsberg) have been restored as a museum, where visitors can see equipment used in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The former home of Carl Jacobsen, founder of the company, adjoins the brewery, and forms part of the museum.

Nothing more was soothing than a gulp of chilled carlsberg beer right at the brewery after hours of walking down the museum hall with thirsty throat. And finally, as hinted earlier, i switch onto a semi-hibernation mode for about three days until we resume the fifth Term.