Leaving Belgium Monday evening we sailed all night, the
entire next day and night, and docked in Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday morning
about 7:00 a.m. (My understanding is that the ship travels at
about 25 miles per hour and it was a distance of 652 nautical miles.)
Denmark is a country that encompasses roughly 400 islands,
total land mass about twice the size of Massachusetts, with a population of 5.5
million people. Their national language
is Danish but children begin learning English in the first grade and another
language (of their choice) in the higher grades. School is mandatory through the ninth grade
and after that it’s working toward a specific career, trade school or
university. All education through
doctoral degrees is free. Denmark has what
they call a welfare society with which they are very pleased even though it
makes their tax rate around 50%. Their
saying is “Do what you can. Get what you
need.” The Protestant-Lutheran Church is
the state church of Denmark and is supported by the state.
Denmark has a monarchy.
Queen Margrethe succeeded her husband upon his death. With the words, “The King is dead, long live
the Queen,” being spoken three times, she became queen of Denmark forty years
ago.
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, located on the largest
of the islands, Sjaelland.
Denmark's most famous son is Hans Christian Andersen. A main thoroughfare is named after him and “The Little Mermaid” stands at the entrance of the
harbor as a tribute to his story of the same name. (Just be advised that his
story did not end as Disney’s did. The
mermaid actually finished her life as a frog at the bottom of the ocean.)
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