The best laid plans never quite turn out as one might imagine and today, no actually this whole week, has been just so. Having had a rather fraught and very adhoc past few days I was greatly looking forward to the arrival of my Mother this morning and with her the promise of a stolen few hours of peace and quiet. I had not yet ventured in to the city so far this holiday so I thought that it was perfect timing to make a visit to the National Museum right in the heart of the city centre whilst we had two sets of hands. The plan being I would introduce everyone to the map of the museum, arm them with sufficient kroner for sustenance and then slip quietly away for a couple of hours just to myself.
We have visited the museum before and spent a great deal of time on the lower floor where you can find some very early Nordic history. Exhibits that are thousands of years old, priceless but oh so tactile and tempting to the touch for inquisitive fingers. Today therefore we went higher up and today's weary priorities in order headed straight for the cafe.
I have had the Sunday brunch at the museum recommended to me more than once, so a greedy curiosity lead me over to the stylish and inviting seating area to take a look at the menu. Actually I was already sold on the decor, the menu was just a complete bonus. Scandinavian food incredibly well thought out and at a very reasonable price, I would be very happy to take a trip to the museum for the food alone. Once ordered at the bar the food was subsequently bought out to us by very friendly staff who seemed more than happy to ensure we received the best of everything. The food was indeed delicious and looked beautiful when delivered to the by now ravenous table guests. The children's menu didn't altogether tick the boxes for my boys, they were served a sausage alongside some potato salad and ketchup but I think the dishes were probably slightly more suited to an older palate. Undeterred they filled the gaps from the free bread basket whilst we finished our meals and then we were ready to go.
It would have been a wasted opportunity for me to slip out at this point once I realised I could take pictures for this blog so I tucked my escape plan within my jacket pocket for a later date and lead the way into some as yet unknown section of the museum.
Next time I will take one of the free guide maps as we found ourselves deeply embedded in the religious iconography and realistic life sized re-enactments of Jesus Christ's death, a tad heavy for the little chaps and being so unexpected we bounced from one piece to another without dwelling for too long on the more macabre exhibits. Then the littlest chap discovered how well the rooms echoed when one shouts at the top of ones voice. It was time to move on. Granny would have happily spent another hour of two in these rooms but it was not really the best place for even the most patient and now very loud echoing child so we headed back downstairs to the childrens museum.
Inside the children's wing, the museum curators have obviously put a lot of thought into opening up history for children and we found ourselves entering a 1900's playground busy with the sounds of break-time and full of children excitedly practicing walking on stilts. You can find a replica early classroom just past the playground so Granny, a school teacher of many years went straight to the teachers desk and sat down. She looked so at home I wondered exactly when it was she started teaching! School leads to Pakistan and viking boats via Morroco and other exciting adventures. All the exhibits are very hands on and can provide many happy hours of fun especially if willing parents enter into the spirit of things with some role play.
The museum really does provide a thorough overview of Scandinavian history, from the very early years of the vikings right the way through to the modern monarchy and if you have a few hours to spare there is much at the National Museum to absorb and learn from. As I said previously, it is worth a visit for the food alone.
After a very content four hours we left the museum in search of more refreshments and the chance to sit down and discuss all that we had seen. I might not have found the peace and quiet I had been hoping for at the start of the day but I did get to share some peaceful time with the children and that is quite something at the end of another wet school holiday week.
www.natmus.dk
We have visited the museum before and spent a great deal of time on the lower floor where you can find some very early Nordic history. Exhibits that are thousands of years old, priceless but oh so tactile and tempting to the touch for inquisitive fingers. Today therefore we went higher up and today's weary priorities in order headed straight for the cafe.
I have had the Sunday brunch at the museum recommended to me more than once, so a greedy curiosity lead me over to the stylish and inviting seating area to take a look at the menu. Actually I was already sold on the decor, the menu was just a complete bonus. Scandinavian food incredibly well thought out and at a very reasonable price, I would be very happy to take a trip to the museum for the food alone. Once ordered at the bar the food was subsequently bought out to us by very friendly staff who seemed more than happy to ensure we received the best of everything. The food was indeed delicious and looked beautiful when delivered to the by now ravenous table guests. The children's menu didn't altogether tick the boxes for my boys, they were served a sausage alongside some potato salad and ketchup but I think the dishes were probably slightly more suited to an older palate. Undeterred they filled the gaps from the free bread basket whilst we finished our meals and then we were ready to go.
It would have been a wasted opportunity for me to slip out at this point once I realised I could take pictures for this blog so I tucked my escape plan within my jacket pocket for a later date and lead the way into some as yet unknown section of the museum.
Next time I will take one of the free guide maps as we found ourselves deeply embedded in the religious iconography and realistic life sized re-enactments of Jesus Christ's death, a tad heavy for the little chaps and being so unexpected we bounced from one piece to another without dwelling for too long on the more macabre exhibits. Then the littlest chap discovered how well the rooms echoed when one shouts at the top of ones voice. It was time to move on. Granny would have happily spent another hour of two in these rooms but it was not really the best place for even the most patient and now very loud echoing child so we headed back downstairs to the childrens museum.
Inside the children's wing, the museum curators have obviously put a lot of thought into opening up history for children and we found ourselves entering a 1900's playground busy with the sounds of break-time and full of children excitedly practicing walking on stilts. You can find a replica early classroom just past the playground so Granny, a school teacher of many years went straight to the teachers desk and sat down. She looked so at home I wondered exactly when it was she started teaching! School leads to Pakistan and viking boats via Morroco and other exciting adventures. All the exhibits are very hands on and can provide many happy hours of fun especially if willing parents enter into the spirit of things with some role play.
The museum really does provide a thorough overview of Scandinavian history, from the very early years of the vikings right the way through to the modern monarchy and if you have a few hours to spare there is much at the National Museum to absorb and learn from. As I said previously, it is worth a visit for the food alone.
After a very content four hours we left the museum in search of more refreshments and the chance to sit down and discuss all that we had seen. I might not have found the peace and quiet I had been hoping for at the start of the day but I did get to share some peaceful time with the children and that is quite something at the end of another wet school holiday week.
www.natmus.dk
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