91st DGINS Conference 2005

Copenhagen:

Copenhagen sites on the eastern coast of Denmark's largest island, Zealand (Sjælland). It was a fishing village until the middle of the 12th century when it grew in importance after coming into the possession of Archbishop Absalon, who fortified it in 1167. Archbishop Absalon was at that time adviser of King Valdemar the first. Copenhagen has been the capital of Denmark for more than 600 years and it is the seat of the nation's government and home to the royal family.

Since the summer of 2000, the cities of Copenhagen and Malmø (Sweden's third largest city) have been connected by a bridge/tunnel, which allows both rail and road passengers to cross. The opening of the Bridge heralded the dawn of a new spirit of co-operation within what is now known as the Øresund Region (encompassing Copenhagen, Malmö and their surrounding regions).

Today, Copenhagen is home to app. 1.7 million people and flourishing as a centre of culture and the arts.

The weather in Copenhagen:

http://www.dmi.dk/eng/index/forecasts/forecast_for_copenhagen_and_zealand.htm

Usefull links for visitors to Copenhagen
www.visitcopenhagen.dk/show.asp?id=1
www.aok.dk/section/english
www.visitdenmark.com
www.mermaidsculpture.dk/index_uk.html
http://www.cphpost.dk/

Currency calculator
Danish Kroner is Denmarks national currency. The link inserted below is for your convenience to calculate from your local currency to Danish kroner and from any other currency to another currency.

www.euroinvestor.co.uk/currency

The little Mermaid at Langelinie Pier:

The little Mermaid sitting at Langelinie in Copenhagen, is one of Denmark's biggest tourist attractions and the inspiration for the official 91st DGINS Conference logo.

The sculpture was erected in 1913, and has since then been the symbol of Denmark. Like the Eiffel tower in Paris and the statue of liberty in New York both have been very important for the two cities, so has the Little Mermaid been important for Copenhagen.
It is easy to see that The Little Mermaid is an important lady! More than one million people visit the Mermaid every year. Thousands of post cards and, t-shirts and other souvenirs are sold to tourists. "She is so small", says most people seeing The Little mermaid for the first time. And she is. Only 1.25 meter (approx 4 feet) high, she is very small, sitting on her rock and looking at the water at Langelinie.
Like a real mermaid, she is half human half fish. With naked breasts and fish tail, she is in her true element when the waves hits her rock. Maybe she is dreaming about leaving the big sea to find her Prince and an immortal soul.

Hans Christian Andersen first published the beloved fairy tale of The Little Mermaid in 1837.

It is the story of the Little Mermaid who saves the life of a shipwrecked prince and sets off on a perilous quest to win his love. The price she pays is dear. To become human she must give up her lovely voice as well as her mermaid's tail, and if the prince should wed another, she will turn into foam on the waves and disappear forever ...

Hans Christian Andersen:

H C Andersen This year Denmark celebrates the bicentenary of our world famous poet and fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875).
In his lifetime, he wrote more than one hundred and fifty fairy tales, and his stories have been translated into over 100 languages.
Copenhagen is full of places that are connected to his name.
Among these is the statue of the Little Mermaid situated at Langelinie Pier.
The statue was erected in honor of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale by the same name.
The statue is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Denmark and one of the most photographed statues in the world.

Tivoli:

Tivoli by night Tivoli dates back to 1843, when Denmark was still an absolute monarchy, and Copenhagen was still a fortified city with tall ramparts and a deep moat surrounding the capital.
120,000 people lived within these too tight boundaries.
It is no wonder, that Tivoli gained instant success when the magic gardens opened its gates to a world of exotic designs and elegant entertainment.
Today Tivoli is Denmark's biggest tourist attraction with approx 4 million visitors per year.
Though Tivoli has 24 rides or amusements, there is so much more to the gardens.
The park-like scenery is an attraction in itself.