Leg-godt (Play Well)
Hello and welcome back to this new blog where I talk about my recent (well not so recent now) trip to Denmark. I took another solo trip to the beautiful city of Copenhagen and then travelling across the country to a small village called Billund. The small village is the home of the small toy company called Lego.
I went travelling in September of 2023 which I found that it was a perfect time to go. The wether was beautiful and sunny, it wasn’t too warm and not too cold. The city of Copenhagen is a very walkable city and for those who haven’t visited I would highly recommend to visit the city. I was in the city for a day and half, on the full day I just walked around the city seeing all the sights especially the beautiful part called Nyhavn which you will see later on in the blog.
Firstly it started with the flight, I am very lucky that I can travel a lot with work so was able to scoop some business class tickets to Copenhagen from London Heathrow.
Is it just me or who doesn’t love a window seat??
Date-14th September 2023
Looking out of the window I captured one of the British Airways aircraft on pushback. Due to how the windows are on the plane they give this edgy look while I took this photo.
Date-14th September 2023
Date-14th September 2023
Taking off from runway 27L just to the right side I saw Heathrow looking smaller as my journey was beginning to Copenhagen. Looking down on Terminal 5C.
Date-14th September 2023
Now airborne as we have about 2 hour journey to Copenhagen. I know there isn’t much to look at while you are 36,000 feet in the air, but it is always beautiful to see the clouds and the outside sky.
Date-14th September 2023
Arriving into Copenhagen I made my way to the hotel and checked in. Once I placed my bags in the room I then headed out to soak in the city. I should point out that I have been to Copenhagen once back in 2016 with my family, that time it was during February so it was very cold. This time around it was very pleasant.
Located here is the tall ride located in Tivoli Gardens.
Date-14th September 2023
I do like taking pictures of flags and also having a bit of different perspective on how big and small something is.
Date-14th September 2023
Located here is the famous Koberhavns Radhus (City Hall). Sadly it was having some work done to the famous tower located on the building but I still remember this building when I first visited back in 2016.
Date-14th September 2023
The next morning I was up and ready to go for the exciting day ahead of me. There was going to be a lot of walking and pictures.
I started walking towards the river as I was going to be following that to the beautiful part of Copenhagen. The city is filled with so much colour, so much vibrance it just makes you feel happy.
Date-15th September 2023
Seeing the bike makes me think of my trip to Amsterdam and how I nearly got ran over by them most of my trip. Copenhagen isn’t much different as there is a lot of people who ride bikes which fair play to them as it’s a very flat city to ride around.
Date-15th September 2023
This also reminds me of Amsterdam with the canals. The water was very peaceful and also very blue as well. You can also see at the end of the canal some more colourful buildings which is just a little more of an insight of what’s to come as I continue my trip along the river.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
I will keep saying this to anyone, always look up wherever you are you never know what you can find. I love taking pictures of the top of buildings and seeing the intricate detail that they house.
Date-15th September 2023
I remember using this boat service the last time I visited the city. It took us along the city’s river toward the famous statue of the Little Mermaid.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
The Beauty of Nyhavn
This is one of my favourite places of all time, it is where I feel most relaxed and calm. The colours of the building are really bright and vibrant it just makes you feel very happy. I really wanted to keep the vibrate throughout the photos as you will now see…
Date-15th September 2023
This is in my category of favourite photos of all time. There is something I really love about this photo I think it’s the mixture of colours that really mix well together. The blue sky with the vibrant red from the house and that little white fluffy cloud just pepping through the hole.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
The vibrance of this part of the city is just insane and I don’t know anywhere else just like it. These photos and this place just means a lot to me as it’s just somewhere I like to come, relax and soak in the atmosphere. It looks like it’s a fishing canal but I didn’t see many people jumping on boats to do any fishing its more people sailing in and having a bite to eat.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
Everywhere you look in this beautiful place it’s just full of colour. I started to like the style of taking pictures straight on. I kind of taking my inspiration of Wes Anderson as he likes to do those straight on style films and photos.
Date-15th September 2023
My favourite photo of the whole trip, this nearly was my favourite photo of 2023 but it did make its way into the top 25 photos of all time. It beat the red house photo as shown above. Even the un-edited version was still breath taking. I just knew I had to add more vibrance and saturation to bring this photo to life. I came across this boat which was going to be my centre subject which was perfectly dead centre in the frame. I would have loved to see what this would have looked like as a long exposure and seeing the water smoother.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
As I was just about to leave the area of Nyhavn a guy turned up in his Mercedes. He jumped out sand wanted to take a picture of it in this beautiful location (I mean I don’t blame him). I was quick to jump on the opportunity myself. I have a passion for cars and this was a perfect backdrop for an iconic car company.
Date-15th September 2023
Later that evening I decided to head back to Nyhavn as I really just wanted to see the golden light hit through this famous part of the city. It didn’t disappoint. The sunlight was beautiful against the blue sky, like with the previous photos I wanted to boost the vibrance and saturation in the photo.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
Very similar to my favourite photo of the trip we find a very similar photo with a sailing boat as the centre subject with the beautiful colourful buildings as the backdrop. The contrast from what we saw earlier with how the light hit the buildings differently from then to now. It doesn’t lose all its colour but it doens’t have all the vibrance like we saw earlier.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
While I was sitting down I was just finding different angles and spotting what I could take a picture of. Something grabbed my eye which was this small Danish metal flag piece that was found on one of the boat’s docked on the side. I decided to make this a ‘hint of colour’
Date-15th September 2023
This photo took me a while to actually capture as there was always people walking in front of the sign. Every time I thought I had the shot… nope someone would walk infront of it… but I got there in the end.
Date-15th September 2023
The Beauty of the City
As we talked a bit about Nyhavn it’s time to head back into the city and show what else the city has to offer. We are about to see a very small statue that attracts a lot of people to it and trust me it's one of those things that you can easily miss…
Date-15th September 2023
Everywhere you look you will always come across some sort of boat, big, small, tall and long. In this photo I got down low to ground level to be able to capture this sailing boat from a ground perspective.
Date-15th September 2023
Something I wasn’t expecting while I was walking along the river which was this massive container ship. Maersk is the biggest shipping company in the world and it is also Danish too. What I gathered while I walked passed was it was some sort of business convention. I am not going to lie I wish I could have gotten onto the ship and had a look around. I always find these types of ships very interesting and never seen one up close before.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
Tucked away behind the massive container ship is this little sea plane. I was pleasantly surprised as well to see this tucked away. I learnt that this is an air tour that takes you over the city. I said to myself I would consider doing this next time when I visit the city (which will definitely happen for sure)
Date-15th September 2023
A very small statue that can easily be missed but also its very important part of the city. The Little Mermaid is a famous character written by the famous author Hans Christian Andersen.
Date-15th September 2023
You won’t be able to see it in this photo but if I panned to the right there would be a whole bunch of people getting close to this statue. It is crazy to see how many people visit this small statue.
Date-15th September 2023
You can walk through the palace square where you can witness the royal guards marching up and down the square. As I have said the city is very peaceful but these soldiers are not to be messed with.
Date-15th September 2023
Located on the boxes that the soldier stand in are these hearts that are carved into them I found it very sweet that this city just keeps showing love.
Date-15th September 2023
This was another one of my favourite photos from the trip. It would have been in my top 10 photos of 2023 if that woman didn’t stand in the frame of this image. Now when I was editing I learnt about photoshops newest feature about generative fill (AI) which I did try to take the woman out which worked to an extent. This still doens’t take away from the fact this is a photo that I really do adore.
I am a big fan of the gaming series called Uncharted. Whenever I see this dome shaped building it think of Uncharted 4 for some reason.
Date-15th September 2023
I got up closer to the building and I used the 1.6x crop feature so I could capture this photo. I really like how this photo gets split, from the main building at the bottom and then leads to the sky above. I wanted to keep the greeny/blue saturation at the top of the building.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
Another perspective of the other side of the dome. Located around the side of it are some famous Danish people (I will be honest I don’t know who they are) but the detail of the building is just incredible to capture.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
What kind of looks like a Chinese or Japanese style building actually is a Danish coffee shop. Located on the corner of one of the streets in the city I was really fascinated by how cute and beautiful this coffee shop is.
Date-15th September 2023
Located around the city are these very beautiful gothic style towers. I really like the details of some of these towers that you can find. Most will have some sort of a clock face so if you need to know the time I am sure one of them will tell you the time.
Date-15th September 2023
Date-15th September 2023
As I was walking back to my hotel to just have a chilled afternoon to rest my feet after a lot of walking so far I noticed the tall ride located in Tivoli Gardens. I wasn’t too sure if you needed to pay to actually get into the gardens but I could see how popular it was by the activity inside.
Date-15th September 2023
The Adventure continues west…
After spending the full day in the city of Copenhagen the next morning I had rot get up early as I had to catch a coach that would take me across the country to the small town of Billund. The journey would take me three and half hours to get there. I would see some very beautiful scenery but it would also be a lot of motorway driving.
I had no idea what I was going to be seeing on my journey to Billund but my coach was full of people so I was wondering where everyone was going. Thinking back, I think I was the only one that got off at the Billund Legoland stop. I remember a lot of people getting off in a big town which I can’t remember the name of and also Billund Airport.
Date-16th September 2023
Date-16th September 2023
While on the route we would be crossing two massive bridges (which I didn’t know until I saw it). This bridge here was the biggest and longest bridge I have ever seen and crossed in my life. I thought that this bridge would never end, it just felt like it was going on for miles.
Date-16th September 2023
I feel like this picture doesn’t even give it justice for how tall these suspension bridge parts actually are. I had to say in my mind (as someone was next to me) wow that absolutely gigantic.
Date-16th September 2023
Date-16th September 2023
We was closely approaching Billund and this part of the journey reminded me part of the UK. I think it was so green and felt like I was driving through the New Forest.
Date-16th September 2023
Shrunken Down as a Minifigure
While I was in Billund I stayed in a really cute hotel which was in the centre of the town. It was directly opposite the iconic Lego House (also Museum too) which I was going to be visiting the next day. When I arrived into Billund I took a little walk around as the sun was shining and wanted to capture the quiet little town.
When I checked into my hotel which I can’t lie was a very beautiful hotel and felt very homely for the next few days while I was there.
Located across the hotel was this beautiful building, The Lego House was somewhere I was going to visit the next day. I just wanted to have a little wonder around the town to see what was around. They had a lot of things you need which I found very handy.
Date-16th September 2023
Date-16th September 2023
While walking I came across this beautiful tree located in the middle of the round-about. I called this the Billund tree (that’s not its actual name) but I felt like it was very centred in the town so felt like it was the centre piece.
Date-16th September 2023
Lego is a very open campus as I found out while I was walking around. Also as this was a Saturday when I arrived into Billund meant that no one was working. It did feel like I was in a deserted part where no one lived but as I found out on Monday it genuinely is just a quiet part of the world.
Date-16th September 2023
Not sure what sign was given to say that this was the HQ for Lego.. I think it was the grass around the area?? Nope I don’t think that’s it…
Date-16th September 2023
He’s thinking “if I freeze he may stop taking pictures”
Date-16th September 2023
Yes this is the main HQ that anyone can walk passed in Billund. It is quite an impressive building with some interesting archtecture. The mascot located outside the front is the iconic Lego Minifigure.
Date-16th September 2023
The building has some really cool bits to it such as you can see the most used brick the 2x4. That brick can be found all around the building, while the top part of it highlighted in yellow looks like a yellow brick sitting onto of another lego brick.
Date-16th September 2023
I talked about a photo earlier on in this blog about using Photoshop Generative Fill (Ai) to take out a person. I also did the same with this photo as well as I wanted to see what it would have been like but it really didn’t go well.
This is the main side of the Lego House and the interesting design that it has. Located outside are three 2x4 lego bricks in colours that can be found around the edge. These are the step colours on the edge of the house.
Date-16th September 2023
Located here is a piece of history. This is where Ole Kirk Christiansen created and founded the Lego company on the 10th August 1932. Some of you may have noticed the title of this blog, the Danish word ‘leg godt’ which means play well.
Date-16th September 2023
Date-16th September 2023
Pick up the Pieces and Build a Lego House
The next morning I took a trip over to the Lego House where I got to explore the beautiful attraction. There is so many beautiful models on show that have been built specifically for this attraction. There is a Lego shop where you can buy exclusive Lego House Lego sets. Located right at the bottom of the house is a museum which takes you though the history of Lego, there is also a massive segment which has quite a few old Lego sets throughout the years. I really was in a nerd moment as I got to see sets that I have never seen before in real life.
At the top of the massive Lego tree that extends from the bottom of the ground floor up to the top and located at the top is a crane that looks like its building more and more onto the tree. This is why I love Lego as the there is endless possibilities.
Date-17th September 2023
While you walk up and down the stairs you will see little dioramas of Lego scenes. This one particular caught my eye as I love space and have been very lucky to have visited the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. I had a bit of a nerd moment as I actually own the sets that were used in this diorama. I had a full on colour one that sadly couldn't let me post but I also did a version of ‘hint of colour’ which I focused on the blast off portion of the diorama.
Date-17th September 2023
Date-17th September 2023
The time and effort that goes into making something this impressive always surprises me. Lego has come a very long way and what people can do with the many plastic bricks that are avaliable is insane.
Date-17th September 2023
It’s all about looking at the little details in these beautiful dioramas. For example here you can see a little child minifigure building a Lego sandcastle but it looks like a Lego brick.
Date-17th September 2023
Date-17th September 2023
This is suppose to represent the iconic New York skyline photo when they were building the Empire State Building. I am concerned about why they are having there lunch up so high and also without some sort of harness…
Date-17th September 2023
When writing this blog the 2024 Euros competition is currently being played. I have always had a love for football as my Dad brought me up when I was very young and am a strong supporter of Fulham FC. Lego have made a few football sets but I am surprised they haven’t revisited this sport again as it’s really popular around the world.
Date-17th September 2023
Date-17th September 2023
Date-17th September 2023
Located at the basement was a gold mine and a true nerd place for me. There was so many amazing sets from both old and new. Some that are very rare and some that I have owned overtime.
Here we see the famous space men in there iconic coloured space suits. I always adored the older space theme and there logo as well.
Date-17th September 2023
A theme that I never had but I played a Lego game called Lego Chess which involved the Cowboys and Indians. I always really liked the style of the minifigures and the art for that went into the Indian faces.
Date-17th September 2023
Date-17th September 2023
‘You don’t know the power of the dark side”-Darth Vader
Date-17th September 2023
No this isn’t Indiana Jones, this is better than him. This is Johnny thunder, he was a mascot for the adventure theme for Lego. At Legoland Windsor I remember him being a very popular person around the park. I think my brother when he was younger had a minifigure of him.
Date-17th September 2023
This was a photo that was taken from top down. You would think it’s some sort of art work but this is the actual Lego House set (which can be purchased in the shop). This shows what the design of the Lego House actually looks like because from the ground you can’t see it all.
Date-17th September 2023
While I was visiting it was Disney’s 100th birthday and Lego made a collectable minifigure series. One of those characters included is my favourite character of all time which is Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. It was really interesting to see how the design process goes into making one of these cool minifigures.
Date-17th September 2023
Date-17th September 2023
At first glance it does look a bit trippy as you aren’t sure how the stairs are going. I really liked when I took this photo of the different layers that these stairs had. The yellow is actually foam so it’s really soft to sit on which is really great for kids to play on so they don’t hurt themselves.
Date-17th September 2023
The Original Park
The last day in Billund and in Denmark I took a trip to famous Legoland park. It was the first of the many Legoland parks that you can find around the world. I was very lucky to have worked for the Legoland in Windsor for a couple of years, so when I visited this park I had a little compare of the two parks. I will say now that the Legoland in Billund is much better than the one in Windsor. Luckily it was quiet and I got to go on rides throughout the day a few times.
My flight was in the evening that flew from the small little airport which I was very excited to be flying from.
I realised when I got to the main entrance of Legoland Billund is that I got there massively early (but as people know I always like to be early). I found this gap between the buses of the small Legoland Billund sign.
Date-18th September 2023
Located in the centre of the courtyard was a proud Danish flag peaking over the top of the Legoland Billund sign.
Date-18th September 2023
There was some really cool Lego structures located around the main courtyard and one of those is this Danish flag cluster. It was a really cool design of different size Danish flags put together. I think if I am correct there was a very exclusive set which someone owns which is a mini version of this sculpture.
Date-18th September 2023
This reminds me of our soldiers in the UK, the Coldstream Guards and there famous bearskin hats. I know this is the Danish version which look very similar. Sadly I don’t think they played any music or any movement happened at all.
Date-18th September 2023
The iconic and colourful Legoland Billund sign. Every Legoland park has a very similar design, it’s very playful and colourful which brings people in. I had only just realised when I was writing this segment that I captured the Danish flag in the little gap.
Date-18th September 2023
Date-18th September 2023
Legoland has some really good and fun rides that aren’t all just for the little kids. There is one ride which is designed for the older kids which I absolutely loved. This one above is another another one of my favourites. It makes you feel like you're soaring as an eagle.
Date-18th September 2023
Located in the centre of the park is a fun viewing tower. This was one of the original rides from when the park opened. You get a great view of the park, the surrounding areas such as the small town of Billund and also Billund airport is very close as well.
Date-18th September 2023
Date-18th September 2023
This ride has a bit of meaning to me, back when I worked at Legoland Windsor I used to work on a ride called Vikings River Splash. It was a ride that I worked on pretty much everyday (also if it opened as well). In Billund they have what I think is a much better Vikings River Splash. I really like the theme of vikings but lego haven’t visited that theme for a while and I hope they do also bring it back in the future.
Date-18th September 2023
I have been very fortunate that I have actually seen one of these space shuttles on the actual launchpad at NASA before its last ever mission to the space station. Seeing it in brick form is always very impressive and takes me back home as I have a set that is based off this.
I could sense when I was taking these types of pictures some people were like what on earth is he doing??
Ladies and gentlemen its called art and capturing the plastic brick…
Date-18th September 2023
5,4,3,2,1….
Date-18th September 2023
Time to head home…
Just like that my 5 day journey over Denmark has come to an end. I finished up at Legoland, went back to the hotel grabbed my suitcase and headed to the airport which was very cute. The airport isn’t very big but has everything you need. If you aren’t sick of Lego yet they actually have another Lego shop located on the airside of the airport which didn’t surprise me at the slightest.
This trip was a childhood trip of mine and have always wanted to visit the town of Billund. I really want to re-visit again either on my own or taking my brother as he loves Lego as much as I do.
Thank you for reading this blog, it was very relaxing trip away and now the countdown begins for my trip to California in 2024 which will be one of the best trips (I can already sense it)
I look forward to seeing you in the next blog!
