Is, of course, a fairy-tale by H C Andersen and fairly typical of the slightly saccharine and morally right-on tenor of his stories which I suspect makes them so popular with parents and Disney, while kids prefer the Grimm’s tales with nasty tortures, cannibalism and the like; but I digress. To celebrate the fact that old HC was famous and died in Copenhagen, a statue of the Little Mermaid was erected in 1913. Less than 100 years old and for most people the most famous sight in the city.
Visitors are urged to see the statue, and the publicity pictures conjure up the expectation of a proud monument guarding the entrance of the busy harbour.
Well I was reminded again, while watching disappointed tourists this afternoon, that the Little Mermaid is the most disappointing spectacle in town (especially now the Museum Erotica has closed). There are many very good reasons to visit Copenhagen and much to see, but the Mermaid is not one of them: the key part of the name is Little, and so close to shore that it can be climbed without getting one’s feet wet.
So go to Copenhagen, enjoy the city, wince at the price of beer, but don’t waste precious time there fighting the crowds to see the Mermaid; life is too short for this particular attraction.
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Interesting article, thanks for posting
Comment by Irwin November 23, 2009 @ 3:42 am