While it has its charm, the Little Mermaid statue isn’t exactly a great marvel. To start with, it’s pretty small, 4ft to be exact, and sits at the waterside of a busy promenade in Langelinie, Copenhagen. That hasn’t stopped the buzz one bit.
Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid statue is swarming with tourists all moving about trying to get a snap of the famous mermaid. It’s also been a target of some nasty vandalism so it doesn’t always look its best. Over the areas, the poor statue has had its limps removed, and even once its’ head.
Reality: Niagra Falls U.S/Canada Border
That being said. As fantastic as it might be to think about, it is, in essence, countless tons of water from about 180ft just pummeling into a lake. That's not exactly a soft sprinkle. The force of the water can create a major splash, not to mention mountains winds blowing water in all directions.
If you're trying to catch a glimpse of the falls you might end up getting pretty soaked. Viewers wear funny looking blue raincoats so everyone there kind of just looks like smurfs. What did you expect? It is really all about splashing water.
Fantasy: Little Mermaid statue, Copenhagen
Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark is known to be a beautiful and idyllic city. It's no surprise that it is home to the famous mermaid statue - a symbol of the city's rare beauty. Seems fitting. The statue was inspired by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen who created the famous fairytale, you guessed it, The Little Mermaid.
The statue is incredibly iconic and has over the years attracted millions of tourists to the city.
Fantasy: Manneken Pis, Brussels
This must-see attraction in Brussels, Belgium has created quite the splash (pun intended). The statue, while still small is a must-see for anyone visiting Brussels. It captures the essence of the city's sense of humor and playful spirit and is a landmark in the bustling city center.
The bronze sculpture, as the name implies depicts a naked little boy urinating into a fountain's basin. The artist who created it, Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder put in place in the year 1618 or 1619. Ever since it has been a Belgian landmark.
Reality: Manneken Pis, Brussels
The statue is really in the corner of a building in the bustling city of Brussels, so, while it is technically a landmark it doesn't really pop out at first glance. You will probably first spot the hundreds of tourists crowding the little thing with selfie sticks before you see the actual statue itself.
At the end of the day, it is a sculpture of a little boy urinating into a fountain. It may be culturally symbolic, but what you see is what you get. And it's not exactly pretty. That's Belgium for you we suppose.