2nd of August 2026 - Nyhavn, The Little Mermaid and Christiansborg Palace

Today we walked around Copenhagen which is a beautiful city with a lovely harbour with old ships, many squares, fountains and canals.

 

Our walking tour started with Nyhavn which is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century townhouses, bars, cafes and restaurants. The canal harbours many historical wooden ships.  We stopped for croissants and coffee in the café Nyhavn 17.

 

We then walked through the square Amalienborg Slotsplads with the equestrian statue of King Frederick V at its centre.  The square is in front of Amalienborg Palace, the official residence of the Danish royal family.

Frederik’s Church with its green dome is more commonly known as The Marble Church (Marmorkirken).

 

The Gefion Fountain (Gefionspringvandet) depicts the Norse goddess Gefion driving a chariot pulled by oxen, symbolizing the myth in which she carved the island of Zealand (where Copenhagen sits) out of Sweden.  This fountain leads to a promenade along the waterfront at Langelinie to reach The Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue) which is a bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen depicting a mermaid becoming human.

 

After stopping for refreshments at the Admiral Hotel on the waterfront we then went up the tower at Christiansborg Palace for views over the city, thank goodness there were lifts.

 

The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is one of Copenhagen’s most beautiful museums.  We didn't have time to visit the museum however it is impressive architecturally.  It was founded by Carl Jacobsen, the son of the Carlsberg Brewery founder.

 

This sculpture is “The Genetically Modified Paradise” by Danish artist Bjørn Nørgaard which is part of Nørgaard’s series exploring humanity’s relationship with science, ethics, and creation.  The figures, human forms with animal heads, symbolize genetic manipulation and the blurred boundaries between nature and technology.  The raised hand and busts above them add a sense of judgment or reflection, inviting viewers to think about moral responsibility in scientific progress.

 

In the evening we went back to Nyhavn for dinner where we found a delightfully quirky old restaurant that did excellent fish and seafood.

 

We then went for peach Bellinis in the Villa Copenhagen hotel housed in Copenhagen’s former Central Post & Telegraph Office, a 1912 landmark, before walking back to our hotel past the Tivoli Gardens.

1st of August 2026 - Arrival in Copenhagen

I flew to Copenhagen today with my friend Ruth to join a week's Baltic cruise on the 4th of August before ending my holiday with a couple of nights in Stockholm.

After a long day travelling we then celebrated our arrival in Copenhagen with a cocktail or two in our hotel bar,

18th of March 2026 - Mijas Pueblo

Today is my last day staying in Mijas as I fly home tomorrow.  I strolled up into the village to take some final pictures.

I do not normally take photos of WCs however was intrigued by the mosaics on the wall depicting the world.

My last lunch was in a tapas bar where I finally managed to get some calamari which was washed down with a very pleasant glass of rosé wine.

17th of March 2026 - Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone mountain 426 m (1,398 ft) high dominating the western entrance to the Mediterranean Sea located within the British territory of Gibraltar.

The desalination waterfall in Gibraltar is a result of Gibraltar's desalination plant where excess water cascades down the rocky terrain creating a waterfall effect.  Gibraltar's supply of drinking water comes entirely from desalination with a separate supply of saltwater for sanitary purposes.

We visited the southernmost tip of Gibraltar.  From here we could see Africa across the Strait of Gibraltar.  It was extremely windy and we were close to being bowled over.

We then visited St. Michael’s Cave with its dramatic stalactites and lighting.  To be honest I preferred seeing the cave when the lighting had more natural colours.

On our way back down we stopped at the Queen’s Balcony which is where Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh stood during their visit to the Rock in 1954.  This gave us a view of the bay of Gibraltar and a chance to meet the Barbary Macaques who roam freely across the upper part of the rock.

The Moorish Castle is a medieval fortress perched high on the Rock of Gibraltar, dominated by its massive Tower of Homage, which still stands as one of the most visible symbols of the territory’s long Islamic period.

16th of March 2026 - Frigiliana and Nerja

Our day started with a visit to the very pretty town of Frigiliana sitting high in the Sierra de Tejeda mountain range overlooking the coastal town of Nerja.  Frigiliana is a whitewashed town with views over the Mediterranean Sea and the spectacular surrounding mountains.

After visiting Frigiliana we descended to the old fishing town of Nerja with cobbled streets and sandy beaches.  I had a most enjoyable paella for lunch.

15th of March 2026 - Granada and Alhambra Palace

Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains however is only one hour by car from the Mediterranean coast.

 

Granada is best known for the majestic hilltop stronghold of Alhambra consisting of ornately decorated palaces, robust fortifications and graceful gardens.  It is a significant achievement of Islamic architecture and later Renaissance influence.  Alhambra was originally begun in 1238 by Muhammad I Ibn al‑Ahmar, founder of the Nasrid dynasty; it has evolved over centuries into a self‑contained royal city with mosques, baths, workshops, and lush gardens.  We walked through the ornately stuccoed rooms of the palace and courtyards with marble fountains.  After the Christian Reconquista in 1492, the site became the royal court of Ferdinand and Isabella.  Today, the Alhambra stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Spain’s most visited cultural treasures.

 There was a lovely view of Granada from Alhambra.