Travel – Page 3 – Travels with Ali

My A to Z Travel Challenge D is for Da Nang, Dalwallinu and Denmark

Da Nang, Vietnam

Da Nang, a coastal city in Central Vietnam is a place we’ve visited a few times as it’s relatively easy to fly to from Perth. Also the airport is very near the coast, which means you can be on the beach by lunchtime! The coastline stretches for 30 kilometres and has many resorts lining the road. Our first stay here was in a hotel not on the beach but across a very busy road and it seemed that we had chosen a spot very popular with the locals. When we went over for our first swim there was hardly an empty spot in the sea!

Da Nang is halfway between Ho Chi Minh City in the South and Hanoi in the North. It’s a good place to spend a few days before heading off to either Hue a few hours North or Hoi An in the South. In fact most hotels in Da Nang offer a shuttle service to Hoi An.

We caught a taxi to the Novotel in the city and took some photos overlooking this busy city, in contrast to the stunning peaceful coastline.

Da Nang is definitely a place I will be visiting again.

🏖🏖🏖🏖🏖🏖🏖🏖🏖🏖

Dalwallinu, Western Australia

We visited Dalwallinu on a wildflower road trip in September a few years back. It is located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, around 250 km from Perth. Dalwallinu is the first town on the wildflower tour. Every year the wildflowers start appearing anytime from June in the North and sweeping south to finish in November. We stayed one night in Dalwallinu and another in Moriwa. The flowers are incredible and appear all over the roadside and grow in the harshest of conditions.

Perth to Dalwallinu

Enjoying happy hour in the delightful surrounds of our accommodation with smoke billowing from a bonfire in an upturned oil barrel!

We had to keep stopping along our drive because there were so many beautiful views.

The circular flowers are known as Christmas wreaths and seem to flourish in these sandy conditions.

If you ever visit Australia during these months this is certainly a tour worth doing, but be sure to book accommodation early as there are very few motels or hotels along the way and they get booked up very quickly.

💐🌷🌸 🌺 🌻 🥀💐🌷🌸 🌺 🌻 🌼 🥀

Denmark, Western Australia

Finishing with another place in Western Australia, this time way down south. Denmark is over 400 km from Perth, too far for a day trip but great for a weekend or mid week break. We have travelled to Denmark a few times in the time we have lived in Australia. There are wonderful wineries to visit and it’s a good place to visit Walpole where the Valley of the Tree Tops walk is located.

It was named Denmark after a naval surgeon, Alexander Denmark in 1829. Before this it was called Leeuwin’s Land after the Dutch East Indiaman, Leeuwin. This was back in 1622. Any sailing ship in the 1600’s was called a Dutch East Indiaman.

There are so many rental properties in Denmark it’s hard to know what to choose. We booked a cute little house in the middle of the forest.

As you can see by the photos we went in the middle of winter, but we had a cosy fire in the house we rented.

Some of the birds that came to the balcony every morning waiting to be fed.

Some from our morning walk. Hubby contemplating another 25 years with me 😆
And that’s not our house, just a ramshackle shed in the middle of the woods.

Wrapped up warm against the chilly weather!

And D is done!

▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

My A-Z Travel Challenge – Places I’ve visited beginning with C – Capilano Suspension Bridge, Cavtat and Cottesloe

This post has places in Canada, Dubrovnik and Australia.

Capilano Suspension Bridge, North Vancouver, Canada

A place in North Vancouver but it does deserve a mention under C! We did a day trip here from our stay in Vancouver a few years ago now and had a great time there. Crossing the bridge is not recommended if you have vertigo as it stands 70 metres above the Capilano River and when there are at least fifty or more people trying to cross and take photos it can be a bit hair raising.

It was first built in 1889 by George Grant Mackay and was then made of hemp rope and cedar planks. The history of this bridge is very interesting, the land and teahouse situated there being the home of many settlers over the years. The word Capilano comes from the Squamish nation and was originally spelt Kia’palano, meaning beautiful river.

Source: www.capbridge.com

The cantilevered and suspended walkway jutting out from the granite cliff – not for the fainthearted!

Crossing with so many others

This is when the bridge gets shaky!

The Capilano River

one of the small lookouts on the treetop adventure activity

To get here from Vancouver it is very easy either on public transport or one of the sightseeing tour buses. It’s well worth a trip to see this amazing structure.

▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲

Cavtat, Dubrovnik

Cavtat (pronounced Savtat) is a small town that we visited during our trip to Dubrovnik. It’s a very pretty place with plenty of bars, restaurants and cafes to sit in and watch the world go by. From Dubrovnik you can either take a bus or a ferry. We were actually staying outside of Dubrovnik in a place called Mlini but from here you can also take a bus or ferry. We took the ferry which takes about 30 minutes.

Church of St. Nicholas

Cafes and restaurants by the harbour

Looking for a souvenir

Found one!

Abandoned rowing boat – beyond repair!

Overlooking the beautiful Adriatic sea

Some of the photos I took during our walk around Cavtat. After a delicious lunch we took the bus back to Mlini.

⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️⚓️

Cottesloe, Western Australia

Cottesloe is my home town, well almost! Just a 10 minute drive away from where we live and is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Family friendly and now safe for swimming with a shark net in place. Patrolled by lifeguards from the month of November through until April. There is a wonderful path for walkers and cyclists that stretches for miles with stunning views over the Indian Ocean. BBQ areas are also dotted along the path for people who want to bring their own food.

My parents along the Groyne enjoying the sunshine

One of the sculptures from Sculptures by the Sea

Artwork on the side of the Surf Lifesavers Club

The concrete pylon in the distance, built in 1936 and now heritage listed. A popular diving point.

The most photographed building in Cottesloe is the iconic Indiana Tea Rooms, originally built in 1910 as an ice cream parlour and then as a restaurant in 1966. Sadly it is now closed and awaiting redevelopment, as to what no-one is sure at the moment. There is much debate about whether to knock it down and build a modern glass structure or refurbish the old building. Personally I would like to see it refurbished as Cottesloe wouldn’t be the same without it.

From the entrance

And that concludes C!

🔶🔷🔶🔷🔶🔷🔶🔷🔶🔷🔶🔷🔶🔷

My A – Z travel challenge – Places I have been – 😎🌍 – A

I thought it would be a fun idea to write an A to Z of places I’ve in the past, as travelling in the present is not an option at the moment. Also it will certainly keep me occupied during this isolation period. So here goes … A is for Alcatraz, Amundon Island, An Bang […]

A is for Alcatraz, Amundon Island, An Bang Beach and Athens

Alcatraz, San Francisco

During our trip to USA a few years back we did the tour of Alcatraz. We were actually very lucky to go as I didn’t realise how popular this place is and I managed to book the last spot on the last day of our stay in San Francisco.

Alcatraz was an operating prison from 1934 to 1963 and was “home” to the infamous Al Capone. Before 1934 it was a US Military prison from the late 1850’s. No-one ever managed to escape from “The Rock” although many attempts were made.

It certainly looked a bleak place and no attempt has really been made to restore it, for historical purposes. There is an exhibition room there and at the time we visited was showing prisoners’ stories about why they were sentenced.

🔫 💣 🔪

Amundon Island, Sweden

My trip to this nature island was very recent, just last year. We went to Gothenburg for three days to visit my cousin and his family. It took a while to reach the island, first a tram and then a bus, around an hour’s journey. Then at my slow pace of walking another hour of walking around the island! This island is great for snorkelling and camping, during the summer months of course!

At the start of our walk

Ominous looking clouds

My mum looking very glamorous in her Russian hat

This is where I walked the plank

🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳 🌳

An Bang Beach, Vietnam

This has to be one of my favourite beaches. Just a short drive from Hoi An town or just borrow one of the many bikes the resorts offer and cycle. When we went there were a few casual cafes along the beach, although I think it must be more built up now. If you bought a drink you could get a sun bed, not a bad deal at all! The only thing was the closeness of the beds, they were so close you had to crawl from the end of the bed. Very easy to eavesdrop on your neighbour’s conversations. The service was five star, with the staff from the cafe serving you on the beach. There was also free wifi – on the beach! Some people go to Hoi An without ever realising that there is a fantastic beach there.

🏖 🏖 🏖 🏖 🏖 🏖

Athens

Athens was one of our ports of call on a Mediterranean cruise we took a few years ago. We did the obligatory tour of the Acropolis and then wandered around Athens on our own. I first went to Athens when I was 18 when it was allowed to walk and climb over the ruins of the Acropolis. I suppose due to the wear and tear of this ancient site they have had to stop this and it is now tightly controlled by security guards, shouting and whistling at sightseers not to step out of line!

Propylaea, Acropolis, Athens — Propylaea, Acropolis The ancient principal entryway to the Acropolis

And that concludes A!

Day Trips from Melbourne – Ballarat Wildlife Park

There are so many places to visit just outside of Melbourne, just an hour or two away, so it’s easy enough to fit in a side trip during a four day visit.

Our first day trip was spent at Ballarat Wildlife Park. It takes around 90 minutes to drive from Melbourne and it’s a beautiful park to spend an afternoon in, especially as they have koalas. You do have to register your names at the entrance and pay a bit extra for the koala experience, but as these cuddly creatures are becoming more extinct I thought it was worth it. The park is situated on 37 acres of bushland and has more than 100 free roaming kangaroos.

We spent a couple of hours here looking at all the different animals and it is a very hands on place, being able to feed the kangaroos. Judging by the amount of food on the ground I think the kangaroos are pretty bored with it and definitely not hungry.

Our encounter with the koalas

These are just a few of the photos I took of all the different animals there, and the ones I could get decent shots of! The other animals they have are penguins, birds, crocs, Tasmanian tigers, snakes, emus, wombats, quolls and aligators. There are also two Sumatran tigers there.

There is a licenced cafe there where we had lunch. In my opinion though it’s probably better to bring your own picnic.

PARK INFORMATION

Opening hours: 9-5 pm daily. Closed Christmas Day
Admission: $35 for adults – $19.50 for children. There are group discounts for families.
Animal Encounters: – $40 – $80, I believe for groups of four or less.

As you can see it makes a great family day out, admittedly not cheap but it’s good to see the animals well cared for in a natural habitat.

🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘

On our way back to Melbourne we had a quick pitstop at Lake Wendouree. A beautiful spot to have a picnic and a walk. Then it was back to the city for dinner. A very tasty Korean.

Until our next trip!

A stay at The Ink Hotel, Melbourne

Another trip to Melbourne! This time I decided to try a hotel (The Ink Hotel) instead of an apartment and as usual was visiting Laurence and Maddy. My nephew Tom was over from the UK and came with me. The main reason I chose a hotel over an apartment was because the price was the same and also for the Air bnb apartments they wanted a hefty deposit up front, to be refunded a week after your departure. I liked the fact that there is a proper reception for any issues that may come up.

After picking up our luggage from the Virgin terminal, in my wisdom I thought we would take the Skybus into the City. The board saying “20 minutes into the City” seemed too good to be true. Well it was. Approximately 90 minutes later we arrived at The Ink.
Tip: Do not take Skybus on a late Friday afternoon over a long weekend!

First Impressions

The check in was quick and easy and the staff are friendly and helpful. The check in desk is located on the ground floor along with the bar/sitting/eating area. I loved all the artwork on the walls and looked forward to having a drink at the bar later. It had a great casual vibe.

The Ink is the building in the middle

Very bohemian!

“A drop of ink may make a million think”

As we had rooms on the 12th floor I thought we might get a bit of a view! Not much in my case and none at all for Tom. Still the room was very cosy and everything you wanted was there. We had “pocket rooms”, but there are other rooms that are bigger.

The Room

Huge comfy bed and pillows. Good lighting and USB ports either side of the bed. There was also a safe next to the bed. In the wardrobe there was an iron and ironing board and hair dryer. Dressing gowns for your comfort. A snug desk with lamp plus more USB ports with a fridge underneath.

Not completely without a view!

The Bathroom

Lovely toiletries placed right at your fingertips. The toilet is to the side of the shower.

The Ink is very conveniently located and close to the South Bank and Casino, both within walking distance.

We had breakfast here most mornings and although the menu is limited, the coffee is free and there will be something to suit everyone. Eggs how you like or a healthy bowl of muesli.

Lastly Tom and I enjoying our free welcome drink in the lounge

I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone going to Melbourne for a few days. It’s a great “no hassle” hotel with the availability a full time reception and just a short walk to either the tram or bus stop.

What do you prefer an apartment or a hotel?

A Day Trip to Macau

In December while we were in Hong Kong for a week we had a day out in Macau. Macau is very easy to travel to from Hong Kong for a day, overnight or more. It was a Portuguese Colony until 1999 when it was returned to China. This city still retains much of its Portuguese influence with many of the buildings having been restored and renovated over the years. It has a reputation of being the Las Vegas of Asia with the most number of casinos outside of Las Vegas. But that is not why we decided to spend the day here! Macau is rich in history and has numerous restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from.

The Grand Lisboa by day and night

We headed out from out hotel around 10.30 and took a taxi to the ferry terminal in time to catch the 11.15 am Jetfoil to Macau. There is now a bridge across the two cities. We decided against the bridge even though it says it only takes 45 minutes to cross by the shuttle bus provided. This time does not factor in immigration at both sides and other stops along the way.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge

Zhuhai section of the bridge
(Source: Zhang Youqiong/For China Daily)

This is the world’s longest sea spanning bridge and measures 55km. Construction began in December 2009 and it was first open to the public in October 2018.

Our first stop of the day was to have lunch. We wanted to go back to one of our favourite restaurants – Fernando’s in Hac Sa Beach, on Coloane Island. This restaurant is always packed and we hadn’t booked! But as usual with any Asian restaurant they will always find you a table. We had a bit of a wait but preferred to sit in the main dining area rather than at the front. We have been going here for many years and it seems nothing has changed – in a good way. The food is always delicious and service fantastic.

I had to post this picture of the foosball table as I can remember this being here since we first visited in 1990. Whether it is the same one I have no idea.

A delicious traditional Portuguese lunch and of course Portuguese wine!

After lunch we had a short walk along Hac Sa Beach and then took a bus back onto the Macau Peninsula. Macau is made up of three islands, Coloane, Taipa and Macau Peninsula.

From where the bus dropped us off we walked up to the Guia Fortress. The fort and chapel were constructed between the 1622 and 1638 and the lighthouse around 1864. It is now a UNESCO World heritage site.

Typical painted apartment buildings and the Guia Fort

It was quite a walk up there for me anyway! But once at the top it was definitely worth it.
The bridge below is the Taipa Bridge connecting Taipa to Macau Peninsula

The bell outside Guia Chapel, established by Clarist nuns

On our walk back into town we stopped to walk through the Chapel of St. Michael, built in 1875 it has a beautifully landscaped cemetery.

Then into the town to the ruins of St. Paul. This is now just a facade as it the church itself was destroyed by fire in 1835. Although is it still quite majestic to look at.

Close by is the beautiful St. Dominic’s Church. Founded in 1587 by three Spanish Dominican priests who originally came from Acapulco in Mexico, this church is also connected to the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary. (Source: Macau Tourism)

Senado Square

There is so much more to do and see in Macau but I think we had exhausted ourselves by now and were in need of drinks and food. After much debate with a reluctant taxi driver we ended up outside the AIA Tower. A quick look at Google and I saw that Sky 21 was located at the top. We were just going to stay for a cocktail or two but after seeing the view decided to stay for dinner also.

It was an extremely busy day and you can only do so much in one day but I think we gave our visitors a good idea of Macau and how different it is from Hong Kong, not just culturally but architecturally too. It’s a 24 hour city so there was no problem for us getting a ferry back at 11 pm.

For now Macau – a despideda

Sai Kung, Hong Kong – where East meets West

Sai Kung is a place like no other it’s as if time has stood still. There is an old village with a network of alleyways and lanes, a town square and a harbour front. It is located in the New Territories in Kowloon and can be reached by public transport from Hong Kong Island. You can escape the hustle and bustle of city life and while away an afternoon in this oasis of peace and tranquility.

Most people when they visit Hong Kong don’t get the chance to leave the city as it’s usually just a two or three day stopover. They leave thinking Hong Kong is just made up of high rises and skyscrapers, whereas in fact there are so many country parks and beaches.

During our week in December we spent the afternoon in Sai Kung, showing our friends the village where we used to live.

We walked through the old village first, where you’ll find small grocery and hardware stores amongst private residences.

Tin Hau Temple

Walking through the old village

Along the waterfront there are many small boats and sampans waiting to ferry you over to the islands surrounding Sai Kung. Here you will also find many seafood restaurants with huge tanks with live fish.

An old man tending to his pots held up by ramshackle planks

Customers can buy any type of seafood and take it along to the local restaurants to be cooked how they like

There is a small square where there are many European restaurants, which is why Sai Kung is so popular at the weekend. There are huge traffic jams on a Sunday evening when all the islanders drive back.

We had dinner at a place called Big Fish, as you can see there were other things on the menu besides fish!

A sculpture on the waterfront

Getting here

There are several ways to get to Sai Kung. On the MTR from Central you can either alight at Tseung Kwan O MTR and take a mini bus or from Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon to Choi Hung MTR and also take a mini bus.

We had a wonderful time living in Sai Kung for many years. I love going back to visit to see how time has stood still with many of the restaurants and shops we visited still going strong. Obviously some things have changed but not as much as so many other places in the world.

A review of Hyatt Centric, North Point, Hong Kong – formerly Hotel Vic

This is the second time we have stayed in this hotel but first time for a review by me! It was in December so there was a great Christmassy feel to the hotel.
Hyatt Centric is located in North Point on Hong Kong Island. North Point is becoming more popular as a place to stay. We like it here because it’s not as busy as Central or Kowloon. Everywhere is easily accessible from here, the MTR and a ferry terminal are within five minutes walking distance. There is also a tram line nearby.

The hotel is split into two towers, East and West. The west tower has the restaurants situated in it, the Cruise Bar on 23rd floor, The Farmhouse cafe on the 2nd floor and a coffee shop. In the east tower there are the rooftop infinity pool and fitness centre. There is an open air area on the 23rd floor for drinks and nibbles with fantastic views of the Hong Kong skyline. I would say this hotel is a good four star hotel, if you consider the Marriot, Grand Hyatt and The Icon are five stars.

The rooms are fairly spacious for Hong Kong hotels and all have floor to ceiling windows with views across the harbour.

The lobby is airy and spacious and checking in and out is a breeze with friendly and helpful staff.

The first three floors are taken up with shops. Designer shoes and jewellery and all the high end cosmetics.

There is a lovely waterfront promenade just outside the hotel where you can see the local people doing their exercises and tai chi.

North Point is the hub for many Chinese and Asian restaurants.

The views from the room across the harbour

The bathroom is on the small side but everything is well appointed and they have thought of everything! Even a great make-up mirror.

The amenities drawer

The lobby and surrounding areas of the hotel

The Farmhouse Cafe

We had a buffet breakfast here every day. There is a fantastic hot food section where eggs are cooked as you like. Also fresh fruit, cereals, all kinds of bread, cold meats and cheeses are served.

Magnificent Ginger Bread House in the Coffee shop

Up on the 23rd floor there is a roof top bar with open seating area, plus Cruise restaurant which has a diverse Asian menu. It’s a great place to start your evening, overlooking the harbour with a cocktail.

Some of the dishes on offer at Cruise Restaurant

Sweet and sour Pork
and
Snapper in Banana Leaves

The rooftop infinity pool

It’s always nice to stay in a hotel with a pool especially in the summer in Hong Kong. There aren’t that many hotels with decent outside pools, so this is a bonus! Well, unless you can afford the high end five star hotels of course.

We will definitely be using this hotel again during our travels to Hong Kong

A December Week in Hong Kong

Despite the current turmoil and upheaval in Hong Kong, we still decided to visit this diverse and wonderful city. Having lived here over ten years ago, this time we had brought along our good friends and neighbours from Perth. We only came across one protest during our stay, although we did see evidence of the destruction that has been caused.

Hong Kong – a city with a population of over 7 million is home to many different nationalities making it a truly international city. Located in Southern China and surrounded by the South China Sea. Most of the population live either on Hong Kong Island or Kowloon, although some live on the outlying islands of Lantau, Cheng Chau and Lamma.

From the airport there are many ways into the city, we took a taxi, but there are airport buses and an express train.

The trees below are all real and also the poinsettias.

Arriving in the early morning from an overnight flight

Crossing over the bridge

A blurry shot from the taxi of the bridge!

There are so many things to do in Hong Kong and we only had a week to do it in!

We stayed at the Hyatt Centric formerly Hotel Vic in North Point (a review of this hotel to come).

Hong Kong in December is a great time to visit. The weather is cooler with no humidity and all the buildings are dressed up to the nines with Christmas lights. Everywhere you look there are Christmas trees and decorations all competing for attention.

One morning we took a ferry just outside the hotel over to Hung Hom, Kowloon and then walked along the new promenade to Tsim Sha Tsui East. It’s a lovely walk and was surprisingly very empty for a Sunday. We realised later this was due to a protest being organised somewhere else in Kowloon. A sunny but hazy day.

The Hung Hom Promenade

We saw many of these small tents along the way and these are what the domestic helpers use on a Sunday to enjoy their day off.

This promenade takes you right along to the Avenue of Stars on Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront.

Bruce Lee and Anita Mui both famous Hong Kong actors, sadly now passed away

Anthony enjoying a little shopping spree!

Later that evening we took an evening cruise around Hong Kong Harbour on the famous Duk Ling Chinese Junk. Built in Macau around 1955, it has been refurbished many times over the years. It’s a great way to see the harbour and the Hong Kong skyline. Tickets can be bought online or at the harbourside and include a guided tour and free drink.

Below are photos of the former Hong Kong Prison which is now an arts centre. What an interesting place to visit, full of history and quirky shadows videos depicting how the prisoners were treated. Located on Hollywood Road, Central.

Getting around Hong Kong

It’s extremely easy to travel around Hong Kong Island and over to Kowloon. Just get yourself an Octopus card from an MTR station and you’re all set. Public transport is not expensive in Hong Kong. It can be used on the MTR, trams, buses, mini buses and ferries. Top ups can be made at any 7-11 or MTR station. The train goes all the way to the border with Shenzhen. Octopus cards can also be used to buy small purchases in 7-11 and Watsons.

A designer decorated tram!

Oil Street and Electric Street –
Many years ago this building in Oil Street used to be the old oil terminal and is now an Arts Centre. The Government Printing works were also situated here.

The former Marine Police Headquarters, Canton Road

Pottinger Street Market – also know as Stone Slab Street – named after the first Governor of Hong Kong, Henry Pottinger – 1858

**********************************************

We also spent a few days outside of Hong Kong in Lantau, Macau and Sai Kung – posts to follow!

My peaky blinder enjoying a late night cocktail

Until the next post!

Colourful Copenhagen

After leaving Gothenburg, we travelled to Copenhagen using a Flix bus. The journey took around five hours and crossed into Copenhagen from Malmo over the Oresund Bridge. This bridge became very famous after the Nordic Noir series “The Bridge”. One of my all time favourite TV series. Travelling on a Flix bus is a great way to see the countryside and I had booked seats directly behind the driver. When we arrived in Copenhagen there was a Mexican standoff between our bus and another bus on a two lane road into the station. In the end we had to get off the bus and walk for around 15 minutes along cobblestones to find a taxi to our hotel.

Oresund Bridge

The Øresund Bridge is an approximately 16 km long road and rail link between Sweden and Denmark. It consists of three sections: a bridge, an artificial island and a tunnel. The link opened on July 1 2000. Source: Oresund Bridge

Oresund Bridge

Crossing over to the Danish Side

Arriving at our hotel – Copenhagen Strand – at around 4 pm we checked in and then set about exploring. I loved Copenhagen on sight and had no idea how stunning this city was. We were staying just around the corner from the picturesque Nyhavn Canal. We walked up and down this beautiful 17th century waterfront looking for a place for a snack and drink. It was difficult to choose as there are so many bars and restaurants. Even on a cold afternoon or night you can sit outside as there are heaters and blankets to keep warm.

Day One

Studying the menu

He only needs a moustache!

Enjoying a beer canalside

Great weather

Waiting for dinner

Although we were only here for two nights/three days, really that’s all you need in Copenhagen as it is a very walkable city and probably all most people could afford as it is very expensive.

Day Two

I decided on the Christian IX palace today and a walk along Stroget later. With so many spires, steeples and old buildings that are dotted around Copenhagen I had my phone out constantly snapping away. The palace is situated on Slotsholmen (Castle Island) in the middle of the city.

Borsen – 17th century building – the former Stock Exchange

Nikolaj, Copenhagen Contemporary Art Centre

Christiansborg Palace

Frederik Vll

I really would have like to visit inside this palace but with time ticking on and many more things to see we just had time to visit the ruins underneath the palace. The palace is built on 800 year old ruins. The oldest ruin is the wall from
Bishop Absalon’s 12th century castle. I think you would need at least half a day or more to really explore this palace.

Next we walked to Stroget, the famous shopping street. This was Anthony’s treat for sightseeing in the morning! Strøget is a pedestrian, car free shopping area in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is 1.1 km long and has many designer shops, restaurants and bars. We found one of the large department stores, Illum, a fancy five floor shopping mall with a rooftop restaurant. Here we had a delicious lunch and a glass of wine.

Lunch at Illum

Colourful Smoked Salmon Salad

Stork Fountain

Mathias Hansen House

Caritas Fountain

Halloween display

La Glace, the oldest confectionary shop in Denmark, founded on 8th October 1870

The Round Tower

As there was still some daylight left I wanted to take a look at The Round Tower. This building offers some of the best views in Copenhagen and it has a spiral ramp to walk up to the top, so much better than the stairs I was expecting! Still it was quite an effort to walk up but so worth it. It dates back to the 17th Century and was built by King Christian lV.

So pleased I made it!

View from the top

Stroget from above

Beautiful filigree iron railings

Stroget

Trinity church within The Round Tower

I felt quite accomplished at the end of the day as we had seen so much already.

Day Three

All too soon our stay in Copenhagen was coming to an end. So after checking out at 11 am we decided not to waste time and set out for exploring more of Copenhagen. I managed to persuade Anthony to visit another palace! This time it was Amelienborg Palace, the home of the Danish royal family. This place was just simply stunning and we were lucky enough to be there for the changing of the guards. It was first built in the 1750’s but has been rebuilt a couple of times due to fires. Again I only got to view the outside due to hubby’s need to press on and see other things, namely more shops.

A Platoon of Guards

Just one of the palaces inside the square

Frederik’s Church was just around the corner so we walked over to have look at this magnificent church, also called the Marble church. It is an 18th century Lutheran church with the largest dome in Scandinavia.

Frederik’s Church

Stained glass images of the saints in the dome

St. Paul

Ornate cross at the alter

After this we still managed to find time for a visit to another department store. The famous Magusin du Nord, with its flagship store in Copenhagen. It’s a great one-stop place to shop and has something for everyone here.