The Jewel of the Seas passing Hamlet´s castle

This is the Royal Caribbean´s Jewel of the Seas (290 x 30m) passing Hamlet´s castle Kronborg in Elsinore (Helsingør) tonight at about half past six. The Jewel is on its way from Copenhagen to Harwich. 

The Rhododendrons of the Sofiero castle park

This is the time when the Sofiero castle park in Helsingborg is full of rhododendrons - there are thousands of them!. If you are somewhere in the vicinity during the last weeks of May or the beginning of June, and if you like flowers, a visit is strongly recommended!

AIDAcara and a swan

It may appear that I have run out of ideas. But I´ll take the risk.
Here is another picture of a swan and a cruise ship - the AIDAcara.

AIDAcara has just passed  Helsingør. On the left you can se the northern edge of the  Swedish  (until 1658  Danish)  island  Ven (or Hven in Danish). 

The Dar Młodzieży greeted by cormorants in the Sound

A Danish motor boat and a few "Swedish" cormorants this morning greeted the tall ship Dar Młodzieży in the Sound. The Polish training ship is on its way to Gdansk from Oslo. Sails were not used, presumably because of headwind. 

AIDAblu and a swan in Øresund

Both the passengers on board the AIDAblu (252 x 36m) and the swan must have enjoyed the beauty of Øresund this morning. The cruise ship was on its way from Copenhagen to Oslo.

The Royal Danish Navy´s new frigate Iver Huitfeldt in Øresund

The commander and crew of the brand new Danish air defence frigate Iver Huitfeldt could not have chosen a finer evening than this for cruising in Øresund. The Nordic early summer night was at its most charming - no wind, temperature reaching about 20 C, and the sun setting as the ship was silently gliding northwards in the Sound, close to Helsingør. 

The Iver Huitfeldt, the first in a three-ship class of frigates, entered service with the Royal Danish Navy early this year. The three Iver Huitfeldt frigates will be equipped for a modern fighting role, and will be able to use Tomahawk cruise missiles as the first ships in the Danish Navy. 

More information about the 139 x 20m ship here. 

Kristin Scott Thomas - A Great Actress

Kristin Scott Thomas about her role in Claudel´s film: 'I loved it. No make-up; I hardly even speak.'

There are many outstanding English actresses, but one of my own absolute favourites is Kristin Scott Thomas, who is perhaps mostly remembered for her fine role portraits in such films as "A Handful of Dust", "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "The English Patient". But - in my opinion - it is in Philippe Claudel´s "I´ve Loved You So Long" where Scott Thomas´s amazing acting really shines.

In Claudel´s deeply moving tale of two sisters rebuilding their relationship, Scott Thomas gives an unforgettable portrait of the elder sister,who returns after serving a 15 year prison sentence. Elsa Zylberstein is also oustanding as the younger sister.

Elsa Zylberstein as the younger sister

The two sisters in Claudel´s memorable film

In an age so obsessed with youth, Kristin Scott Thomas´s way of describing (2008) her own aging is a relief:


'Now I can be the mother I want to be, the woman I want to be, the actress I want to be. I am afraid that all this has happened to me with getting older. I'm 47 - unlike most actresses, I don't lie about my age - but I'm liking this bit. I love it. I wouldn't swap it for a million years.'

The MS Azura in Øresund

MS Azura of the P&O Cruises fleet passed Helsingborg/Helsingør early this morning on its way from Oslo to Copenhagen. The ship was built by Fincantieri at their shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. At 115,055 tonnes, Azura is the second largest of seven ships currently in service with P&O Cruises. She officially entered service with the company in April 2010. There are 900 cabins with private balconies. The overall passenger capacity is 3096. 

The second visit of the training ship Dar Młodzieży this season

Tonight the Polish training ship Dar Młodzieży made its second showing in Øresund this season. This time the three masted frigate ( 109 x 14m) looked even more impressive than last week, as it sailed majestically through the Sound with almost its entire set of sails in use. There was almost no wind, but still the ships large sails gave it a rather good speed. This time the ships destination is Oslo. 

Here the Dar Młodzieży has just passed  Helsingør at about 8 PM.

This is a few minutes later

Dar Młodzieży in front of the Kulla Gunnarstorp nature reserve