The weather wasn’t the best, but Santander immediately won us over. We started our walk in the big park – old trees, calm paths and a peaceful atmosphere. From there we reached the beach, where the Atlantic shimmered under shifting light.

We continued on to the harbour. The long promenade, lined with cafés and restaurants, was lively and welcoming. We sat down, watched people passing by and soaked up the mood.

The food was excellent: fresh fish, regional dishes and finally some ice cream. As always, Zuky got the last bit of the cone – staring at me with his hypnotic look, drooling in anticipation, which made me smile.

Despite the cloudy skies, we felt very comfortable in Santander. The mix of city, sea and nature was wonderful. We’ll definitely come back – it’s worth it.

Rainer Schmitz