R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 182
November 19, 2014
Nouméa Cathedral and Chinatown
Nouméa Cathedral
Now for some points of interest from our foot journey around Nouméa, capital city of New Caledonia. One of those sights is Nouméa Saint Joseph Cathedral. And while it may not look very opulent by European standards on the outside . . .
Nouméa Cathedral
. . . it is nevertheless impressive on the inside:
Nouméa Cathedral
Nouméa Cathedral
Northwest of Nouméa Cathedral is Nouméa’s weekend gathering place, the Place des Cocotiers, or Coconut Square. Place des Cocotiers is a large, lush...
November 17, 2014
Next Stop — Nouméa, New Caledonia
Nouméa Graffiti
The upper left portion of the above picture gives you our first port of call following the MS Oosterdam’s departure from Sydney, Australia. Yes, it’s Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia.
Nouméa
New Caledonia is currently undergoing a transition from French control to total autonomy. As such, New Caledonia is no longer a French Overseas Collectivity. Rather, New Caledonia enjoys a unique though temporary designation known as Special Collectivity.
Nouméa Bougainvillea
As for Nouméa,...
November 14, 2014
Fun Photo Friday — The Rocks and Birdcages
Is it Street Art . . . ?
Take a look at the image above. What do you see?
Are you sure?
. . . or is it Street Stairs?
Now for some not-so-optical illusions:
Filed under: Fun Photo Friday, Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel Tagged: Australia, birdcages, Fun Photo Friday, photography, R. Doug Wicker, Sydney, The Rocks, travel, travel photography
November 12, 2014
Out and About — Random Sights of Sydney
Sydney Skyline at Night
Today I’m going to just post pictures of places of interest in Sydney not already covered. The following photographs are in and around Sydney’s central business district. Included are images of the Queen Victoria Building (a great shopping venue with lots of unique and interesting shops to peruse), the Sydney Cenotaph in Market Place (location of a World War I memorial), and “Forgotten Songs” (110 birdcages suspended over Angel Place between Pitt and George Streets.
File...
November 10, 2014
Bartender — I’ll Have a Sydney on The Rocks
Campbell’s Cove
There is an area in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge known as “The Rocks.” It lies, more or less, in the area from Circular Quay along the western edge of Sydney Cove to Dawes Point. It is here that the first settlers from England set up home back on January 26, 1788.
George Street, The Rocks
Contained within The Rocks area are winding streets, charming façades, and reasonably priced dining establishments (comparatively speaking). That last item is no small feat in overpri...
November 7, 2014
November 5, 2014
The Cockles of Sydney’s Heart — Cockle Bay
Darling Harbour in Cockle Bay
Sydney is one of the great walking cities of the world, in my view. I absolutely love strolling around every bit of it. One of nooks and crannies not to be missed is Cockle Bay, site of Darling Harbour and the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Darling Harbour ferry terminal
A short walk west from Sydney’s central business district will take you to Cockle Bay, and you can then walk across the bay using the Pyrmont Bridge — a pedestrian swing bridge that was closed...
November 3, 2014
The Quay to the City — Sydney’s Circular Quay
A look back from the Sydney Opera House Forecourt
Making our way back around Sydney Cove we approach Circular Quay. Let’s face it — our Commonwealth cousins around the world really can’t spell. Never could. Never will. If ‘quay’ (a platform extending into the water used to the loading and unloading of watercraft) were spelled as it is pronounced, it would be ‘key.’ Which reminds me of a little story from my stint in England back in the ’70s. An English gentleman corrected my pronunciation of t...
October 31, 2014
Happy Halloween — The Apollyon Particle
The Apollyon Particle — A Halloween Tale of Terror
Time for this year’s Halloween Story. If you enjoy it, please “Like” it below and spread the word. If you don’t, keep your mouth shut or suffer the wrath of Apollyon:
Friday, February 13, 2015
For immediate dissemination from Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN):
My name is Dr. Vlad Draken, and I led the team that brought us to this catastrophe. The following is a brief synopsis of how we arrived here, what Apollyon has brought for...
October 29, 2014
Sydney — Home of “The Coat Hanger”
Eight traffic lanes, two rail lines, bicycle and pedestrian lanes covering almost ¾ of a mile!
Remember when I called the Sydney Opera House, “one of Sydney’s most recognizable landmarks?” Well, here’s another one. It’s one of the most recognizable bridges in the world, right up there with the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate. It’s the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and it’s the tallest as well as the sixth longest spanning-arch bridge on the planet. It also goes by the moniker “Coathanger Bridge,”...
