R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 31

Jewel of the Seas — Norway; Ålesund — Strolling from Aspøya back onto Nørvøya

Aspøy Skole (school), Aspøy

Rather than give a lengthy description of our route on foot today, I will instead let these photos pretty much speak for themselves. The city of Ålesund stretches over seven islands, but on this visit Ursula and I toured by foot on the two main islands — Aspøy to the west of the Ålesund Canal, and Nørvøya to the east. As you saw in last week’s articles, we walked between the two by traversing the Hellebroa Bridge. So, today, my descriptions will be brief as we take...

Fun Photo Friday — Ålesund Favorites 2

Løvenvold Theater, Ålesund, Norway

With the exception of the above image, today’s collection of Ålesund Fun Photo Friday favorites will concentrate on statuary:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Norway; Ålesund — Ålesundet to Ålesundet Kirke

In Monday’s article I gave you a brief glimpse of Ålesund, with most of that collection of photos being taken on or east of the Hellebroa Bridge spanning across the Ålesund Canal. Today I’m going to show you the sights when strolling from the Hellebroa Bridge westbound to the Ålesund Kirke (Ålesund Church). Looking at the map below, we begin at the red position pin near the center and head toward the smaller red position pin toward the left edge:

The Hellebroa Bridge will give you a lo...

Jewel of the Seas — Norway; Ålesund — Overlooking the Ålesundet

Joachim Rønneberg Memorial

Ålesundet is a narrow inlet that separates the two islands upon which Ålesund is situated. The east side, where Jewel of the Seas moored and where last week’s articles were centered, is on Nørvøya. Cross a short bridge and you’ll find yourself in west Ålesund, which is on Aspøya. Today I’m going to share with you the sights that await you in this small, easily walked area. To see precisely what area this is, here’s a map:

Aspøya island (left); Nørvøya island (rig...

Fun Photo Friday — Ålesund Favorites 1

Marching Off to Kayak Lessons

Here is today’s first of three Fun Photo Fridays featuring Ålesund favorites:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Norway; Ålesund — Setting out on Foot

Still getting our Ålesund bearings

As we prepared to step back inside Jewel of the Seas and head down to the gangway, I managed a couple more shots of the town before we headed out on foot. The image you see below was taken only ten minutes before we were out on the streets and headed into town. Over this and the next two weeks I will present the photos from that excursion.

Fun Ålesund roof pics

One of the first places we strolled past was the Ålesund Rådhus (Town Hall) on Keiser Wilhelm...

Jewel of the Seas — Norway; Arriving Ålesund

Ålesund, Norway

Jewel of the Seas left Honningsvåg on 25 June 2022 and headed south. Two days later we settled into the Norwegian port of Ålesund. Whereas Honningsvåg is north of the Arctic Circle, our next destination placed us south of that region. And, as is usually the case, Ursula and I stood out on deck to get our bearings before venturing into town. This visit would be unguided and on foot. That means I’m not gong to have a lot of text over the next three weeks of articles, but I certa...

Fun Photo Friday — More Honningsvåg Favorites

Ursula’s New Troll Friend (outside Arctic Souvenirs)

Today finishes up our look at Honningsvåg and other sights on Norway’s Magerøya Island. I hope you enjoyed the visit!

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Norway; Sailing Away from Colorful Honningsvåg

Colorful Honningsvåg

Colorful buildings are not the only sights around Honningsvåg. This close to Russia — Murmansk is only 218 miles/351 kilometers to the southeast — makes this entire region a vital radar outpost for NATO, including early warning for the United States and Canada. Not since the Cold War has this need been as evident as it is today, with an indicted war criminal of questionable mental stability repeatedly making nuclear threats as he strives to reconstitute the old boundaries...

Jewel of the Seas — Norway; Honningsvåg Viewed from Jewel of the Seas

Honningsvåg homes

Last Wednesday I took you on a foot tour that wraps around the Honningsvåg waterfront. Today we’re going to view the city from the decks of Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas as she prepares to set sail for Ålesund. The approximate location of Jewel at the time these photos were taken is the black five-point star in the top left corner of this map:

Honningsvåg Map — Star is the location from which today’s photos were taken

Looking southeast from the cruise pier denoted...