R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 34

Jewel of the Seas — Into Norway; Molde

Moldefjorden (Moldefjord), Molde, Norway

Two days after leaving behind Amsterdam on our third and final back-to-back cruise aboard Royal Caribbean‘s Jewel of the Seas, we arrived into the town of Molde in Norway. The date was 22 June 2022, and it was a coolish and overcast Wednesday. Molde sits on the Romsdal Peninsula (Romsdalshalvøya) and looks out upon the Moldefjord (Moldefjorden). And, yes, the surrounding snow-topped mountains are spectacular:

Mountains over Molde

If you enjoy the ...

Fun Photo Friday — Amsterdam 2022 Favorites (such as they were)

Trashy Amsterdam

I still have nothing nice to say, so here are today’s Fun Photo Friday “favorites” of Amsterdam:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Disappointing Amsterdam Part 2

Amazing how cheesy Amsterdam has become

As you’ll recall from Monday, this week I’m presenting to you trashy Amsterdam, a once great destination that has fallen greatly. You can read about that at a special blog article I posted immediately following our return. That was a public service announcement to warn people away: see: Trashy Amsterdam and the Hellhole of Schipol. Instead, I highly recommend you stay at nearby, enchanting, and clean Utrecht. Part 1 of that series begins here: Utrecht, ...

Jewel of the Seas — Disappointing Amsterdam Part 1

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Because we were taking three back-to-back voyages on Jewel of the Seas, we found ourselves in Amsterdam four times. Before we made our way into Amsterdam, however, we stayed a couple of nights in Utrecht. For a recap of that wonderful visit, you can start here: Utrecht, Netherlands — Part 1. At any rate, we were so disgusted with Amsterdam on this trip last year that I posted a special blog article to warn my viewers to stay the hell away, and to avoid Schipol Airport a...

Fun Photo Friday — Dover Favorites 2

Colton’s Gate, Dover Castle

Today’s Fun Photo Friday concludes Voyage 2 aboard Jewel of the Seas. Next week it’s back for a visit to Amsterdam before reboarding Jewel for the most exciting voyage yet on this trip. And here’s today’s collection of Dover favorites:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Dover; More on Dover Castle

Dover Castle battlements

Today I will continue to show you the sights of the largest castle in the United Kingdom — Dover Castle. This immense fortification dates back to Henry II in the late 12th century, but it’s military history spans well beyond that all the way through World War II. Indeed, the tunnels that were so useful during WWII, when they served as both an underground hospital and military command center, were repurposed in the early stages of the Cold War as a shelter for the Regi...

Jewel of the Seas — Dover; St. Mary’s Church and Dover Castle

Historic Dover

There are actually two St. Mary’s Churches in Dover. One resides east of town, high up on a hill next to Dover Castle (St. Mary sub Castro — St. Mary in the Castle), and it’s an ancient Saxon structure dating back to at least AD 1000, and perhaps even before. That’s not the one I’m going to show you today. Today’s St. Mary’s Church (Church of St. Mary the Virgin) is the one you glimpsed in Monday’s article. This Anglican church is around 100 years younger (circa AD 1100), with ...

Fun Photo Friday — Dover Favorites 1

Mail Box — G VI R translates to the reign of King George VI

Today is the first of two Fun Photo Fridays featuring Dover favorites. Next week not only concludes our look at Dover, but also finishes up voyage two of three back-to-backs aboard Jewel of the Seas. Enjoy!

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Dover; Dover Museum and a Bronze Age Boat

Ground Floor, Dover Museum —  Archaeology Gallery

In Market Square, bound by North Downs Way and Cannon Street, is the Dover Museum. The main attraction here is on the second floor, or third floor if you’re one of us yanks since the first floor is the one above the ground floor here in the U.K. The ground floor contains the Archaeology Gallery, and it’s here you’ll find stuff such as a wooden bucket dating back to the 6th century:

6th century wooden bucket View of the Archaeology Gallery...

Jewel of the Seas — Arriving to Dover

The White Cliffs of Dover

As you may recall, this is the second of three back-to-backs aboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, which in turn was the fourth voyage taken this trip in 2022 starting with a transatlantic crossing aboard Vision of the Seas followed by a Mediterranean cruise aboard the same ship. Interspersed between those voyages were trips to Limburg an der Lahn, Germany, and Utrecht, Netherlands. We’re now approaching the end of this voyage, which was followed up with a crui...