R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 35

Jewel of the Seas — Tromsø Cathedral

Tromsø Cathedral

Any walk around Tromsø’s downtown area should include Tromsø Cathedral. It’s not as grandiose as other European cathedrals, especially those dating back hundreds of years ago, but it’s still worth a visit. This Gothic Revival church is fairly new, having been completed in 1861. It also follows the traditional “long church” floorplan typical of Norway. Well take a more in-depth look in a moment, but here’s the area immediately adjacent to the church, specifically along Storgat...

Fun Photo Friday — Tromsø Favorites 1

Ever Feel as if You’re Being Trolled?

Next week we’ll continue with Tromsø, Norway, but we’ll work our way beyond the waterfront area and head a little farther inland. Until then, today’s Fun Photo Friday is the first of two devoted to this colorfully picturesque destination north of the Arctic Circle:

Jewel of the Seas — Walking Tromsø, Norway

Tromsø Boats, Boat Masts, Mountains, and Snow

Once you arrive at the small boat harbor I showed you on Monday, everything you see today is in easy walking distance. When you stroll into the old town section of Tromsø, it’s just a nonstop picture fest. To give you an idea of what I mean, the photo above was timestamped 11:45, and every photo in today’s article was taken by 12:28 p.m. That’s a lot of scenery to enjoy in just 43 minutes!

Fangstmonument (Arctic Hunter) off Havnegata Steet

So...

Jewel of the Seas — Arriving Tromsø, Norway

Tromsø, Norway

Two days after leaving Molde, on Friday, 24 June 2022, Jewel of the Seas arrived into the port of Tromsø in Northern Norway. As much as we enjoyed all our stops in Norway, Tromsø was one of our favorites. Indeed, we loved the entire Norway trip so much that visited again earlier this year (subject of a future series). Even from the ship you cannot help but notice that there are some real gems here, as well as the unexpected.

Ski Jumps for the Three Bears?

There’s even a ve...

Fun Photo Friday — Molde, Norway Favorites

Colorful Collection of Crafty Quarters

It’s Fun Photo Friday, and next week we’re off to Tromsø, Norway. Until then:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Walking Molde, Norway

ABC Driving School on Romsdalsgata

A small park separates Strandgata and Romsdalsgata as you approach Molde Cathedral. If you look north from Strandgata you’ll see the charming building pictured above. Today that apparently old structure houses a driving school. But turning your attention to the left and the building you just passed you’ll see some fun architectural details:

Molde Kommune Health Clinic for Adolescents and Students

And, yes, that little park I mentioned is worth a few min...

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...