R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 42

Utrecht, Netherlands — Part 6

Vredenburg Market plaza (Vredenburgmarkten)

Continuing our photographic tour of Utrecht, Netherland from 26 May 2022. I hope you are enjoying “Less Talk; More Show” format I’m using for this four-week series. Either way, please leave a comment and let me know.

Paddling around the canals of Utrecht, Netherlands

As I mentioned previously in this series, Utecht‘s St. Martin’s Cathedral started out as a Catholic church before being turned over in 1580 to the Calvinist church during the Prote...

Utrecht, Netherlands — Part 5

Hoog Catharijne (High Catherine Mall) Utrecht, Netherlands

You may be wondering by now where we stayed in Utrecht, and would I recommend the accommodations. The answer is that we stayed in a shopping mall adjoining the Central Train Station (Station Utrecht Centraal, and I would heartily recommend the place. It’s mere minutes on foot to the city center and canals, and just a quick stroll to catch a train into Amsterdam. The hotel was quiet, comfortable, and affordable. Remarkably so consideri...

Fun Photo Friday — Utrecht, Netherlands Favorites 2

A People-Watching Calico Kitty

Today is the second of four Fun Photo Friday favorites from Utrecht, Netherlands.

“Diacone” A Study in Brick (Re)Cycling Center?

Utrecht, Netherlands — Part 4

Drieharingstraat, Utrecht, Netherlands

Monday was Utrecht canal tour time. Today it’s time to finish the boat ride (next five photographs), then hit the streets once again.

Canal sights, Utrecht, Netherlands Utrecht, Netherlands Utrecht, Netherlands canal ride Zandbrug bridge; Jacobibrug bridge beyond Café south of Jansbrug bridge Schuttevaer Boat Cruise just south of Viebrug bridge

If you’re interested in this particular roundtrip Utrecht canal cruise, here’s the link to Schut...

Utrecht, Netherlands — Part 3

Girl riding a carnival “horse”; Utrecht, Netherlands

Today it’s a stroll around Utrecht’s city center, taking in the sights and sounds in and around the canals. Many of today’s photos were taken from one of the many canal tour boats that ply the waters.

Looking up toward the streets surrounding Utrecht’s canals About to pass beneath an Utrecht canal bridge Some Utrecht canal pedestrian bridges offer a place to sit… … while others allow for dining and drinking Sights along Utrecht’s...

Fun Photo Friday — Utrecht, Netherlands Favorites 1

Utrecht Doorway

Part 1 of four Fun Photo Friday favorites of Utrecht, Netherlands:

Quiet Utrecht Street Depicting Utrecht’s Past in Tile Utrecht City Center Skyline Securing a Bicycle

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Utrecht, Netherlands — Part 2

Lauwerhof Water Tower apartments; Utrecht, Netherlands

Today I will make good on my promise from Monday — less talk and more photos. And today’s pictorial offerings will concentrate on the historic city center and canals.

Voorstraat, Utrecht, Netherlands

Large swathes for these 900-year-old canals were paved over back in 1979 for a highway, but in 2019 Utrecht tore up that section and restored the canal system. The result, I’m sure, is much more photogenic than looking at multiple lanes ...

Utrecht, Netherlands — Part 1

Utrecht, Netherlands

I‘m going to try something a bit different over the next four weeks. I’m going to let my photos of Utrecht carry the burden while keep text to a minimum. I’m doing this for the following reasons:

There’s not much needed to describe this charming destination. The sights are centered around the canals, which is near where we stayed, and the photos speak for themselves.
As I write this, I’m pressed to pre-post a bunch of articles before we head to our next adventure, ...

End of the Road for the Best Striker-Fired Polymer Pistol Ever Devised

Walther’s superlative, innovative P99 AS and P99c AS

The Walther P99 AS died in 2021. Or was it 2022? Many sources site the former year, but I’ve recently seen one P99 AS with a CC date code, which translates to 2022. Or did the P99 AS die this year? In February, while Ursula and I were on our most recent travels, Walther announced the “Final Edition” of what is, in my view, the best striker-fired polymer-framed pistol ever devised. And that’s a real shame, but not unexpected. Walther has bee...

Avoiding Dangerous Advice from Self-Proclaimed Firearms “Experts” on Facebook (or elsewhere on the web)

Trio of .45s, clockwise from top — FNH FNX-45, Taurus PT24/7 Pro DS, S&W SW99

I only recently returned from a month abroad. During that time, I had an interesting thing happen to me; I was banned from a Facebook group devoted to a specific prestige line of firearms marketed by a higher end manufacturer. It all started when an owner asked about lubricating a specific point on his firearm. A group moderator deleted my response. My offense? Giving advice consistent with the owner’s manual. The o...