R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 50

Transatlantic 2022 — Valencia; Walking around Valencia Cathedral

So, just how much is there to do in, and in the vicinity of, Valencia? Enough that we’ll be exploring both this city and nearby Sagunto this week and over the course of the next three. Yep, there is just so much in this area to see and photograph. For instance, today we’re going to concentrate on just one incredible structure.

Valencia Cathedral

In Valencian it’s called Església Catedral-Basílica Metropolitana de l’Assumpció de la Mare de Déu de València. Those speaking Spanish refer to...

Transatlantic 2022 — Valencia; Our Next Port of Call

Our next port of call came three days after leaving Tenerife, Canary Islands. Like the Canaries, we were at another Spanish port. But this port was on mainland Spain east of the Strait of Gibraltar in the Mediterranean. So, on 11 May 2022 we found ourselves in Valencia. If you’re keeping track, that means Vision of the Seas had completed the transatlantic portion of this 14-day cruise, and we were getting close to our final destination. And, as is frequently the case, Ursula had us lined up ...

Fun Photo Friday — Transatlantic 2022; Tenerife favorites 3

Watch That First STEP!

Time to finish up with the Canary Islands and Tenerife. Next week we move on to the next destination on our transatlantic voyage aboard Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas. I hope you’re enjoying this voyage so far, the first of five we took beginning in April. Interspersed between those cruises will be a side journey to Germany, and then a four-day stay in Dublin, Ireland before we return. So, until next week, here is today’s Part 3 of Fun Photo Friday favorites of Te...

Transatlantic 2022 — Tenerife; Touring San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Iglesia de la Concepción (Church of the Conception) in the Plaza de la Concepción

Today I’m taking you on a photographic tour of one of the most picturesque areas in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Plaza de la Concepción. This charming pedestrian street is lined with everything from bright green trees, to colorful buildings, to cafés with tables beneath shady umbrellas:

Plaza de la Concepción

As you approach from the west you’ll pass a structure dating back to 1511. This impressive building ...

Transatlantic 2022 — Tenerife; Arriving San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Cathedral of San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Our tour group arrived at Plaza del Adelantado in an Cristóbal de La Laguna in the early afternoon. This would be our last stop before heading back to Santa Cruz de Tenerife to rejoin Vision of the Seas. Here we would take a brief guided tour before being left to our own devices until time to rejoin the bus back in the plaza. The plaza is located at the extreme eastern edge of the city’s old town section, adjacent to the Convent of Santa Catalina de Sie...

Fun Photo Friday — Transatlantic 2022; Tenerife favorites 2

San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Today is the second of three Fun Photo Fridays dedicated to favorites from Tenerife, Canary Islands. Next week we’ll conclude with a tour of San Cristóbal de La Laguna before heading back to Vision of the Seas for completion of our transatlantic crossing. The next destination after that will be… a Spanish surprise.

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Transatlantic 2022 — Tenerife; Teide’s La Catedral, then heading to San Cristóbal de La Laguna

Teide National Park — Mirador de La Ruleta

We’re still viewing Teide National Park, and we’re still looking at the sights from Mirador de La Ruleta (Roulette Viewpoint). Above is that image I promised on Monday of a much lower portion of Las Cañadas crater. And if you read the title of today’s article then you’re expecting a cathedral today. In case you’re wondering, La Catedral is in that photo above. I’ll let this next image explain:

La Catedral is an igneous rock formation

La Catedral...

Transatlantic 2022 — Tenerife; Teide and Mirador de la Ruleta

This next area was our last stop in Teide National Park, and it was a doozy. Here the landscape was home to more flora than we’d seen elsewhere, but what really grabs one’s attention are the tall spires of ancient lava thrusting into the sky. But before we pulled into this turnoff, we were greeted by a quaint little chapel, Ermita de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Hermitage of Our Lady of the Snows):

Hermitage of Our Lady of the Snows

Notice the lovely, bright yellow vegetation in the pi...

Fun Photo Friday — Transatlantic 2022; Tenerife favorites 1

Drage (dragon) tree on Tenerife

By now I’m sure you want to take a short break from this:

Teide National Park formations

For something equally scenic but a bit more colorful, such as this:

San Cristóbal de La Laguna

We’ll be covering San Cristóbal de La Laguna more after we’ve completed our photographic tour of Teidi National Park, but today I’ll give you a preview of San Cristóbal de La Laguna:

Cervecerta (Brewery) Tree and Tower Pinks and Blues Streetlamp

Слава Україні!...

Transatlantic 2022 — Tenerife; Teide and Mirador de la Ruleta

Teide National Park

Today I’m taking you on a photo journey to an alien landscape. We’re now deep within the Teide National Park (Parque Nacional del Teide), an area of lava fields from the tallest peak of any Atlantic Ocean island — Teide volcano (12,188 feet/3,715 meters). We’ll begin with images from the area of the park known as Minas de San José. Here’s the view heading out on foot southbound from our parked bus:

View from Minas de San José at Teide National Park

Remnants of the lav...