R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 51

Fun Photo Friday — Transatlantic 2022; Santa Cruz de La Palma favorites 3

Guns at the Ready

Next week we sail off to another Canary Island aboard Vision of the Seas. Until then, here’s our final Fun Photo Friday of Santa Cruz de La Palma favorites:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Transatlantic 2022 — La Palma; Random views near Castillo de la Virgen and back into town

Los Balcones

After Castillo de la Virgen, Ursula and I continued uphill a bit further to explore more high vantage points of Santa Cruz de La Palma:

View from Castillo de la Virgen

Near the top of our climb we came across a small park, across from which was this charming church — Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación (Parish of Our Lady of the Incarnation):

Parish of Our Lady of the Incarnation

As we headed back down Carretera la Encarnacíon and back into town, we ran across...

Transatlantic 2022 — La Palma; Museo Naval Barco de la Virgen and Castillo de la Virgen

Apartment building mural as seen from Avenida Las Nieves

Today’s article is still on Santa Cruz de La Palma, but this is the last week in that series before moving on to another Canary Island. Last week I left you hanging outside Castillo de Santa Catalina. In today’s installment we’ll continue north on Calle el Castillete until we reach Avenida las Nieves. It is at that intersection you will find yourself looking uphill, with some pretty spectacular colors to the northwest:

View from Aven...

Fun Photo Friday — Transatlantic 2022; Santa Cruz de La Palma favorites 2

Whimsical Monumento a el Enano (Monument to the Dwarf)

For an explanation of the whimsical statue above, try this link: Monumento a el Enano. And after you’ve perused that, here’s a photo of Ursula being “Different”:

Ursula being “Different”

Now here’s the rest of today’s second of three Fun Photo Friday favorites of Santa Cruz de La Palma:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Transatlantic 2022 — La Palma; Continuing on Pérez de Brito, then on to Castillo de Santa Catalina

Back on Calle Anselmo Pérez de Brito and heading north

Today I’m taking you on a stroll that begins on Pérez de Brito and winds up at a castle dating back to 1685, or even 131 years earlier if you count the original structure built at that location. But before we arrive there, let’s have some colorful fun along this magnificent pedestrian street, which is a continuation of Calle O’Daly and Calle Real.

If Doors, Windows, Balconies, and Color are your thing…

You may have noticed from past ...

Transatlantic 2022 — La Palma; Calle Anselmo Pérez de Brito and Los Balcones on Avenida Maritima

Street Vender; Corner of Calles Anselmo Pérez de Brito and Vendale

Today I shall show you the sights continuing northeast along Calle Anselmo Pérez de Brito, then take you on a short jaunt east to the parallel Calle Avenida Maritima. Here we’ll look at the famed Los Balcones (The Balconies) near the intersection of Avenida Maritima and Calle Tedote. But, first, let’s continue on Pérez de Brito:

Calle Anselmo Pérez de Brito

Again, make sure you glance down the side streets toward the blac...

Fun Photo Friday — Transatlantic 2022; Santa Cruz de La Palma favorites 1

Red Door on a Slope

Today is the first of three Fun Photo Friday favorites featuring Santa Cruz de La Palma. Click on any image below to enlarge the photo and to engage the gallery:

Transatlantic 2022 — La Palma; Calle O’Daly and Plaza de España

Flags (left to right): Canary Islands, Spain, La Palma

At the conclusion of Monday’s article on our transatlantic Vision of the Seas arrival into La Palma in the Canary Islands, I was showing you our trek onto Santa Cruz d La Palma’s fun pedestrian street Calle O’Daly. Today we continue that northeasterly trek to where Calle O’Daly becomes Calle Real for a short stretch before changing names again to Calle Anselmo Pérez de Brito.

Heading down Calle O’Daly early in the morning

The street ...

Transatlantic 2022 — Vision of the Seas to La Palma, Canary Islands

Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas in La Palma, Canary Islands

Ursula and I only recently got back from a trip that began with a flight to Fort Lauderdale on 27 April 2022, and didn’t see us return until 7 July. This was yet another transatlantic cruise aboard a Royal Caribbean ship, Vision of the Seas. Now, I love sea days, as it affords me the opportunity to play bridge. And play I did, twice a day every day at sea. But on 7 May it was time to get down to the business of photography as we...

Fun Firearm Friday on Beretta Week — 950 BS Jetfire — Is this the original James Bond gun?

Beretta Week firearms from left to right: 84B Cheetah; 21A Bobcat; 950 BS Jetfire

“He then took from under his shirts in another drawer a very flat .25 Beretta automatic with a skeleton grip, extracted the clip and the single round in the barrel and whipped the action to and fro several times, finally pulling the trigger on the empty chamber. He charged the weapon again, loaded it, put up the safety catch and dropped it into the shallow pouch of the shoulder-holster.“

— Ian Fleming from his no...