R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 69

Ireland — The Blarney Stone

Kissing the Blarney Stone — not for the faint of heart

We’re today going to take a look at the famous Blarney Stone, a structure some tourists feel the need to kiss. Planting your lips upon this rock, you’ll forevermore have bestowed upon you the gift of gab (great eloquence and skilled flattery). And who doesn’t want to become a silver tongued devil?

How “Blarney” came about

The Blarney Stone is actually atop the east wall of the castle keep. You’ll recall the north wall from last Mond...

Forty Years Ago Today — A moment in history

Forty years ago today, 3 August 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization — PATCO — went out on strike against the Federal Aviation Administration, and by extension the U.S. government. I was at the time an staff sergeant and an air traffic controller in the U.S. Air Force working at a control tower and precision approach radar (PAR) at an Air Force Base in the western United States.

It was quite a ride that year, and the year following. Weeks before the strike, just...

Ireland — Blarney Castle

Another day, another port. Brilliance of the Seas had left Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the next day we made Cobh, Ireland, the port serving the city of Cork. This would be our last port of call in Ireland before heading west to the Azores. But before heading across the pond, Ursula had us set up for a tour of Blarney Castle, home of the famous Blarney Stone (about which you’ll read in Wednesday’s article).

Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle is about 38 kilometers/20 miles from Cobh, and ...

Fun Photo Friday — Giant’s Causeway favorites 2

Today is our last look at the Giant’s Causeway before moving on to our next destination aboard Brilliance of the Seas:

Northern Ireland — Giant’s Causeway; Mosaics in the ground

We begin Week 2 of our look at Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway. Today I’ll be concentrating, but not completely fixating, upon the basalt mosaic patterns seen in much of this area rather than the columns.

Giant’s Causeway mosaic pattern

It seemed to me that most of the columns lay further from shore, and the ground level mosaic patterns were closer to the water.

Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

This didn’t appear to be solely due to erosion, as the tops of the exposed colu...

Northern Ireland — Giant’s Causeway; More columns and ruggedness

Today I’ll just let the photographs do the talking. In this series of images you’ll see a wide array of basalt shapes ranging from huge boulders, to tall columns, to ground-level mosaic patterns:

Basalt boulders at Giant’s Causeway Basalt mosaic Columns standing as sentries overlooking the landscape A combination of all three features

Fun Photo Friday — Giant’s Causeway favorites 1

Today is the first of two Fun Photo Fridays dedicated to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland:

Northern Ireland — Roaming the Giant’s Causeway

Welcome once again to the Giant’s Causeway, an area of Northern Ireland consisting of some 40,000 volcanic basalt columns rising from the Earth. And, yes, you can even climb onto this alien landscape:

Perched atop basalt columns at Giant’s Causeway

Normally I’m not a fan of people getting into my shots, but Giant’s Causeway is the exception. The crowds give these columns some perspective of size:

Giant’s Causeway

Even so, one does enjoy catching this wonder sans people as well:

...

Northern Ireland — Reaching the Giant’s Causeway

Over this week and next I’ll be presenting mostly images from an area that has amazed me since I first saw pictures of it many years ago. This is Northern Ireland’s surreal World Heritage Sight (designated: 1986) known as the Giant’s Causeway.

Even the approach to this magical area is filled with enchantment. Below you start to get a hint of what awaits you here:

Giant’s Causeay.

The Giant’s Causeway sits atop an old volcanic fissure, and here you will find an incredible series of 4...

Fun Photo Friday — Carrickfergus and Carrick-a-Rede Favorites

Now for today’s Fun Photo Favorites of Carrickfergus and Carrick-a-Rede: