Tag Archives: cruise vacation

Nile Cruise — First Look at the Jaz Celebrity and Meeting Mohamad Salah


Jaz Celebrity

Ursula and I left Cairo behind and flew south, reaching our next destination on this months-long trip, Aswan, on Wednesday, 26 February of this year. Here we were greeted by a driver from Luxor and Asway Travel, which would be supplying us the best guide we’ve ever encountered in all our travels. Not only would this guide, Mohamad Salah, meet us on our boat, he would sail with us in his own cabin and arrange travel and tours for us the entire cruise beginning with the day before we set sail.

Perhaps the World’s Greatest Tour Guide — Mohamad Salah

Now let me describe our boat. For this journey we were traveling with Jaz Cruises aboard their Jaz Celebrity. Although our River Nile cruise would not leave until the next day, we boarded on the 26th and overnighted in Aswan, which saves hotel and dining expenses for one night. Nothing wrong with that scenario.

Jaz Celebrity

I’ll show your our room and a couple of other places aboard Celebrity on Wednesday, and boat-board dining options on Friday, but today is mostly concentrated upon comon areas starting with the atrium. This is the impressive view greeting you upon boarding:

Jaz Celebrity

This view is of the atrium opening from an intermediate deck:

Jaz Celebrity

The Jaz Celebrity game room contains a pool table:

Jaz Celebrity

Pool not your thing? How about a library and some chess?

Jaz Celebrity

Or perhaps you would prefer a bit of shopping:

Jaz Celebrity

Yes, these boats do have lounges with fully equipped bars:

Jaz Celebrity

And the seating is quite nice:

Jaz Celebrity

But let’s face it. We’re here for the view, and views are in abundance up on the top deck. And feluccas are everywhere:

Felucca plying the Nile

More views of the Jaz Celebrity on Wednesday, with an emphasis on our accommodations.

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Fun Photo Friday —Haugesund Favorites 4


A Young Man and his Wolf

Today I present one last look at Haugesund, Norway. Next week it’s off to our final Norwegian destination — Kristiansand.

Marilyn Monroe Tribute

Just in case you’re wondering what Marilyn Monroe’s connection is to Haugesun, Norway, this city claims that her grandfather, Martin Mortensen, was born here. Mystery solved!

Have You Driven a Fjord Lately?
Haugesund Rooftops
More Haugesund Rooftops
Haugesund Color

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Filed under Fun Photo Friday, Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Touring Haugesund on Foot 8 – Back Across the Risøy Bridge


Haraldsgata, Haugesund, Norway

Jewel of the Seas arrived at our next-to-last Norwegian destination on 29 June 2022. Continuing today and running through 29 December I present to you the port city of Haugesund in Western Norway. During this time I’m going to once again get photo-centric on you, as we traveled Haugesund by foot on our own. The title of each Monday and Wednesday article in this series will give you an idea of what area is being presented. The series will run as follows:

  • 4 December 2023: Touring Haugesund on Foot 1 — Arrival
  • 6 December 2023: Touring Haugesund on Foot 2 – Crossing Risøy Bridge
  • 8 December 2023: Fun Photo Friday —Haugesund Favorites 1
  • 11 December 2023: Touring Haugesund on Foot 3 – Haraldsgata Area
  • 13 December 2023: Touring Haugesund on Foot 4 — Vår Frelsers Kirke
  • 15 December 2023: Fun Photo Friday —Haugesund Favorites 2
  • 18 December 2023: Touring Haugesund on Foot5 – Torggata Area
  • 20 December 2023: Touring Haugesund on Foot 6 – Smedasundet Area
  • 22 December 2023: Fun Photo Friday —Haugesund Favorites 3
  • 25 December 2023 (Merry Christmas, by the way): Touring Haugesund on Foot 8 – Rådhusparken Area
  • 27 December 2023: Touring Haugesund on Foot 9 – Crossing back over the Risøy Bridge
  • 29 December 2023: Fun Photo Friday —Haugesund Favorites 4

Here is today’s photo gallery/slide show of our trek back to the Risøy bridge for our return to Jewel of the Seas and our next destination:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation