Tag Archives: cruise

Jewel of the Seas — Making Port in Cobh, Ireland


Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas in Cobh, Ireland

After a brief break to honor Memorial Day and commemorate the 79th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, today we’re back on articles involving the first of three back-to-back cruises aboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas. You may recall that these voyages took place from late May through the end of June 2022. Before my aforementioned break in this series, I showed you our earlier stops in Iceland and Belfast. Our visit to Jewel’s next destination took place two days after departing Belfast. So, today I begin the first of three weeks of articles on the quaint Irish port city of Cobh. But before we leave the Jewel, here is a view of the Jewel‘s atrium:

Jewel of the Seas atrium

Now that we’ve given some love to this magnificent ship, let’s head out onto the deck for our first views of Cobh (formerly Queenstown until it was renamed in 1920 during the Irish War for Independence). Even if you don’t leave the ship, you’ll still find much to zoom in on and photograph, such as the Cobh Museum, the repurposed Presbyterian Scots Church on High Road directly across from the cruise terminal and train station.

Cobh Museum — formerly Scots Church (1854-1965)

You might recall that I’ve shown you Cobh before, but only briefly as we were on tour that day. On this visit we spent the entire day here, which is why you’ll see much more of it this time around. Cobh’s most infamous claims to fame are probably that it was the last port of call for the RMS Titanic, and that survivors and recovered dead from RMS Lusitania were brought here. One hundred ninety-three Lusitania victims are interred at Old Church Cemetery about a mile to the north. At any rate, it’s Titanic that gets the most attention here, as evidence from this work alongside the port:

Titanic 100th Anniversary 1912-2012

Three quick views of Cobh as seen from the Jewel before we head out on foot:

St. Colman’s Cathedral (left)
Westborne Pl. (lower left) and West Beach (center to right side)

Now here’s a fun one. See the old columned structure on the left below? That’s the Old Methodist Church, which at one point became a pub. I believe it’s for sale, if you’re interested in a fixer upper.

Old Methodist Church (left) and colorful buildings along Westbourne and West Beach

Now we exit Jewel. Cobh was the jumping off point for many Irish immigrants to the United States. Below is a statue dedicated to Annie Moore, who immigrated at age 17 along with her two younger brothers Anthony and Philip. Annie Moore has the distinction of being the first immigrant processed at Ellis Island, New York City.

Annie (age 17), Anthony (15), and Philip (12) Moore in 1892

At the port you’ll find easy access to the train station, which also houses the Cobh Heritage Centre (more on that later in this series):

Cobh Train Station
Cobh Heritage Centre

On Wednesday we’ll continue this series with our walk into town.

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Comments Off on Jewel of the Seas — Making Port in Cobh, Ireland

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

Fun Photo Friday — Belfast Favorites


Angry Bird

Several years ago I published a series of blog articles on filtering black & white photographs to get the most out of them. I came across a photo in this series that demonstrates color filtering in stark terms. I’ll start with the color original:

The original photo

Then convert it using red filtering, which lightens the reds and darkens the blues:

Red filtered conversion to black & white

And, lastly, a conversion using green filtering. Notice the opposite effect:

Green filtered conversion to black & white

If you’re interested in those articles, I’ve supplied links at the end of today’s Fun Photo Friday. But, for now, let’s take a look at this week’s favorites below. And remember, I’ll be continuing this cruise series in three weeks. However next week will be Memorial Day tributes and the week after will commemorate the D-Day landings, 6 June 1944.

Black & White Photography—It’s All in the Color!

Black & White Filtering After the Picture is Taken (and with FREE Software!)

Color Filtering in Black & White Revisited

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Comments Off on Fun Photo Friday — Belfast Favorites

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

Jewel of the Seas — Belfast; St George’s Market


St George’s Market, Belfast, Northern Ireland

On this visit to Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ursula was hot to visit St George’s Market. This is the last Victorian market in Belfast, and the original market on this site dates back to the 1890s. Inside you’ll find restaurants, food vendors, souvenirs, arts & crafts, clothing & accessories, jewelry, flower arrangements and other plants, and antiques & collectibles. Yes, you can spend hours perusing all the vendors and their offerings. We certainly did.

Paella, Sizzle & Roll, Gourmet Burger

The market reeks of hospitality. And one vendor in particular was quite the conversationalist and a really fun guy. Below is Ursula posing with Terry Beattie and his collection of marmalades from The Offbeat Bottling Company. We brought back a few jars of his Famous Extremely Orange Marmalade, which has won several awards.

Terry Beattie of The Offbeat Bottling Company

Orange is not the only flavor on hand, and marmalade not Terry’s only offering:

The Offbeat Bottling Company marmalades

If you head out to St George’s, Terry operates his both of Saturdays and Sundays. Tell him I sent you. Now for a photo gallery/slide show of other St George’s Market sights:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Comments Off on Jewel of the Seas — Belfast; St George’s Market

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