Tag Archives: Maasdam

September 15, 2014 · 5:35 am

Bah Hahbah — It’s in Maine

Bar Harbor, Maine

Or is it “Bar Harbor?” We’re down to our last seven blog posts on the Montreal-to-Boston run aboard Holland America’s MS Maasdam. Over these last seven posts we’ll explore Bar Harbor, Maine; the Mount Desert Island portion of the Acadia National Park; and see images of the charmingly unique Egg Rock Light guarding ships in Frenchman Bay.

MS Maasdam

We anchored off the coast of Mount Desert Island on Friday, June 6, and from there we tendered into the town of Bar Harbor. Mount Desert, by the way, is the sixth largest island in the Lower Forty-Eight (the Contiguous United States), and Bar Harbor is that once famous summertime destination of the rich and famous — John D. Rockefeller; J. P. Morgan (No, not Jaye P. Morgan. The other J. P. Morgan — John Pierpont); Cornelius Vanderbilt; and a man to whose wealth I have personally contributed on several occasions — the late, great William “Bill” Ruger.

Bar Harbor, Maine

Today you’re seeing images of Bar Harbor, a picturesque town that offers myriad photographic opportunities with a historic quaintness that begs for some artistic post-processing for a more vintage look.

Bar Harbor, Maine

Bibliography:

Bar Harbor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_Harbor,_Maine
Mount Desert Island: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Desert_Island
Cornelius Vanderbilt: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelius_Vanderbilt
William B. Ruger: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Ruger
P. Morgan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._P._Morgan
John D. Rockefeller: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Rockefeller
Holland America: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_America_Line
MS Maasdam: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Maasdam

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel

Tagged as Bar Harbor, cruise, Holland America, Maasdam, Maine, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel

September 10, 2014 · 5:35 am

Mahone Bay for Part of the Day

St. James Anglican, St. John’s Lutheran, and United Church

Our tour bus made a brief stop on Tannery Road on the other side Lunenburg Harbor so that we could look back and photograph the town we had just departed. Don’t miss the opportunity to capture the colors of Lunenburg.

Lunenburg Panorama

After a brief journey the bus dropped us off on the very outskirts of the town of Mahone Bay, located not coincidentally next to the body of water known as Mahone Bay. No baloney, that’s a lot of Mahone. From there Ursula and I first stepped out onto a dock for a view of the town and its three famous churches, then strolled into town for a little leisurely sightseeing. Along the way we ran into some very charming homes.

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

When we reached the main shopping areas — tourism centric, of course — we found the building here equally picturesque.

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

But the one shop we simply had to step into was Amos Pewter (link below). This is a must-see, and not for just the artistic hand-crafted wares inside. Here you can watch artisans melt, cast, trim, and polish exquisite pewter pieces ranging from the ornamental (jewelry) to the practical (letter openers) and everything in between. And, yes, we wound up with jewelry for Ursula and a letter opener for me.

Amos Pewter Shop & Tour

We departed the business district and proceeded by the three picturesque churches overlooking Mahone Bay: St. James Anglican, St. John’s Lutheran, and United Church.

St. James Anglican, St. John’s Lutheran, and United Church

The newest church is the mustard-colored St. James Anglican, which dates back to 1887.

St. James Anglican, newest of the lot — 1887

Friday I’ll present Part 2 of my favorites from Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, and our departure from Halifax into fog-shrouded waters. Until then here is today’s photo gallery slide show:

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

St. James Anglican, St. John’s Lutheran, and United Church

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

Bibliography:

Maritime provinces: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritimes
Nova Scotia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia
Halifax: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia
Lunenburg: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunenburg,_Nova_Scotia
Mahone Bay (town): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahone_Bay_%28town%29
Mahone Bay: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahone_Bay
Amos Pewter: http://www.amospewter.com/about-us/

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel

Tagged as Holland America, Maasdam, Mahone Bay, Maritime Provinces, Nova Scotia, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, Ursula Wicker

September 8, 2014 · 5:35 am

Meandering Through Lunenburg

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

As beautiful as St. John.s Anglican Church is, especially the inside, more sights and charm awaited us as we made our way down to the shore. But before we got there we meandered from Gallows Hill through more residential areas.

Cumberland Street; The Great War — 1914-1918

Eventually we wound up on Cumberland Street, where I found the copper-domed Central United Church.

Central United Church

Turning right onto King Street led us to a very colorful section of town that photographically seemed to chase away the overcast.

King Street

King Street takes you to the wharf area and Bluenose Drive. From the looks of it, the restaurants and hotels in this area form the heart of Lunenburg’s tourism-based economy.

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

It is here, along the wharves, where architecture gives way to rustic port. Have your camera ready for some really interesting atmosphere shots.

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

That wraps up our visit to Lunenburg, but we’re far from done on this particular excursion away from the MS Maasdam. On Wednesday we continue on to Mahone Bay with it’s charming churches and colorful shops. And we’ll even do a little shopping in a nifty pewter store along the way.

Meanwhile, click on today’s photo gallery slide show: