Tag Archives: photography

December 2, 2013 · 5:35 am

Marveling at Marseille

Marseille Panorama

After Aix-en-Provence and Cassis our Mercedes minivan returned us to Marseille where we first visited Palais Longchamp for some quick photos, then onward to the harbor.

Palais Longchamp

At the harbor is where our little tour group temporarily separated for a little lunch and on-foot sightseeing.

Marseille

Photo tip: When travelling in Europe (and other places) remember to look well beyond photographing the ABCs (Another Bloody Castle/Cathedral/Church). Look for interesting textures and colors presented by the more mundane and everyday:

Fishnet

Shutters

The Rowboat

After our group rejoined our next stop was high above Marseille — the stunningly beautiful Neo-Byzantine (hey, if it ain’t Baroque, don’t nix it) Notre-Dame de la Garde — which overlooks the entire area from a height of nearly 500 feet (150 meters).

Notre-Dame de la Garde overlooking Marseille

The views from this exquisite basilica aren’t all outside, however. The interior is equally stunning:

Notre-Dame de la Garde

Another sight awaiting you at the entrance to the harbor is Château d’If, famous as the prison which held Edmond Dantès in Alexander Dumas’ classic tale The Count of Monte Cristo.

Château d’If

And here for your viewing pleasure is today’s photo gallery. Click on any image below to bring up the slideshow:

Marseille

Marseille Panorama

Marseille Harbor

Notre-Dame de la Garde

Palais Longchamp

Notre-Dame de la Garde

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Filed under Photography, travel

Tagged as cruise ship, France, Holland America, Marseille, MS Ryndam, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel

November 29, 2013 · 5:35 am

Fun Photo Friday — MS Ryndam Photo Contest

Regular followers of this blog will recall that I asked for their assistance in choosing pictures to enter into the MS Ryndam’s photo contest for this cruise (H*E*L*P — Advice Needed). Passengers were allowed one entry in each of four categories. Those categories and the associated entries you helped me to select were:

Landscapes:

Guesthouse — The Bicycle

Objects:

Door Framed in Blue

People:

The Cell Phone Break

and Animals:

“Sure Hope Nobody’s Watchin’ This”

Results? Pretty good. You’ll recall that my first inclination for the people category was to enter this little gem, but you all overwhelmingly talked me out of it:

The Smoke Break

You were right and I was wrong. Your choice took first place. Thanks, readers.

Also in first was my entry for the Animals category.

Two out of four categories. I’ll take that as a win any day, thanks to you all.

3 Comments

Filed under Photography, travel

Tagged as cruise ship, Holland America, MS Ryndam, photo contest, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel

November 27, 2013 · 5:35 am

Casing Cassis

Cassis Panorama

After Aix-en-Provence our intrepid band of merry travelers loaded back into the Mercedes minivan and continued on to Cassis (not the blackcurrant berry but rather the fishing village and beach resort). Our first view of this picturesque village occurred when we crested the hills above and set out on foot on Cap Canaille — the highest sea cliffs in France.

Cassis as seen from Cap Canaille

The main show however wasn’t the view. It was the nearby group rappelling down those cliffs from heights that made me cringe just thinking about it.

Are You NUTS?!?!?!

Why, Yes . . . I Am Nuts as a matter of fact!

After making our way down from the cliffs, we were greeted by an exquisite little village right out of 1950s French cinema. Oh, and, the cheese was great.

Pretty Cheesy Merchandise, if you ask me

Ursula and I bought some and later put it on a couple of ham-laden baguettes during our lunch break in Marseille. Here’s today’s photo gallery of this seaside charmer: