2025 NE Cruise - St John, Library Balloon Girl

As it turns out this library was quite the place, with more than one photo op for the Bigger Cahoona.  The girl was hanging from a wire, which was quickly and handily removed by the awesome and improved Remove Tool in Photoshop.

2025 NE Cruise - St John, Marching Protestors

It became necessary to stop by the restroom before we got to the ship, and a kind person on the street told us that the library was the best place to go.  That's it across the street here, but we couldn't cross right away because of this march taking place.  Don't know if they were protesting or celebrating or what, as the flags and signage didn't specify.  So we waited a few minutes for them to get past, then made our way to relief.

2025 NE Cruise - St John, Old Building Facade

A building we encountered along the way back to the port.

2025 NE Cruise - St John, Apartment Building Through Trees

This was the view upon exiting the church.  Looking at the apartment building through these trees reminded me of this post and this post, both published in 2020.

2025 NE Cruise - St John, Ornate Church Lectern

Probably the most elaborate and ornate lectern ever made...even the bird gets a sash!  Wonder who gets to stand here and speak...

2025 NE Cruise - St John, Focus Shift with Cross and Stained Glass

 ...a focus-shifted pair using some stained glass in the background.

2025 NE Cruise - St John, Church Throne

Is this a throne?  I guess only certain people of high "rank" in the place get to sit here.  I've always had a problem with hierarchy in a church, as the Bible teaches that love is the great leveler of all the playing fields in life, and the "greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matthew 23:11).  Dunno - all these robes and crowns and hats and sashes - and thrones - the "higher ups" in a church get to use sure sets them apart somehow.  Shouldn't we be uniting instead?

2025 NE cruise - St John, Bookmark with Cross

 

2025 NE Cruise - St John, Pulpit of Church Interior

Church interiors are always fun to shoot.  There is often an abundance of color, good subtle lighting, and lots of art in glass, wood and stone.  Pulpits are interesting, as their elevation and degree of ornateness speaks to the veneration of the ministers that stand and speak behind them.  Plus it's a challenge - due to the usually low light conditions it's a trick to keep a steady hand, especially with a slower, middling lens.  I like photographing the insides of churches.

2025 NE Cruise - St John, Church Organ Pipes