Tuesday, April 21, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Charlottetown, Peek-a-Boo Shot of Steeples


Once on the ground I was able to snatch this Peek-a-Boo shot of the steeples at St Dunstan's.

After "hitting the trail" we determined this to be just another little town to walk around in and look at things.  Wasn't too difficult, as it was so small; in just a couple of hours we covered nearly everything there.  Thus, like in Sydney, there aren't too many pictures to post.

Monday, April 20, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Charlottetown, St Dunstan's Basilica Steeples

Our balcony suite was high enough to capture a bird's eye view of the ports we visited.  This is St Dunstan's Basilica, captured as soon as the ship stopped moving upon our arrival at Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island).  Different perspective below from a lower deck on the ship:



Sunday, April 19, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Sydney, Ship's Outside Walkway


And as stated a few days ago, there's just not much to do in these little towns except walk around and see what's there.  Old people stuff.  But we came to enjoy these quaint walks among the New England houses, shops and churches.  Suppose that means we're adjusting to being older ourselves...

This pic was captured dockside of the outside walkway on the Lido deck of the ship.  As one who loves heights, I took this detour whenever possible whether we were sailing or stopped at a port.

And these few photos will finish up our stop at Sydney - next port, Charlottetown.

Saturday, April 18, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Sydney, Harborshore Statue

Canada has its share of unique statuary; this one was along the harborshore in Sydney.  Two more of a different perspective below:




Friday, April 17, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Sydney, Nestled Structure


The way this outbuilding is nestled among the trees reminded me of this shot captured on Lake Windermere back in 2018.

Thursday, April 16, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Sydney, Pidgeon on the Fly


Though we look at birds as good looking and pretty sounding - and are perhaps envious of their flight capabilities - their lives are nothing more than a constant, desperate fight for a hardscrabble existence.  This seagull was on a mission and had to get there fast, whatever it was...

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Sydney, Cloud Reflection on DT Building


Was reminded of this shot from Nashville as a comparison...note the bird caught in mid-flight toward the bottom of the photo (click to enlarge).

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Sydney, Water Reflection on Shoreside Building


The restaurant prices were usually so exorbitant on shore that we planned our excursions around mealtimes to avoid dropping $50 or more on mediocre fare.  During lunch on the ship in Sydney I was looking out the window and saw this water reflection on one of the buildings in town.  Had to catch it, so right after eating we skedaddled up to our balcony, where I captured this shot.

Monday, April 13, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Sydney, Largest Violin in the World


By the time we sailed into Sydney it became apparent to us that most of the stops in small New England towns would be basically the same...places in which to just walk around and see what's there.  And, like the boardwalk in Halifax, there usually is one thing that makes it stand out; here it had to be the largest violin the the world.

Silhouette shot below:



Sunday, April 12, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, 2-shot Cityscape Panorama


I love cityscapes, and Halifax makes for a pretty handsome cityscape.  Taken at dock level, the beginning of the boardwalk is in the left foreground.

It's interesting - even odd - that I didn't take any pictures at all in the Titanic museum, as this was a first priority for the stop.  Featured there were papers and other odds & ends found floating after the ship went down.  What was more interesting to us, however, were the artifacts left after a 1917 ship explosion where the death toll was even greater than that of the Titanic.  We'd never heard the story before.

This will conclude our port call in Halifax.  Believe the next stop is Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Saturday, April 11, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Dining Seagull


If this is a seagull it's the biggest one I've ever seen.  Knows how to make itself right at home...

Thursday, April 9, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Gift Shop in Public Gardens


Yes, a quaint little gift shop and café there on the premises...

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Bee on Red and White Flower


Another bee picture.  Since the focus fell on the white petals, the bee needed heavy sharpening to give the appearance that it was in focus as well...

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Yellow Flower Against Black Background


Amazingly, this picture - with the exception of some sharpening - is completely untouched.  Normally I'd desaturate the color for effect, but the leaves in the background here are naturally black.

Monday, April 6, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Bee on Flower in Profile


This and the pic that will be posted tomorrow are probably my two favorites of the Halifax shoot.  Bees are a little bit challenging to capture; once they land it's necessary to work fast, snapping as many shots as possible before they take off again.  This was the best of about seven taken from a profile perspective of the flower.  Some distracting elements were removed from the background, and voilĂ  - we have a keeper.

Sunday, April 5, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Red Squirrel


Not sure how much time we spent in the Dahlia tent, but I went crazy in there and snapped at least 30 unique photos, each with three loud mirror clacks due to bracketing for exposure compensation.  Must've seemed obnoxious, as I was the only one not taking pictures with a phone camera.

Next we ventured to other parts of the park, which featured equally interesting subjects, such as this red squirrel.  Zooming way in, what interested the critter wasn't obvious, but something must have been moving in the root ball that attracted its attention.

Thursday, April 2, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Awesome Red Flowers

Not sure this was a Dahlia, but was under the tent nevertheless.

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

2025 NE Cruise - Halifax, Red Flower Against Green Background


This pic, likewise, only needed a little sharpening.