Seascape - David Mathre Photography

Wednesday (22-August-2012) — Canada

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 00: Halifax, Canada.

Arrival of MV Explorer in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Overnight I received an e-mail from Michael Mariant that confirmed the MV Explorer would arrive in Halifax at 08:00 hours. I went down to the harbor early to watch the sunrise, and scout a good location to photography the ship when it arrived. When the ship did not arrive at 08:00, I walked to the Halifax casino, and then back to the cruise line terminal. Part way back, I saw the MV Explorer coming into port and started taking pictures. The ship went around an island in the harbor so it could dock on the port side of the ship. After waving to Michael and the other staff and faculty on deck that sailed from Boston to Halifax, I went back to the hotel to have breakfast and pick up my luggage.

The Life Long Learners and students with work-study assignments boarded the ship the day before departure. The boarding process included inspection by both Canadian immigration authorities and ship staff. Prior to leaving we were provided with a list of prohibited items, but I noticed some students giving items back to their parents when they realized that the luggage was going to be inspected. Passports were checked and those going to Ghana and Brazil needed their visas a yellow fever vaccination certificate. I did not need the visa and Yellow fever certificate since I would be departing the voyage in Casablanca, Morocco. We all received a ship ID with the picture we provided. The luggage was both x-rayed and hand inspected. There even was a dog that sniffed the luggage. Finally, after going through a metal detector we were allowed to board the ship. The majority of the students board the ship tomorrow.

Once onboard, I found my cabin on deck 4. For this voyage, my cabin was on the starboard side of the ship. This confused me a bit since I was on the port side on my previous Enrichment Voyages. I spent the afternoon wandering around reacquainting myself with the ship and its layout. I recognized many of the ship staff from my previous Enrichment Voyages. My suitcase was delivered to my cabin mid-afternoon. In the evening a reception was held on the ship for the parents of the students that would be on the Fall 2012 voyage. I am looking forward to meeting the students and getting on way to Europe.

M/V Explorer Turning to Dock in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 110 mm, f/5, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre) — MV Explorer Turning to Dock in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 110 mm, f/5, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Theodore Too and Lighthouse in the Halifax Harbor. The Theodore Too is an old tugboat that has been converted into a harbor tour boat. It looks like a cartoon character. We saw it go past the ship several times during the day. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 42.2 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Tuesday (21-August-2012) — New Jersey to Canada

Travel Day – New Jersey to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

For this trip, I arranged for a car service to take me from my home to the airport. The Newark airport long-term parking has a 30 day limit (which can be extended as long as you call the day you leave the car in the lot), but would have ended up costing more than the car service.

I got a call from the driver about 45 minutes before he was scheduled to arrive at my house. I had a hard time understanding him, but it sounded like he wasn’t even in the right county. I provided some directions, and he finally said he would pull over and check the address on Google Maps. Ultimately he showed up about 10 minutes late, but then got me to the airport in record time. Normally, it takes me about 2 hours to get to the airport, park in long-term parking, and ride the shuttle bus to the terminal. It took the driver just over an hour to get me from my house to the terminal. The driver was not speeding – he just got the traffic right once I directed him to I-287.

The flight was out of terminal A. I breezed through check-in and security, ending up at the terminal gate 2 hours early. As soon as I sat down I received a text message that the flight was delayed for 1 hour, so ended up waiting 3 hours for the flight to board. The flight was on a commuter jet where I barely had room for my camera/computer bag. The flight itself took less time than getting to the airport and waiting to board the plane.

We arrived at the Halifax airport just after a jumbo-jet from London. This meant long lines at passport control. It was interesting to see how many college age folks with parents were on the flight. I wondered how many would be joining the Semester at Sea voyage. The Canadian immigration folks did detain several folks from the London flight for extra questioning. The ones being questioned appeared to be from India or Pakistan. The passport control official made a comment that I appeared to be the oldest student coming into Halifax to board the MV Explorer. The taxi ride from the airport to my hotel in Halifax cost $53 Canadian. As soon as I checked into the hotel I walked about 6 blocks down to the harbor to find something to eat and take some pictures. There were lots of young folks checking out the restaurants and bars in the tourist area near the harbor. I was surprised how many tourists were in town being that there were no cruise ships in port. I found the location where I needed to go for boarding the MV Explorer on Wednesday. The MV Explorer was not yet in port. I stayed in the harbor area until sunset, and then went back to the hotel. The bars near the hotel were busy until well after midnight, and it didn’t get quiet until 02:00.

Norway Memorial in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera (ISO 125, 13.6 mm, f/4.7, 1/80 sec). The image includes the reflection of the photographer, Halifax Harbor, and a sailboat. (David J Mathre)

Canada Sea Fishing Boat on the Halifax Harbor at Sunset. Image taken with a Leica V-Lux 30 camera (ISO 400, 13.6 mm, f/4.7, 1/80 sec). Image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Photoshop CS6, and the Topaz Painterly filter. (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (27-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Vacation. Day 8: Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage Traveling North.

Five years ago the extended family was on a winter vacation in Norway, traveling north on the Hurtigruten ship M/S Kong Harald. This was day 5 of the voyage north along the Norwegian coast. The stops on this day were in Stokmarknes (01:00), Sortland (03:00), Risøyhamn (04:30), Harstad (06:45-08:00), Finnsnes (11:45), Tromsø (14:30-18:30), and Skjervoy (22:45). During the stop in Tromsø, several of us went for a dog-sled ride. Even though only early afternoon, it was already dark out. At the end of the day, there was a baptism ceremony for passengers that crossed the Arctic Circle for the first time officiated by the Captain and King Neptune.

Freighter Loading and Gisund Bridge (Gisundbrua) in Finnsnes Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/4.5, 1/40 sec) (David J Mathre)

The Cargo Ship NARDJARL Listing While Unloading Containers in Finnsnes Norway. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 80 mm, f/4.5, 1/25 sec) (David J Mathre)

Winter View of Finnsnes Norway from the M/V Kong Harald. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 35 mm f/2 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/2, 1/60 sec) (David J Mathre)

Winter View of the Finnsnes Lighthouse in a Snowstorm. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/400 sec). (David J Mathre)

Mary Cleaning her camera on the M/V Kong Harald. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/60 sec).. (David J Mathre)

Lars on the M/S Kong Harald. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/20 sec). (David J Mathre)

CANIS Stretching Before Taking us on Dog Sled Ride in Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/4.8, 1/60 sec).. (David J Mathre)

Brave Staying Warm. He was Not Included in the Dog Sled Ride. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/4.8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Dogs Being Prepared for a Dog Sled Ride Outside Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1000, 50 mm, f/1.4, 1/8 sec).. (David J Mathre)

Dog Sledding Outside Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 50 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 800, 50 mm, f/1.4, 1/6 sec).. (David J Mathre)

Mary after the Dog Sledding Trip in Tromsǿ. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/4.8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Dan After the Dog Sled Ride in Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/4.8, 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)

Coffee Pot on a Wood Fire. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4D lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/60 sec) and fill flash. (David J. Mathre)

Christopher warming up after the Dog Sled Ride Outside of Tromsø. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 85 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 85 mm, f/1.4, 1/60 sec).. (David J Mathre)

King Neptune at the Crossing the Arctic Circle Ceremony. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/6.3, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

King Neptune and the Ship Captain Performing a Baptism at the Crossing the Arctic Circle Ceremony. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/6.3, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (24-January-2007) — Norway

Gone to See Norway 2007 Family Vacation. Day 5: Hurtigruten Coastal Voyage Traveling North.

Five years ago the extended family was on a winter vacation in Norway, traveling north on the Hurtigruten ship M/S Kong Harald. This was day 2 of the Hurtigruten voyage north along the Norwegian coast. The stops on this day were in Florø (04:45), Måløy (07:30), Torvik (10:45), Ålesund (12:00-15:00), Molde (18:30), Kristandsund (23:00).

Ålesund Winter Panorama. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs and 12-24 mm f/4 lens (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). Composite of 3 images combined with Kolor AutoPano Giga Pro. (David J Mathre)

Saturday (24-December-2011) — Florida

Gone to See America. December 2011 Florida Road Trip. Day 5: St. Petersburg.

Sun Rising from under the Sunshine Skyway bridge viewed from Fort De Soto Park. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Sunrise Rising Under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from Fort Desoto County Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-200 mm f/2 VRII lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16. 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre) — Sunrise Rising Under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from Fort De Soto Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-200 mm f/2 VRII lens (ISO 100, 105 mm, f/16. 1/60 sec). (David J Mathre)