The west coast of mainland Norway has a collection of islands off it which provide a reasonably sheltered passage north (or south.) Many ferries ply the waters, a vital lifeline in the days before North Sea oil and the building of roads to remoter regions, and still going.

Karmsund Strait is a passage between the island of Karmøy and the islands of Vestre Bokn and the mainland in the east.

The MV Black Watch approached the narrowest point of the strait towards nightfall:-

These were electric pylons on Karmøy but not I think the ones on the photograph on the link above:-

The very elegant Karmsund Bridge crosses the strait’s narrowest point:-

Closer view. Note more pylons:-

Karmsund Bridge from below:-

Reverse view:-

The area was fairly built-up compared to the previous parts of Norway we’d seen:-

There was even a house which might be described as Art Deco:-

These were more Moderne than Deco:-

The Norwegians have invested their oil extraction revenues into a fund that benefits every Norwegian. In addition they have built roads through their country, tunnelling through the mountains from fjord to fjord.

Not to mention bridges across the narrowest point of some fjords like this elegant one across Lysefjord:-

Closer view:-

From below:-

There’s a solid rock mountain at one end of the bridge necessitating a sharp right turn (or left turn if you’re coming the other way):-

Reverse view:-

Edited to add:- there are some more photpgraphs of the bridge here. looking at the one on the right hand-side of the page it seems you can turn right or left (through a tunnel) at the cliff end of the bridge; which wasn’t obvious from fjord level.

I didn’t look behind us as we strolled fom the SS Black Watch to Honfleur. When we got to town I saw a sign to Pont du Normandie but I hadn’t realised how close it was.

I soon found out when we walked a bit west from Honfleur harbour:-

The bridge was very obvious when we were walking back to the ship but the best view was from the deck once we were back on board:-

Later in the afternoon the lighting conditions had changed. The rain clouds had gone away.

Over the other side of the River Seine near to Le Havre I could see this road bridge. Morning aspect:-

The same bridge in the afternoon’s lighting conditions:-

When we saw a notice advertising boat trips on the canal in Bruges we opted for one straight away. These photos mostly feature bridges over the canal(s).

Setting off:-

Typical view:-

Not quite “mind your head”:-

But certainly do this time. I think this was the one the guide said was the lowest:-

Looking back to low bridge:-

Bridge and swans:-

Furthest bridge on the trip. I think the building beyond the bridge is something to do with the water management system in Bruges:-

Side bridge and swans. The bridge wasn’t one we went under. It looks too low for that:-

As well as fine buildings Bruges is replete with water and is sometimes known as The Venice of the North. I’ve never been to Venice but Bruges is certainly lovely, whatever.

The church in the background here is Bruges Cathedral, The Church of Our Lady:-

This shows the bridge from which the previous photo was taken:-

And this the view from the bridge to the other side:-

View of same building left above from the opposite canal bank:-

And round the corner:-

Canal and bridge:-

Canal:-

Another bridge:-

The Humber Bridge from King George Dock, Hull:-

The exit from King George Dock is through a sea lock. A very tight squeeze! Looking directly down the ship’s side:-

Other side of ship. Only centimetres of water between ship and lock side:-

The sea lock:-

Lock emptying:-

Nearly at level:-

Finally moving off:-

Humber Bridge from Humber Estuary:-

I never did see the KCom stadium but on the way out of the Humber I spotted the very distinctive Grimsby Dock Tower (picture from Wikipedia):-

Some way beyond it were the four floodlight pylons of what looked very like a football ground which I assume must have been Blundell Park, home of Grimsby Town FC, though it seems the ground is actually in Cleethorpes.

Porto (Oporto) has a brilliant tram/metro system with six different lines (which sometimes meet up) and 80 or so stations.

It was the first time on the cruise we’d had to negotiate a foreign transport network, but the ticketing machine had an English option and was easy to use. The tickets were also cheap. For a fifteen or so stop ride into Porto from Matosinhos the cost was €2.60 return; for two!

The one we got on was heading for the home of Porto FC, Estádio do Dragão, but we had been told to get off at Trindad for the main part of the city so I never saw the stadium.

These photos were all taken on the way back when we had to make a change.

There are at least two types of tram on the Porto Metro system as seen here:-

The tram on the opposite track was going to the Estádio do Dragão. You can just about make that out on its destination board, even though it’s coupled up:-

Our final destination tram to Senhor de Matosinhos, though our stop was Matosinhos Sul:-

Porto’s metro system – it’s really a light rail – goes along streets, underground and even over the River Douro via the Dom Luis I bridge (Puente Don Luis I):-

The photograph below is of a colourful bridge which is the second part of the direct pedestrian access to the Centro Niemeyer from Avilés town and which we used in the afternoon. Another (curved) walkway leading to a small park (once you cross the railway and the road on shore) lies behind. We used that one to get to the town in the morning:-

View of buildings in Avilés taken from the from same vantage point as the photo above. There were men precariously at work on the roof of the building which has blue sheeting on its gable! (just to left of centre of photo.):-

Balconies were a feature of lots of buildings in Avilés. Also spot the street sculpture in the roadway below the yellow/mustard coloured building and the mural beyond:-

As we were walking through the town a local heard us speaking English and kindly directed us to an example of what is apparently a traditional kind of Asturian building. On wooden stilts! It was the only one of its kind we saw though:-

Avilés has lots of old buildings like this church, Parroquia de San Nicolás de Bari de Avilés:-

The City Hall is much more recent though:-

The coach trip to Bilbao had taken us through Getxo itself and given us a brief view of the Vizcaya Transporter Bridge, a UNESCO-listed Industrial Revolution icon, which carries people over the Ria Nervión between Las Arenas and Portugalete. Turning the corner of Getxo promenade takes you onto the riverside with a great view of the bridge:-

Closer view:-

I took a couple of videos of the bridge in operation. A gondola slung from the supports is the means of transportation. (Click on the pictures to take you to the videos.)

Compare the Tees Transporter Bridge at Middlesbrough.

End-on view of Vizcaya Bridge from Getxo:-

Nice square and fountain as seen in above photo but this time from the bridge ramp:-

There are external and internal exhibits at the Guggenheim.

The steel spheres are Tall Tree and The Eye by Anish Kapoor. They are surrounded here by FOG, an installation by Fujiko Nakaya. The mist switches on every so often:-

The giant spider (Maman) protecting her clutch of eggs is by Louise Bourgeois:-

Salbeko Zubia Bridge, Bilbao, FOG and Spider:-

Tulips by Jeff Koons:-

Tulips, Salbeko Zubia Bridge in background:-

Puppy by Jeff Koons. A giant West Highland Terrier covered in flowers. The flowers bloom at different times of the year so the exhibit is always changing. From Museum:-

Puppy, museum in background:-

Puppy and museum:-