Isle of Man – Douglas

by WBlackwell on October 30, 2017

From the roof the the Isle of Man ferry looking out at the Lake District

Th Ashton Memorial in Lancaster

Dark when I arrived, so I just crashed, The next AM I did a wander around the island’s capitol city, Douglas. This is the symbol of the Isle of Man. Three legs for it’s (coat of) arms. It’s meaning: The punning motto ‘Quocunque Jesseris Stabit’ -generally given as ‘which everway I am thrown I will stand’

The capitol of the Isle of Man (or Mann, as both seem to be acceptable)is a serious summer resort. As it is not actually part of the UK, I have to see if my time there effects my 180 day allowance. I spent my first day simply walking around and taking in the town.

This horse drawn tram runs along the promenade. There is also a steam train that Thomas the Tank fans might like.

Or you can tour the island on this bad boy.

Queen Victoria’s Silver Jubilee is marked all over the UK.

The street where I stayed seemed typical of the city. About a mile from the ferry terminal and closer to both the Promenade and High Street.

And the Man Museum has this for one of the entry ways.

This was a nice museum with lots of work by local artists, a 20 minute movie giving a good presentation of the island’s history and local artifacts. Local museums and libraries should not be skipped.

The Giant deer resembles the Irish Elk I saw in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, which is my personal favorite museum.

Vikings were Christianized after they had been on the island awhile. Celtic grave markers

For some reason I just liked this one

I had noted a high point overlooking the harbor so that was my target as high points usually are. I didn’t know what this building was from the harbor but is simply a fancy apartment complex.

Along the way:

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Limited^[1] (abbreviated to IoMSPCo.) (Manx: Sheshaght Phaggad Bree Ellan Vannin) is the oldest continuously operating passenger shipping company in the world, celebrating its 180th anniversary in 2010. I had arrived on this one: Ben-my-Chree

This art deco building is marked 1998 but looks older

With a Viking on guard

St. Mary’s Isle and the Tower of Refuge created as a refuge for sailors who were frequently shipwrecked on the island by Sir William Hillary (who helped to found the Royal National Lifeboat Institution) in 1832.