tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4637365458669452872024-03-05T22:11:29.383-05:00Photos by StanPhotos and writings --Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.comBlogger423125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-76764528300257190832019-02-21T13:53:00.001-05:002019-02-21T13:53:19.310-05:00Aruba Skies 2018-19 [Sky Watch Friday]Today’s posting is a far cry from the series of 15 I finished posting last week of our riverboat cruise up the Rhein, Main and Donau rivers. Although water is involved below, it is the Caribbean and we were at a fixed location on the island of Aruba. Rosemarie and I have enjoyed winter vacations there almost every year since 1991; and I have posted images many times over the last 7-8 years. However, I always find something new and interesting that I wish to share. This year was special in that we invited family along for the first week; viz. 4 grand-kids, 2 daughters and 1 son-in-law. The first four cell phone images below were by my 14-year old grandson, Gavi, who proved to have a good eye. I hope he gets interested in doing more photography.<br />
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The above shots were taken on Eagle Beach, perhaps the best beach on the island, and one that has gained international recognition. My images below were also shot with a cell phone on said beach.<br />
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The last shot below was taken on the second floor of the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Oranjestad, where we happened to go for lunch. The pool water is so high that it is at the same level as the surrounding deck, which I found fascinating; and there is a marvelous view into the harbor where you see docked one of the cruise ships that includes Aruba on its itinerary.<br />
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<br />Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-28788696555622118552019-02-14T15:08:00.001-05:002019-02-14T15:08:41.997-05:00Grand Circle River Tour 15: Vienna [Sky Watch Friday]A short ride from the hotel began our last day of the tour, to be spent in Vienna [Wien]. While Rosemarie and I were there last year on our own [prior to a Road Scholar tour of Budapest and Prague], much of what we saw this time turned out to be different. This is not surprising since there is so much to see in Vienna. <br />
We begin this year’s visit with a visit to the baroque Belvedere Palace, actually a complex of two palaces and a museum set within a beautiful park landscape.<br />
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The museum contains the largest collection of paintings by Gustav Klimt, some of which are also in Wien’s Leopold Museum [see my 2017 posting]. One of Klimt’s most famous paintings is The Kiss, which explains its display on the side of a delivery truck parked at the Palace. My wife does not look impressed….<br />
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After departing the palace, we took a bus tour through the city and then stopped off at a central location. We had some free time to lunch [a street Bratwurst on a hard roll] and walk about in an area near St. Stephan’s Dom. <br />
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Some of the exterior figures were particularly interesting to me. The Romanesque reliefs caught my eye, as well as a representation of the Beschneidung Christi [Circumcision of Christ], which is actually a day of celebration in Germany and Austria.<br />
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Here our sightseeing/picture taking concludes. At night we celebrated a farewell dinner at our hotel, an early morning wake-up and transfer to the airport. Grand Circle Tours really delivered on its promises, especially when nature didn't cooperate by having too low water levels for our ship to sail. I want to say thanks to those of you who have followed this adventure over the last 15 postings. I hope you enjoyed/learned something from them.<br />
Unfortunately, Google+ has informed me that they are going to remove all my blog postings by April 2 [all previous Comments have already been expunged]. I think other bloggers using Google+ will have the same fate. Hopefully, I will find a way to get my posts back up without them....<br />
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<br />Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-84350503839987464792019-02-07T09:16:00.000-05:002019-02-07T09:16:10.782-05:00Grand Circle River Tour 14: Melk Abbey [Sky Watch Friday]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As I noted in last week’s posting, our ship was not able to risk sailing further on the Danube [Donau] due to the low water level. So, while we again went by bus to our next destination, the 900 year old baroque Abbey of Melk in Austria, our luggage was transported to a hotel just outside of Vienna [Wien], where we would stay the remaining two nights of our trip.<br />
The Abbey became a Benedictine monastery in 1089 and a center for medieval scholarship. Its library contains more than 70,000 books and 2,000 manuscripts. The other rooms were breathtakingly ornate, so much so that I thought it ‘obscene’. Photography was strictly verboten, so I cannot document the interior, but I have several shots of the surrounding area.<br />
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Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-45484384101365467202019-01-31T09:35:00.002-05:002019-01-31T09:35:29.483-05:00Grand Circle River Tour 13: München [Sky Watch Friday]In Regensburg we experienced another glitch in our itinerary. We were supposed to sail from there southward towards München [Munich] and catch the last day of the Oktoberfest. However, once again, the low water level of the river precluded that. So, we made our way there by bus. Our rest stop was at the BMW headquarters and museum [located in the northern part of the city] turned out to be an unexpected treat. <br />
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We then proceeded into the heart of town where we parked just outside the Residenz. Across the street was the Italian Baroque-style church, the Theatinerkirche. The lower image is from another time in Munich. It was shot northwards towards the area known as Schwabing; a tower of the Ludwigskirche is visible in the background along with the Siegestor [Arch of Victory]. <br />
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My wife and I again separated from our walking tour to meet a dear old friend, Eva Z., whom we have known since the mid 1960s. The next few photos of iconic structures are also from a previous visit. The double towers of the brick Liebfraukirche are visible from all around the city. It suffered heavy damage in WWII and underwent massive rebuilding. Part of the new City Hall [in neo-Gothic style] is in the foreground of both images. At 11:00 am each day, throngs of people assemble in the square below to listen to its magnificent Glockenspiel and watch a drama unfold.<br />
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We met up with our tour group in the square and headed by bus out to the Theresienwiese to celebrate Oktoberfest. Unfortunately, we had to park quite a distance from the grounds, so we were obliged to make our way on foot along with thousands of others streaming there from all directions. Suffice it to say, the walk was unpleasant. The 'Wiese', a huge meadow, is a giant fairground filled with beer gardens, carnival rides, food stalls, souvenir stands and masses of people. Wisely, I did not bring my Canon DSLR camera along; also, the crowds were simply too much to bother with cell phone shots. So the remaining images below are drawn from my archive [dating back to 1967]. The Löwenbrau tent exterior [top] and interior [next three] are followed by a ride and souvenir dolls. The bottom image is a directional to the public toilet facilities. The German text translates literally to, ‘There can one - if one must’! More than sixty years later, this figure is still posted at various sites along the grounds.<br />
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After lunch we trekked back to the buses and returned to our ship still docked in Regensburg...more to follow next week. Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-90402294935796399032019-01-24T08:27:00.000-05:002019-01-24T08:27:04.904-05:00Grand Circle River Tour 12: Regensburg [Sky Watch Friday]As we proceeded towards Regensburg through the Rhein-Main-Donau Canal, we encountered some of the highest locks along the route. The Captain gave us a heads-up to go up on deck and see this one [a change in water level of over 60 feet ]. <br />
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In the morning we arrived in Regensburg, one of Gemany’s largest and best preserved medieval cities. A long walk along the river took us to the old Stone Bridge, built in the 12th century (Germany’s oldest bridge) at the time the Cathedral was also under construction. As you can see, a lot of other folks were heading in the same direction.<br />
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I couldn’t resist getting a shot of this young Bavarian’s hat.<br />
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We finally arrived in front of St. Peter’s Cathedral. <br />
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It was just as impressive on the inside. Particularly fascinating for me was the smiling figure [bottom image].<br />
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Wandering through the streets there were frequently little surprises, such as a passageway or a sausage stand. The Wurstkuchl, located right next to the old Stone Bridge, is regarded as the oldest takeout restaurant in the world (over 500 years old). I tried their Bratwurstkipfel, a bratwurst on a hard roll with Wurstkuchl’s famous sweet mustard. That was a special treat.<br />
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Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-75171059286997098662019-01-17T09:11:00.000-05:002019-01-17T09:11:15.825-05:00 Grand Circle River Tour 11: Nürnberg [Sky Watch Friday]I am back from winter vacation and ready to continue our itinerary. Our next port of call was Nürnberg, (in)famous for the Nazi rallies in the 1930s and 40s, as well as for the post war trials. Our first bus stop was to visit Zeppelin Field where those massive rallies were held [the name derives from the fact that Count Zeppelin once landed his dirigible there]. Surrounding this enormous field are the stands that held 150,000 spectators; just a small number of the pedestals for the light and flag towers is shown [top image]. The bottom image is of the tribune where the Nazi hierarchy sat and delivered their speeches. It is illegal today to make the Nazi salute, and someone taking a selfie might be mistaken for making the salute gesture…and end up speaking to authorities.<br />
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We left the field and drove to the hall of justice, hoping to gain entrance into courtroom where the original trial took place. Since the room is still used today, we were fortunate that it was available for tour groups to enter. The present courtroom [top image] has undergone some changes from the original [bottom image]. Still, it was an emotional experience being there.<br />
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After the lecture we headed for the main market place. It was at this point that Rosemarie and I separated from the group to meet with her cousin, Hans Jürgen, and his wife, Maria, who happen to live in Nürnberg. Our meeting place was at the famous Schöner Brunnen [Beautiful Fountain], a 14th century stone structure that was originally supposed to be the tower for the Frauenkirche located behind it. It turned out to be way too heavy, so a Plan B had to be devised; viz. make it a fountain and leave it there. Closeups of some of the fountain’s stone figures are shown. Getting those shots was difficult due to the fencing surrounding the fountain.<br />
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We passed the next several hours walking around, having lunch and catching up on family news. Eventually it was necessary to say Auf Wiedersehen, as we had to join up with our group on the bus.<br />
In closing, I have to say here that to me Nürnberg is one of the most fascinating small cities in Germany. I know from several prior visits that there is so much more in the way of religious, cultural and art historical significance than I have shown here. For example, there are two other churches [the Sebaldus Kirche and Lorenz Kirche] that contain some wonderful works of the late 15th century stone sculptor and architect, Adam Kraft. His masterpiece is a tabernacle in the Lorenz church. At its base is a figure that is his 'self-portrait'. Since there was not enough time to revisit either church this trip, I will show a pair of photos from 2012 illustrating this unusual work.<br />
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So, if you are ever planning a trip to Germany, I recommend that you do a little research beforehand; I trust you will want to add Nürnberg to your itinerary.Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-58850942814576871932018-12-20T13:13:00.003-05:002018-12-20T15:14:01.280-05:00 Grand Circle River Tour 10: Bamberg [Sky Watch Friday]Dubbed by some as the ‘Venice of Germany’, Bamberg is one of my favorite towns. Its old city center contains the largest existing group of historic structures and has earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Bamberg is laid out over 7 hills, near where the Regnitz River meets up with the Main River. Since our ship was docked on the latter, we needed another bus ride and walk to the town. As we walked along the Regnitz, I was moved by the richness of color and flowers in the morning light.<br />
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One of the highlights is the old city hall [Altes Rathaus]; Rat in German means Advice, not the rodent (although in some cases the latter might have been applicable). It dates back to the 15th century; however, remodeling and painting of the facade was done in the late 18th century. Below are several shots of this fascinating building. Notice the leg sticking out of the painted wall in the bottom two images. <br />
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I could have spent hours walking around and enjoying all its details. However, with some free time afforded us, I was on a mission to revisit the Bamberg Dom, completed in the 13th century. Having been under construction for many decades, architectural styles underwent change from the Romanesque [see the vaulting in the top image below] to Gothic [two of its four Gothic towers are shown in the bottom image below]. <br />
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My top mission was to shoot some good images of the Bamberger Reiter [Horseman], a stone statue by an unknown medieval sculptor. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to be back here after more than five decades. I believe that I accomplished my goal and here are several of my favorite shots. I should note that the lighting was dim and flat, and a high ISO was required; so in post-editing, I boosted up the exposure and contrast. However, the sculpture's grandeur speaks for itself.<br />
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As we headed back through town to meet our buses, this sign caught my eye. I thought that the Star of David indicated that the owner had been Jewish. However, it turns out that the two triangles, one pointing up and one down, is the symbol for beer brewers.</div>
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I am going to be away from my blog site for several weeks [until mid-January]. Upon my return we will be visiting Nürnberg. In the meantime, Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year.Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-77323201420902852672018-12-13T14:57:00.003-05:002018-12-13T14:57:27.606-05:00Grand Circle River Tour 9: Rothenburg ob der Tauber [Sky Watch Friday]The ship stopped the next morning in Gerlachshausen. Here a group of buses was waiting to transport those who wanted to visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of the most picturesque old towns in Germany. Originally, this was supposed to be an optional tour, which would cost each participant $90 to go. However, due to the low water that kept us off the ship for two days in Amsterdam, Grand Circle made the tour gratis for all. I thought that was pretty cool. Even more so than Wertheim, there were Fachwerkhäuser everywhere. And, the town still had its original medieval wall, entrance gates and cobblestone streets. Hence, it is not surprising that it is one of the most visited places in Germany. Here are several samples of this charming town.<br />
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Just by chance, I came across this butcher shop sign [Metzgerei]…now we know the real source of the Trump family wealth.<br />
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Saving the best for last, I headed for the iconic Plönlein, basicallyca fork in the road. On the left is late 14th century Siebers Tower, part of the second fortification of the expanding city.The road down to the right passes through the Kobolzeller Gate leading to down to the Tauber Valley. Just in front of the central orange Fachwerkhaus is a large wooden box. This was where fisherman stored their catch until market day. I was quite lucky to get this shot since the area had been overrun with tourists. I remained patient and bade my time until the crowd thinned out, though it looked for a while that it wasn't going to happen. [BTW, this was taken with my cell phone; it turned out better than my Canon DSLR shots.]<br />
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Join me next week for our visit to Bamberg.Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-70960786241403156162018-12-06T15:53:00.000-05:002018-12-09T09:27:09.805-05:00Grand Circle River Tour 8: Würzburg [Sky Watch Friday]After departing Wertheim, we spent the morning sailing along the Main to the Bavarian city of Würzburg. The ride was a smooth one; here is a shot I took through our cabin window.<br />
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We docked outside of the city, but within relatively easy walking distance. The way was already filled with wonderful sights. For example, across the river was the mid-18th century Käppele, a church that attracts pilgrims [in German, that is known as a Wahlfahrtkirche]. <br />
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This was followed immediately by the Marienberg Fortress [the Burg]. Note the vineyard below.<br />
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Die Alte Mainbrücke [the Old Main Bridge], a medieval pedestrian stone bridge lined with statues of saints and other icons connects the two shores. The bridge is one of Wurzbürg's landmarks and a popular place to congregate, usually while drinking a glass of wine or beer.<br />
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A right turn upon reaching the end of the end of the bridge and a straight walk led us to the Residenz, an 18th century Baroque palace. In the front courtyard was a fountain that had a depiction of a reknowned 15th century German master sculptor and woodcarver, Tilman Riemenschneider. I had seen many of his masterpieces around Bavaria, so I was thrilled to come across this work in his honor.<br />
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The Residenz was well worth the visit, although picture taking inside was verboten. However, I did get this shot through a window to the outside. The twin towers of the Dom are in the background.<br />
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A related scene shot from street level, and in a different location.<br />
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Working our way back to the ship, we made a purchase for Rosemarie… a spiffy new coat.</div>
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Next week's post will be from Rothenburg ob der Tauber.<br />
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<br />Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-40632738963269331882018-11-29T16:31:00.000-05:002018-11-29T16:31:29.591-05:00Grand Circle River Tour 7: Wertheim am Main [Sky Watch Friday]The next port of call on our Grand Circle Great Rivers of Europe trip was Wertheim am Main, where the Tauber and Main Rivers meet. Wertheim is a small and picturesque town with many half-timber houses [in German, Fachwerkhäuser], church towers and an old castle overlooking the town. <br />
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The Fachwerkhaus below is of special note because of the blue painted beams. Apparently, it was exceedingly expensive and difficult to make blue paint; so, the owner of this house was bragging to the neighbors that (s)he was of substantial means.<br />
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As in almost all German towns, there was a Jewish population prior to WW II. Little remains of the synagogues, and the people are certainly long gone. But, their memory is honored in a variety of ways. For example, there are small museums or remnants of the synagogue placed in the original location [see below]<br />
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In addition, throughout Germany and other European countries, small brass plates have been placed in the ground in front of the homes of former Jewish residents. I showed examples of them in a previous posting on Berlin. While I did not come across any in Wertheim [not to say that there aren’t any there], I did see a cluster in Heidelberg. I am showing it here because of the coincidence that the family name was Wertheimer. The date of their birth, deportation and execution are given [but, Karl fled to Colombia in 1937].<br />
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To end this posting on a lighter note.... Storefronts usually hung signs identifying the nature of their wares available for purchase; and one could create an album of shots dedicated to just that. However, to be more selective, I am showing the one that made me laugh out loud. Bäckerei is a bakery.<br />
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Next week we will be in Würzburg, a 'sister city' to my home town, Rochester, NY.<br />
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<br />Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-16639291130676676482018-11-22T15:01:00.000-05:002018-11-22T15:01:49.175-05:00Grand Circle River Tour 6: Heidelberg [Sky Watch Friday]After an overnight sail to Frankfurt am Main [pronounced Mine], we disembarked and boarded buses that would take us to Heidelberg [on the Neckar River]. Rosemarie and I skipped the group morning walking tour since we were met by our nephew and his wife, who had driven from Lambsheim. We spent the next several hours with Eckhard and Elie making our own tour, which included visiting the University and its so-called prison [for misbehaving students]. I think it was less of a prison and more of a frat house, and probably a badge of honor to have spent time there, where they could express their creative juices. <br />
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After taking lunch in the public market, we walked back to the central meeting place and rejoined our group in order to visit Heidelberg Castle; while Eckhard and Elie drove off to visit their grandson. It was a bit of a hike up to the castle, and before long I managed to get separated from my group. But that left me more freedom to get the shots I was interested in taking, particularly those overlooking the city.<br />
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Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-32767689243824831732018-11-13T22:49:00.001-05:002018-11-15T16:17:08.697-05:00Grand Circle River Tour 5: Am Rhein [Sky Watch Friday]According to the original itinerary, we were supposed to sail to Rudesheim along a stretch of the Rhein that passed through a valley dotted with vineyards and castles. Due to the low water level, the Adagio was not able to do this. So, our Program Directors engaged a group of buses to drive us to a convenient location where we could then board a smaller ship that could make the trip. The details escape me now, but the images are more important than how we did it. Note the steep hills where wine grapes are grown.<br />
Burg Maus <br />
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Burg Katz<br />
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Burg Sooneck<br />
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Burg Stahleck<br />
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The building below, the Pfalz, is in the river and it served as a toll station exacting payment from vessels trying to pass by.<br />
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Since I knew that we would be passing through wine/castle country, I specifically packed my infra-red camera. Being a small and lightweight retrofitted Kodak camera, it was convenient to have along. The shot below is the best of the images. <br />
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We arrived in Boppard [image below] where our buses had driven and waited to pick us up for a return to our ship. Tune in next week when we will be in Heidelberg.<br />
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<br />Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-16574093992049935492018-11-08T16:02:00.001-05:002018-11-08T16:02:40.491-05:00Grand Circle River Tour 4: Koblenz [Sky Watch Friday]As we slept comfortably that night, our ship sailed to Koblenz. Then, following breakfast on board, we made our way on foot into the city. As one might expect, there were church towers to admire.<br />
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For those of you who know of Max and Moritz, there was a delightful store and mural devoted to these two troublemakers.<br />
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Another character of importance in Koblenz lore is the young boy, Schängel. While I did not get a photo of him in the spurting water fountain, I noticed that manhole covers bear his image.<br />
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The most interesting feature of the city is the Deutsches Eck [German Corner], where the Mosel and Rhein Rivers converge. A large promenade runs along the sides of the two, and a cable car ride spans the Rhein up to a fortress. <br />
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A monumental equestrian statue of Emperor Wilhelm I occupies a prominent spot. It is in honor of William I [of the House of the Hohenzollern], first King of Prussia [1861-1871], then Emperor [Kaiser] from 1871 until his death in 1888. He was responsible for the unification of Germany and establishment of the Empire.<br />
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Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-22580204141209429112018-11-01T16:29:00.001-04:002018-11-01T16:29:41.240-04:00Grand Circle River Tour 3: Köln [Cologne] [Sky Watch Friday]We took leave of Amsterdam by bus to Köln [Cologne], where our ship awaited us. I was especially excited because, although I was well traveled in Germany, I had not yet been to Köln. I was looking forward especially to seeing the Dom [Cathedral]. As our bus approached the city, I was able to catch a glimpse of it in the distance, and I got a shot with my cell phone [image below]. Although the weather was unpleasant, the clouds and mist made the scene atmospheric.<br />
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Dedicated to St. Peter, construction was started in the mid 13th century and halted in the late 15th century. Work was restarted and complete in the 19th century. One of the two Gothic towers is undergoing some renovation, but most of the facade is not obstructed from view. Here are some exterior and interior shots of this magnificent church.<br />
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We were also treated to a pub visit where we could sample the city’s famous beer known Kölsch. It is served in 0.2 liter glasses that were filled while contained in a specially constructed circular tray [image below] while rapidly rotating the tray as the beer flowed continuously from a spigot. <br />
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After leaving the pub, I spied this figure on the wall of a nearby hotel.<br />
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<br />Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-14859607161543925842018-10-25T20:00:00.000-04:002018-10-25T20:00:54.811-04:00Grand Circle River Tour 2: Amsterdam 2 [Sky Watch Friday]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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During the first days on our own, we were notified by our Program Director that the low water level in the Rhein had prevented our ship from reaching Amsterdam. So, rather than meeting on the ship, all passengers were to be accommodated in three hotels near the airport; our group was placed in the Hilton [not too shabby] for two nights. So, our walking tours were to be preceded by bus rides into the city. <br />
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One of the side benefits of staying at the Hilton was its interesting design. <br />
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On our one afternoon of free time, we visited the Rijksmuseum where we paid tribute to the Rembrandt collection, as well as other Dutch /Flemish painters. We were fortunate to see The Night Watch before it is going to be removed for restoration. The two Hilton shots and those below were taken with my LG7 cell phone.<br />
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<br />Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-43078258172552196652018-10-20T18:49:00.000-04:002018-10-23T13:31:42.112-04:00Grand Circle River Tour 1: Amsterdam 1 [Sky Watch Friday]After a hiatus of several months, I am ready to start posting images again. Today’s shots were made during a river cruise with Grand Circle. The trip encompassed cities on the Rhein [Rhine], Main and Donau [Danube] and through the Rhein-Main-Donau Canal. We arrived in Amsterdam on Sept. 24, several days ahead of the official tour start [we wanted some time on our own as well as get a head start on recovering from jet lag. Our hotel, Hotel Alexander, was well situated and we started out walking [after storing our luggage]. <br />
Amsterdam is a city of canals, bicycles, flowers, interesting architecture, and lots of people. Here is a sampling of of what we saw in the first few days.<br />
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<br />Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-31244655279753206602018-06-07T19:32:00.000-04:002018-06-07T19:32:00.693-04:00Image City Assignments: Cemetery Shots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been quite some time since I last posted pics from my Image City Assignments series. To refresh your memory, I meet once a month with a group of other photographers to view and critique our photos. A subject is assigned in advance by our two mentors, who are professional photographers and members of a group that owns/operates the Image City Gallery. This assignment was to bring in several images that say clearly they were shot in a cemetery. <br />
The first group below were shot in color as RAW images with my Canon 60D, and later converted to B&W in Lightroom.<br />
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The remaining two images were with my Kodak Z1015, which had been converted to shoot infra-red. One of the interesting features of shooting in IR is that a blue sky is darkened and green grass/leaves appear white. <br />
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<br />Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-6945492637001611802018-05-31T19:04:00.001-04:002018-05-31T19:04:42.497-04:00Sicily 14: The Aeolian Islands [Sky Watch Friday]The Taormina sea shore also offered other activities, although not much was going on when we were there. <br />
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On one of the days we opted to take a boat trip to two of the eight the Aeolian Islands; viz. Lipari and Vulcano. Our first stop was Lipari, the larger of the two islands. To get to the town from the harbor, we took a bus ride, which offered some wonderful views.<br />
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As one might expect, it was again necessary to walk up a steep hill [to which we were already accustomed].<br />
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Back at the harbor for our departure, we took some last shots of this delightful island.<br />
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En route to Vulcano, there were some unexpected photo opportunities. For example, off in the distance we could see the still active volcano, Stromboli.<br />
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Along the route we passed a variety of unusual rock formations.<br />
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Vulcano consists of three old craters: two are extinct, while another is still active, last erupting in 1890. The latter affords hot, sulphury baths that attracts bathers for the supposed healing powers of the water and mud.<br />
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As our sojourn on Vulcano came to an end, I was glad that we had a tour guide to lead us back to the harbor. I assume somebody can read these signs as one drives into the intersection.<br />
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These are the last images from our Sicily vacation, which truly exceeded my expectations. I hope you enjoyed viewing them as much as I enjoyed posting them.Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-69319741629370071782018-05-24T16:03:00.001-04:002018-05-24T16:03:56.854-04:00 Sicily 13: Taormina (ii) [Sky Watch Friday]From sea level, one has a steep climb up a winding street until one reaches the heart of Taormina; viz. the Piazza del Duomo. The most striking structure in the plaza is a wonderful early17th century Baroque fountain, which features a Minotaur [half human, half horse]. Depicted as a female holding a scepter and an orb, symbols of power, it has become the emblem of Taormina.<br />
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Around the plaza are shops and stands for artists, crafts people and vendors of all sorts. <br />
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Along the main street, the Corso Umberto I, are a myriad of small shops, cafes, and galleries. Views down side streets offer a different perspective, but the love of flowers was everywhere evident.<br />
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Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-48557218737935458762018-05-17T13:18:00.000-04:002018-05-17T13:18:37.930-04:00Sicily 12: Taormina (i) [Sky Watch Friday]Taormina became the center of our activity for the next several days. Originally founded in the 3rd century BC by the Greeks, it was built at the foot of Mt. Tauro on a bluff overlooking the Ionian Sea. Today, Taormina is Sicily’s most famous tourist resort. Among its many attractions is the Greco-Roman theater, the second largest [capacity of ca. 5,000 people] in Sicily [after the one in Syracuse]. First built in 3rd century BC, it was almost entirely rebuilt by the Romans in the 2nd century AD. This was necessary so that it could be used for gladiator fights and ‘wild animal shows’; e.g. the ground level had to be lowered so that the animals could not leap into the stands.<br />
In the images below, note the scenic brick wall, which were fronted by nine granite columns with Corinthian capitals [only the bases of 4 columns are seen here]. <br />
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Later in the day, we took a hike high up above the city for a breathtaking [both literally and figuratively] view. If you look carefully, you can see the theater [ca. 11-12 o’clock].<br />
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<br />Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-47959637371899769162018-05-10T13:47:00.000-04:002018-05-10T13:47:09.418-04:00Sicily 11: Mt. Etna [Sky Watch Friday]Taking our leave of Catania, we drove up winding roads to Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. The mountain dominates the whole of eastern Sicily. Stopping at ca. 6,000 ft., we opted not to go higher by jeep to ca. 10,000 ft. As it was, the temperature had dropped into the high 30s-low forties. In addition to the black lava landscape, there were wild flowers growing all around. <br />
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One could hike up to the ridge of one of the craters, but we were not in warm enough attire. Here, my wife is wind blown....<br />
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You can imagine that it was good to finally get back on our warm bus. We then drove on to Taormina, where we would remain for several days. Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-81325401396296004572018-04-26T14:06:00.000-04:002018-04-26T19:56:52.750-04:00Sicily 10: Catania [Sky Watch Friday]From Syracuse we headed north to Catania, situated between the slopes of Mt. Etna and the Ionian Sea. [REMINDER: If you scroll back to the Sicily 1 post, you will see a map of our itinerary.] Yet another UNESCO World Heritage site, its proximity to the volcano is evident from the the unique buildings made from black lava (see below).<br />
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Catania was founded in 729 BC by Greek colonists. Having survived earthquakes and eruptions over the centuries, Catania was razed to the ground in 1693. Rebuilt during the 18th century, the city is comprised of broad, straight streets and large unevenly shaped squares, a precaution against earthquakes. One of the highlights for us was the Mercato della Pescheria [fish market], which occupies many street and small squares. It is open mornings on a daily basis. One entrance into the market contains a fountain, Fontana dell’Amenano, which is fed by water from the underground Amenano River. Sculpted in 1867, the fountain is a focal point for meeting.<br />
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Entering the market from the fountain, I was stunned to see a huge cross section of a fish of some sort. (Top image below) I still chuckle over the “conversation” I had with the fellow wielding the knife. I asked if it was a shark, first in English then in German. But, he didn’t understand either. Then, I hummed the theme from the movie Jaws, as the shark began its attacks. It was an ‘Aha moment’. He burst out laughing, “No signor, tonno (tuna)”.<br />
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Also located near the fish market entrance is another fountain, Fontana dell’Elefante (this needs no translation). Sculpted in 1736, it consists of an elephant made of lava standing on a pedestal. On its back is an Egyptian obelisk with a globe on top (not visible in these images). The fountain has become Catania’s symbol. <br />
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Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-10023517323061185572018-04-19T13:52:00.001-04:002018-04-19T13:52:49.084-04:00Sicily 9: Ragusa & Syracuse (Siracusa) [Sky Watch Friday]We continued on to visit the Baroque town of Ragusa, yet another UNESCO World Heritage site. As we drew near, the view was not particularly attractive.<br />
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However, once we were inside the town and began our walk, we were taken by the Baroque building facades. Some balconies [of now private apartments] were richly adorned. <br />
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After a brief stay we drove on to Syracuse [Siracusa], historically a city of significant economic and cultural importance. An archeological site contains several noteworthy attractions. For example, a 5th century B.C. Greek theater, where the tradition of staging ancient Greek plays was revived in 1914 (top image), a less well preserved Roman amphitheater (middle image), and an enormous cave [The Ear of Dionysius] that once served as a prison (bottom image). Numerous caves in this area were originally quarries for extracting stone for building.<br />
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Below are some of our group boarding a small boat for a harbor tour. Our tour leader surprised us with a buffet lunch.<br />
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It goes without saying that we visited the archeological museum, strolled through narrow streets (se below), and made sure to check out the local public market.<br />
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Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-7568954555931992432018-04-12T14:41:00.000-04:002018-04-12T14:41:25.821-04:00Sicily 8: Caltagirone [Sky Watch Friday]Next in our itinerary was the hill top town, Caltagirone, another UNESCO World heritage site. <br />
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Caltagirone is the center for ceramic tile manufacturing in Sicily. This becomes evident when one ascends the long staircase connecting the lower and upper towns. Every step is decorated with colorful majolica tiles. The bottom image gives one a sense of the extent and steepness of the climb.<br />
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Along the way, I took a number of shots of isolated tiles. All manner of scenes are depicted.<br />
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Photos by Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999569561470175557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463736545866945287.post-48079734923826154992018-04-05T14:43:00.001-04:002018-04-05T14:43:19.166-04:00Sicily 7: Enna and Villa Casale (Piazza Armerina) [Sky Watch Friday]Our next destination was Enna, a mountain town that is the highest [3,054 ft] provincial capital in Italy. The town’s exceptional location affords wonderful views of the surrounding landscape.<br />
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Our stay in Enna was brief, as our main objective was to visit the Villa Casale, a 3rd-4th century AD Roman estate discovered in the late 19th century. It is one of the most fascinating attractions in all of Sicily. The magnificent floor mosaics in the complex of rooms were uncovered in the 1950s under a thick layer of mud [resulting from a 12th century flood], which kept them well preserved through over the years. Most notable are the mosaics in the Hall of Female Gymnasts, where the bikini clad [yes, bikinis in Roman times] gymnasts are depicted. The athlete placing a crown on her head was the winner of her event.<br />
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Other scenes depicting gods, wild animals, hunting or even love-making adorn the walls and floors.<br />
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