The Mosel River in Germany

One of the most pleasant places in the world to visit is the Mosel Valley in Germany. This visit in late July 2009 found the grapes growing and the weather perfect.

Catherdral of Beauvais

The highest vault in the world is found in the Catherdral of Beauvais in France. Celebrated in Ken Follet's epic novel The Pillars of the Earth set in England but having a master builder, Jack who studied how Beauvais Catherdral was being built to skill himself for building a catherdral in England.

Beauvais Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais) is an incomplete cathedral located in Beauvais in northern France. It is the seat of the Bishop of Beauvais, Noyon and Senlis. It is, in some respects the most daring achievement of Gothic architecture, and consists only of a transept (sixteenth-century) and choir with apse and seven polygonal apsidal chapels (thirteenth century), which are reached by an ambulatory. The small Romanesque church of the 10th century known as the Basse Œuvre, much restored, still occupies the site destined for the nave.

The Mosel River in Germany

The Mosel River

On September 27, 1997 after Reinhard Wirtgen's funeral in Windhagen, Germany I drove to the Mosel River. I was depressed and these photos were taken on that afternoon and gave me great consolation.

The Pyramids

After days and nights of travel, one finally gets to the Nile river and sees the Pyramids of Giza. Now, it seems like a camel saddle but normally one travels these days and nights in an airliner with cramped space and airline food - oh well, perhaps I did not take the camel across the desert to get here but it is well worth the effort.

Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio dates back to 1354 and was the home of the butchers of Florence, they cut and chopped and the leftovers simply went into the River Arno. In the 1500's Cosimo the first kicked them off because of the smell and put the jewelers in.

They remain today. Even the Nazis tried to destroy this bridge but she stands today as one of the top jewelry markets in the world.

Caherdaniel

Caherdaniel in Ireland is a special corner of Kerry. Its on past Sneem which is past Blackwaterbridge. Do not expect much night life but there's a pint waiting for you at the local pub.

Ask for Kennedy or O'Toole then tell them you are a friend of them and want to add to their tabs...

Hand of God

Adare Ireland's Dunraven Arms is world famous. When you can make a photo of this great pub and hotel with a rainbow leading you on your way for a pint of Guiness... Well, it must be the hand of God!

Destin Florida

View of Destin, Florida beach from the Back Porch Restaurant with hurricane Dennis coming in the distance, July 3, 2005.

Volgograd

Volgograd in Russia is the old "Stalingrad" where from August 21, 1942 to February 3, 1943 the German Army under Hitler fought the Russian Army of Josef Stalin under Nikita Kruschev.

The Russians won, the Germans lost and this was the loss that cascaded across Europe and ended in May of 1945 with complete surrender of Germany and their allies.

Wildschwein (Boar) Hunt Germany

Erhard Thoma took me on a wild pig hunt in Germany. Wild Pig hunting in Germany is interesting. They hunt with dogs and "beaters" driving the wild boar to hunters positioned in high mounted stands.

Here a Roebuck not in season jumps across the road running from the dogs.

The dogs are Fox Terriers, smaller the better is seems. The Boars do not run so fast from them and are flushed out of hiding by both the beaters and the dogs.

Once the hunter has killed a Fox or a Boar then these are laid out on a bed of evergreen with four burning posts around them. The hunters line up to the West, the hunting master to the North and the hunting horn players to the East.

The hunters who have killed the game get a sprig of evergreen to proudly wear in their hats, the others tip their hats to them. The hunting horns play tunes that go back 1000 years.