A New Direction...

Moon dial on the grounds of Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria

Hi! Thanks for stopping by The F-Stops Here... . I've actually done a bit of traveling in the last four months and have photos to share from Puycelci and Albi, France; Turin, Lanzo Torinese, and Monto Bianco, Italy; Plitvitze, Croatia; Klagenfurt, Hochosterwitz, Seebenstein, Vienna, Melk, Mauthausen, Linz, and Hallstatt, Austria; Vaduz, Liechtenstein; and Gorges de la Diosaz, France.

I'm in the process of deconstructing and reconstructing this blog space, though, to highlight my skills as a writer, editor, project manager, and photographer. In the latter category, I'm hoping to attract business as a portrait/family, events, food, and travel photographer, in addition to my ability to write and edit technical and academic documents.

If you're interested in my work in any of these areas, please do not hesitate to contact me. I may be reached at: janetmkincaid@gmail.com.

In the meantime, stay tuned to this space for upcoming changes!

Frescoe'd...

 Fresco : Saint Benedict's Hall : Stift Melk : Melk, AT

Melk features a number of really lovely frescoes, including the one above, which you see as you pass under the first gate and into the forecourt. I loved the tromp l'oeil features in this one. The photo doesn't do it justice, but it was beautiful and quite illusionary.

Ceiling Fresco : Marble Hall / Marmorhalle / Stift Melk : Melk, AT

The Marble Hall is home to a grand and equally beautiful fresco. There are two stories in this ceiling art: Hercules, conquering the Hound of Hell and Athena, on a chariot drawn by lions. It was quite something. 

Fresco : Garden Pavilion : Stift Melk : Melk, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2012

Stift Melk

 Entrance to Stift Melk : Melk, AT

After spending a lovely week with my friends Daniella, Christine and Hellmut, and Sonja and their families, it was time to get back on the road and head homeward. We drove up toward but skirted Vienna on our way to Melk. When I was a missionary, I spent my first five months in Linz. One day, my mission president called and said I was transferring to Vienna. I packed my bags, got on the train, and headed eastward. On the way, the train went past the most amazing building I'd ever seen: Stift Melk / Melk Abbey. I swore I'd come back one day and visit this building. And that's what we did. 

Close shot of the Abbey's chapel exterior : Melk, AT

Located on an outcropping above the Danube (Donau) River, Melk is a Benedictine abbey. It was founded in 1089 by Leopold II. A monastic school opened in the 12th century and building of the Baroque abbey structure began in the 18th century. Melk has managed to survive a number of monumental historical events, including the Dissolution Acts during the reign of Josef II, the Napoleonic Wars, the Nazi Anschluss, and World War II. Today, it is a school again attended by around 900 students.

Off in the distance on the right, you can see a sliver of the Danube River. The train tracks in the upper left corner are where I first saw this impressive abbey : Melk, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2012

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Kreuzgasse. This is the street I lived on for the first five months I was in Vienna : Vienna, AT

After my meeting at the UN, I decided to see if I could find the first apartment I lived in as a missionary in Vienna. Back home in the States, I have a German Bible where I wrote the address of every apartment I lived in when I was in Austria. I had to go by memory here. I had ridden the U6 into Vienna from the southern suburbs, where I'd parked and I seemed to recall that this was the line we rode most frequently in the area where my companions and I were assigned. (I worked in this area with Leslie Driggs and Heidi Chartrand.) So, I rode the U1 to Stephansplatz, where I transferred to the U3. At Westbahnhof, I switched to the U6. I rode the U6 past what I thought was my street/area and got off at Volksoper/Währingerstraße. I started working my way back toward Alser Straße and up into the neighborhood, trying to find my street. I couldn't remember the name outright, but knew I'd know it when I saw it. Eventually, I stumbled onto Kreuzgasse and that's when everything clicked. The neighborhood was quite different after 20 years. More rundown than I remembered it and mostly a Middle-Eastern neighborhood than the little Viennese suburb I recall.  Anyway, just a few pictures from the area.

My first apartment in Vienna. Kreuzgasse 4. We lived in the apartment in the middle on the very top floor. : Vienna, AT

This little set of shops is now home to a couple of Kebab shops and a soon-to-open juice shop, but when I lived in this neighborhood, 
it included a cheesemonger, where I tasted and bought some amazing cheeses. My favorites were butterkäse and Alpkäse : Vienna, AT

Zanoni Eissalon. Best gelato in Vienna, meine Meinung nach! : Vienna, AT

After seeing the old neighborhood, I ventured back out toward Währingerstraße and began to make my way down to Alsergrund and the Alser Straße U-bahn station. Along the way, I knew I would pass Zanoni and I decided I'd stop in for a gelato. When I lived in Vienna, it was my first time overseas and I remember the very first time I had gelato: it was at this shop. A lot of the missionaries I worked with swore by the gelato at some place down in Reumannplatz at the end of the U1 Line. I tried theirs once, but I think Zanoni's is still, hands down, the better gelato. These guys have been in business at this location for 40 years and it was fun to sit for a moment and enjoy a chocolate and hazelnut gelato. Photography isn't allowed inside the store, so you'll have to settle for a couple of crappy Instagram photos of the outside (above) and my treat (below).

Schokolade und Haselnuß : Zanoni Eissalon : Vienna, AT

The goodness that is ice cream didn't end there, though. When I returned to Seebenstein, Christine took us to a place called Eis Peter in Traiskirchen. We were joined by Christine's daughter, Sonja, and granddaughter, Vanessa. It was a lovely evening out with lots of laughter and more outstanding sweets. I had an ice cream dish that pays tribute to Austria's most famous dessert -- Sachertorte. This was dark chocolate ice cream, apricot ice cream, and heaps of whipped cream. It was AMAZING! Writing about it now, my mouth is watering and I can't wait to go back one day.

Sachertortebecher / Sacher Torte Dish : Eis Peter : Traiskirchen, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2012

UNO City

Flags of the Members States of the United Nations at the UN's Offices in Vienna : Vienna, AT

While we were in Vienna, I took the opportunity to meet with some folks at the United Nation's Vienna offices. Vienna is home to a number of UN agencies, including ones covering drugs and crime, money laundering, narcotics control, outer space, postal administration, and the scientific committee on the effects of atomic radiation, among others. It was the latter group that met with to discuss their editorial needs. These are just a couple of shots taken from the grounds. I wish I'd taken photos of the surrounding neighborhood. It's so different and far more built up now compared with when I was here 20 years ago. Back in the early 90s, this area was really only the UN. Now, there are multi-national corporations and many more skyscrapers than before.

Monument to Women at the UN's Offices in Vienna : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2012

Schloß Schönbrunn

View of the summer palace of the Hapsburgs, Schönbrunn, from the Glorietta : Vienna, AT

At one point during my tenure in Vienna, I lived in an apartment on the Hietzingerhauptstraße, which isn't that far from Vienna's -- and in fact, all of Austria's -- most famous castle, Schloß Schönbrunn. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to see the inside, so it was high on the list of places I wanted to see if ever I returned to Vienna. Since we weren't able to see everything we wanted the day before, Maya and I trekked back up to the city without Charlie. It was absolutely horrid weather; pouring rain, wind. We took our cameras with us, but since photography was not allowed inside and it was too damn wet to use them outside, we shot photos with our iPod Touches instead. So, here you go. Crappy Instagram photos!

Another view of the summer palace of the Hapsburgs, Schönbrunn, from the Glorietta : Vienna, AT

Nepture Fountain just below the Glorietta : Schloß Schönbrunn : Vienna, AT

Schönbrunn has some really beautiful gardens. This was the best I could do, given the weather : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2012

Circumnavigating the Ringstraße...

Memorial to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart : Vienna, AT

Just a few photos of some of the sights to be enjoyed on the Ringstraße. We walked from the Staatsoper to the Votivkirche. Unfortunately, my photos of the Staatsoper weren't that great, so we're starting with the Mozart Memorial in the Burggarten. We then walked over to Parliament, the Rathaus, and finally the Votivkirche. This was an area I traveled through several times a week when I lived in Vienna 20 years ago. It's still as beautiful I remembered it. To see more photos, go here.

Naturhistorisches Museum : Vienna, AT

Athena Fountain : Parliament Building : Vienna, AT

Wien Rathaus : Vienna, AT

Votivkirche : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2012

Stephansdom

Saint Stephen's Cathedral / Stephansdom : Vienna, AT

We visited Vienna on a Sunday, so Stephansdom was essentially closed for religious services. We were able to stand in the very back of the nave and shoot a few photos through a gate that was drawn across the main part of the sanctuary. I was kind of disappointed by that, because I really wanted to get a photo of the Fenstergücker. Guess I'll have to come back again.

Inside Stephansdom, but only in the nave, since there was a worship service going on : Vienna, AT

Instagrammed Stephansdom : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Sacher Hotel

Sunday lunch at the Hotel Sacher : Vienna, AT

After walking around the Stadtpark and Karlsplatz, we headed over toward Stephansplatz and the center of town. As it was lunchtime, we decided to pop into the famed Hotel Sacher for lunch and Sachertorte. We sat outside, but I shot this one photo looking into the interior dining room. The Sachertorte was wunderbar! The photos below were taken using Instagram.

Table cloth at the Hotel Sacher : Vienna, AT

Hotel Sacher -- a Viennese instutiton : Vienna, AT

Veal schnitzel. Not nearly as good as pork. Should have gone to Herb's : Vienna, AT

Heaven on a plate -- Sachertorte mit Schlagobers : Vienna, AT

The Hotel Sacher is the exclusive maker and the only maker allowed to market its torte as "Original Sachertorte". Every year, the Hotel mails more than 250,000 of these wonderful cakes to homes and businesses all over the world. We bought one to take back to Christine and Hellmut as a thank you gift. I wish we'd bought one for us to bring home, but we knew we'd be on the road for at least another week and were afraid it might not keep. If you chance to visit Vienna, put the Café Sacher on your must-do list for coffee/tea and torte.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Karlskirche Restoration

Up close -- Detail of the frescoes in the dome of Karlskirche : Vienna, AT

Karlskirche was nearing the end of a multi-year, multi-million euro restoration project, so when we visited, there was still scaffolding inside. But, the cool thing was, they'd installed an elevator and you could ride it up to see the dome friezes up close! The church was commissioned by Charles VI, who pledged to build a church in honor of Charles Borromeo -- his patron saint. Borromeo was renowned for being a healer of those suffering from bubonic plague. To see more photos from inside this church, go here.

The dome from the ground level : Karlskirche : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Karlskirche and the Secession

Karlskirche : Vienna, AT

When I lived in Austria in the late 1980s/early 1990s, I spent nine months living in Vienna. We used to travel through Karlsplatz at least once a week, but I never made it inside the church. On this trip, I was determined to see things I hadn't seen when I was a missionary (I had three companions while I was in Vienna. The first was often exhausted and slept on our one day off; the second had been to Vienna as an exchange student the previous year and had already seen everything; and the third was from Europe and wanted to stay at home and write letters to her boyfriend. It was maddening.)

Karlsplatz U-bahn Station : Vienna, AT

One of the characteristics of the Karlsplatz area is the architecture style. Known as Vienna Secession and Jugendstil, it was started by artists Gustav Klimt, Max Kurzweil, and Joseph Maria Olbrich, among others. The movement brought French Impressionism to Austria and included recognition of greats, like Beethoven.

The Secession Museum : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Stadtpark

Johann Strauss Monument : Stadtpark : Vienna, AT

We started our tour of Vienna off by parking near and visiting the Strauss statue in the Stadtpark. Seemed an appropriate way to start off my first visit to Austria since living here more than 20 years ago as a missionary.

Instagrammed Strauss : Stadtpark : Vienna, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Princess Party

Princess Cake : Seebenstein, AT

While we were staying with Christine and Hellmut, two of their granddaughters celebrated their birthdays. Their daughter, Sonja, is a wonderful cake decorator and made a cake for her daughter (the other grandchild was nearly 18 and they had a family get-together the next night at daughter Sabina's. I took a few pictures of the party and enjoyed meeting and getting reacquainted with this wonderful family!

Vanessa makes her grandfather, Hellmut, chuckle : Seebenstein, AT

All of the kids had a blast and even the adults got in on the fun. Below, son-in-law Jose competes in the sack race with his cousin. Jose lost. It wasn't even close. :-D

It wasn't even close! 

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Schloß Seebenstein

Schloß Seebenstein : Seebenstein, AT

Our next stop on the trip was friend Daniella's parents, Christine and Hellmut, who live in Seebenstein, just south of Vienna. In the last three months of my time in Austria, I served in the town of Wiener Neustadt and that's where I met Christine and Hellmut and their daughters, Sabine, Daniella, and Sonja. They became very dear friends and we've stayed in touch over the years. I was thrilled they invited us to stay with them. It was such a treat and like being with family again. On our second day in Seebenstein, Christine walked with us to the castle above their town. Unfortunately, it was closed for tours, so we only saw the outside. Still, it was a nice walk.

Wolfsberg

St. Mark's Church and Wolfsberg Castle : Wolfsberg, AT

Originally, I wanted to visit Graz, Austria, because I never had the chance to go there when I lived in Austria 20+ years ago. Unfortunately, we got a little bit of a late start from Klagenfurt and Maya was worried about traffic, so we pressed onwards towards Seebenstein. On our way there, we stopped in the little town of Wolfsberg for some lunch. Not much to see here. Disappointed not to have seen Graz. Oh well. Next trip, I guess.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

The Gates of Burg Hochosterwitz

The first gate -- the Fähnrichtor -- as you begin your ascent to the castle :
Burg Hochosterwitz : Launsdorf, AT

One of the features that makes Burg Hochosterwitz unique as far as fortress castles go is its 14 gates. The gates were built such that an assault could be repelled by the castle from all sides, but the attacking enemy could only attempt to break through the gate and was not well positioned for defense. Visitors can walk the 620 meter-long (2,030 ft) pathway through all 14 gates to the castle. Each gate contains a diagram explaining the gate's defensive mechanism. Unfortunately, I forgot to take reference photos for each of the gates. If anyone out there knows the names, leave a comment, bitte schön.

Not really one of the defensive gates, but I liked the bronze bas relief and the view of the church's steeple : 

Burg Hochosterwitz : Launsdorf, AT

One of the last gates we walked through on our way to the top : Burg Hochosterwitz : Launsdorf, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012

Hochosterwitz

Approaching Burg Hochosterwitz : Launsdorf, AT

Friend Daniella was able to take a day off and went with us to Burg Hochosterwitz -- a medieval fortress in the rolling hills and countryside of Kärnten. First mention of the castle was made in 860 CE/AD. The castle remains the property of the Khevenhüller family and descendents of this family continue to live in part of the castle. (Members of the Khevenhüller family are part of a long, deep line of European royalty and are in the line of succession to the British throne, but are so far down the list, they'll never wear the Crown Jewels.) The rest of the castle is open to the public for viewing and for events. The grounds include a museum and tours, as well as walking paths, some chapels, and really spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. (As an aside, I had forgotten how breathtakingly beautiful Austria is. It is, in my opinion, even prettier than Switzerland. If you don't believe me, the next time you come to Europe, make Austria part of your itinerary.) More photos here.

Views of the surrounding Austrian countryside from Hochosterwitz : Launsdorf, AT

Charlie leads the way at Hochosterwitz : Launsdorf, AT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2012