Strahov Monastery

Theological Library : Strahov Monastery : Prague, CZ

A trip to Prague is incomplete if you skip the Strahov Monastery. The libraries are beautiful and worth the ticket price to see them. This was also the first building we visited where we had to pay a fee to be allowed to take photos! I guess this isn't uncommon in Prague, but it was a first (and wouldn't be the last) for me. I think it cost about $3, though, so I can't complain too loudly. Apparently, the monks of Strahov brew a very nice beer, too. At least, that's what Rick Steves claims and Rachel, Chris, and Maya seemed to agree. Sadly, the church was closed that day, so we didn't get to enjoy all of its Baroque beauty. To see a few more photos, go here.

Philosophical's Library : Strahov Monastery : Prague, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11

Funny Snow

Big Hair : Geneva, CH

I decided to take my camera to work today and I'm glad I did. After Tuesday/Wednesday's big snow, the sculptures on the grounds at work were a bit hilarious. Here are some of my favorites. P.S. It's suppose to snow again today. I guess winter is early? To see more photos, go here.

"I can't believe mama made me wear this. All the kids are gonna laugh at me. :-(" :
Geneva, CH

Snow warriors : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 12/10

Gobble Gobble

Poulet : Crozet, FR

Saturday was packed with all kinds of fun. Among the items on our agenda: choosing a turkey for this coming weekend's Thanksgiving celebrations. We went with my boss out to Crozet to the turkey ranch and ordered up two birds to feed 27 people! These birds were pretty fearless and came right up to us. To see a few more pictures in color, go here.

Dinner! : Turkey at the Turkey Ranch : Crozet, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/10

11/11

The Municipality of Ferney-Voltaire and those who died for France - 1914-1918 : 

Ferney-Voltaire, FR

On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour in 1918, the guns of war fell silent along the western front of Europe. World War I was over. Called the Great War, it was hoped that this would be "the war to end all wars." Sadly, it was not. Little more than 20 years later, Europe, and eventually the rest of the world, would again find itself at war. Today is the 92nd anniversary of the end of World War I. Nearly all of Europe's and America's veterans of this war are long deceased, but their memories and their service are not forgotten.

Aux heros de la grande guerre - 1914-1918 : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Today's photos feature the War Memorial in front of the mairie (town hall) in Ferney-Voltaire. This simple monument honors the men from Ferney who have died in wars in France dating back to the 1800s. World War I was an especially harsh war that claimed the lives of more than 20 Fernasians. To see a few more photos of Ferney's monument to its fallen heroes, go here.

The grandsons of Eldon Bangerter carry him to his final resting place : 

Kaysville, UT, USA : 2006

On a more personal note, every year on this date, I would call my grandfather--Eldon Bangerter, whose ancestors emigrated from Switzerland to the United States in the 1850s and who served in the U.S. Army, 16th Armored Division, Quartermaster Corps, European Theatre from 1944 - 1946--and thank him for his service to our nation. My grandfather passed away in 2006, but I am still grateful for the sacrifice he made and the continued sacrifices millions of men and women in uniform make to keep our nation and our allies secure. I only wish their sacrifice wasn't necessary and that 11/11/1918 really had been the war to end all wars.

Screen shot honoring my grandfather's service in World War II 

at the National World War II Memorial : Washington, D.C., USA 

A peaceful Veterans' Day and Remembrance Day to you all.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/2005

Dusk

Dusk : Bern, CH

After dinner at the Restaurant Falken, we walked back up to the park next to the Berner Münster and took a few shots of the last light of day. To see a few photos from Bern in the early evening, go here.

No. 3 : Bern, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Zytglogge

Bern's most famous time piece, the Zytglogge : Bern, CH

Bern's Altstadt (old town) features this clock, known as the Zytglogge (Swiss German for Zeitglocke, or time clock), which was constructed around 1218-1220. One of Bern's most recognizable symbols, it is a major tourist attraction. Crowds gather at the based of the clock around 6:00 anticipating a great show and ringing from the clock's works. In point of fact, it's a bit of a letdown. If you go to Bern, make a point of stopping to see what is certainly a beautiful work of art, but don't be anxious to see it strike at 6:00. There's not a lot to see. (Although, watching the tourists in anticipation is kind of fun. Next time I go to Bern, that's what I'll be photographing!) To see a few more photos of this clock tower, go here.


Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Münster Fugue

 Organ : Berner Münster : Bern, CH

The Berner Münster is home to another great organ. In 1726, this organ was commissioned for the Cathedral of Berne. In 1999, the organ was restored and expanded at a cost of Sfr 4 million (more than US$3 million at that time.) We were fortunate to hear the organ while we were there and I found this video of organist Diane Bish playing the Münster organ. To hear her play a toccata on this magnificent piece, go here. To see more pictures of this organ, go here.


Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Berner Münster

Gargoyles on the Berner Münster : Bern, CH

The Berner Münster, or Cathedral of Berne, is Switzerland's largest Gothic cathedral. Construction on the cathedral commenced in 1421 and was completed in 1893--a span of 472 years. Within 30 years of the founding of Bern (Swiss spelling), a chapel was built on the grounds where the current cathedral stands. Over the next five centuries, the building grew as the city grew. The church was originally Catholic, but as the years progressed switched to Protestant, which is what it is today. The cathedral's tower holds the largest bell in Switzerland: 10 tons in weight and 8 feet in diameter. The bell was cast in 1611. To hear the cathedral's seven bells, go here. To see more pictures of this edifice, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

lemp

lemp cafe bar : Bern, CH

A couple of weeks ago, during friend Rachel's stay, we visited Bern, Switzerland's capital city. The older part of town is comprised of arched walkways with shops tucked back from the street (arcades) or buried in cellars beneath the street. Tiny little alleys lead to fun little surprises, like this cafe. To see more photos of Bern by day, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Zorro

Zorro, the Blue Tit : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

We have a birdfeeder hanging on a pole on our outside terrace. A number of small birds can often be seen winging over for some seed. Most of them are average brown warblers. Lately, though, we've had a beautiful little blue tit (yes, that's what it's called) who comes and eats from our feeder and bathes in our ad hoc bath. He's a cute little guy with a band across his eyes, so we've named him Zorro. Now we just have to keep the neighborhood cats Martha, George, Stubby, Janus, and Chaos away! To see a couple more pictures of Zorro, go here.

Bath time, sponsored by Maille--the finest name in French moutarde! :
Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Fall Colors

Compliments of Mother Nature : Geneva, CH

Rather than returning to my desk the other day after lunch, I decided to go for a walk around the campus at work and shoot a few photos of the fall colors. Here's an autumnal treat from Geneva. To see a few more, go here.

Maple Goodness : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Catedral de la Almudena

Colorful ceilings and domes : Catedral de la Almudena : Madrid, ES

I love shooting churches and cathedrals and I've shot a lot of them as a photographer. From Notre Dame in Paris to the Abbey at Bellelay in Switzerland, from the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., to the Mormon Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois, religious edifices fascinate me.

Contemporary stained glass : Catedral de la Almudena : Madrid, ES

The Santa Iglesia Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena, though, has to be hands down the most beautiful cathedral I have ever photographed. I'll let the photos and the slideshow (see below) speak for themselves.

Filli : Catedral de la Almudena : Madrid, ES

Organ : Catedral de la Almudena : Madrid, ES

... Slideshow ...

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Madrid! Redux

Metropolis : Gran Via : Madrid, ES

The next day, we had a little time before our flight to Fuertaventura, so we went out again to take pictures of Madrid in better daylight. Here are a few more.

Fallen : Madrid, ES

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

100 Unnamed Strangers: Arriba!

Mariachi : Puerta del Sol : Madrid, ES

October 12 is a holiday in Spain: Columbus Day. Yes, that Columbus. They, too, celebrate Columbus' discovery of the Americas. This mariachi, representing Mexico no doubt, was playing with his compatriots in the Puerta del Sol. I was fortunate that he looked right at my camera when I shot this. To see additional shots of some of Madrid's people, go here.

Watchful : Near the Plaza Mayor : Madrid, ES

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/10

Impromptu Almabtrieb

Almabtrieb : Lauterbrunnen, CH

As we were packing up and preparing to settle our bill with the hotel, the cleaning lady came down the stairs and loudly pronounced, in English, "They're bringing the cows down from the mountain." Maya and I had been telling Rachel all about des Alpages (French) / Alpaufzug (Austria) / Almabtrieb (Swiss) and lamenting that her visit wouldn't coincide with events being held in Annecy, France, in October. Much to our delight, these smaller villages don't have an organized event and we were present for Lauterbrunnen's Almabtrieb this year! More pictures here. You can see last year's photos of the Alpages in Annecy here.

 Decorated for the trip down the mountain for the winter : Lauterbrunnen, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Lauterbrunnen

One of Lauterbrunnen's several hotels on the main road with 

Staubbach Falls in the background : Lauterbrunnen, CH

The Lauterbrunnen Valley is lovely and the village of Lauterbrunnen itself is quaint. We didn't get a lot of time to visit its trails and sights, but we did manage a walk to Staubbach Falls and an impromptu Alpaufzug (bringing the cows down from the mountains for the winter.) More photos here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Mürren

Typical Swiss chalet : Mürren, CH

As mentioned previously, we stopped off in Mürren to walk around this storied village, grab a bite to eat, and enjoy the sunset. We started with a little snack at the Hotel Edelweiss and had hoped to eat at a larger restaurant we noted at the entrance of the village (I can't remember the name now.) It was recently featured by Rick Steves or Anthony Bourdain or someone equally fame-inducing. Unfortunately, they were fully booked up. Fortunately, we made the telecabine back to Stechelberg with only minutes to spare and instead enjoyed a lovely schnitzel dinner in the restaurant at the hotel/chalet where we were staying in Lauterbrunnen. More photos here.

Simple alpine repast: bread, sliced meats and cheeses, gerkins and onions : Mürren, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Blick vom Schilthorn

9,744 : Schilthorn/Piz Gloria, CH

As I mentioned a few days ago, the Schilthorn stands more than 9,700 ft (2,900 m) above sea level. The day was rather hazy and I forgot to use my polarizing filter. While there was some lovely layering among the mountains, Piz Gloria closes at 6:00 p.m., so we weren't able to stay on for sunset. Hopefully we'll be making a return trip in November and that will afford us some spectacular early evening views. To see more pictures of the panoramic view of the Jungfrau-Aletsch mountains in the Bernese Alps, visit my Picasa Web Album.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Isenfluh

 Der Blick auf die Jungfrau vom Isenfluh, CH / The view of the Jungfrau from Isenfluh, CH

High on the side of a mountain, through a corkscrew tunnel worthy of Disney's Matterhorn ride, and up a one lane road with infrequent pull outs sits the Alpine village of Isenfluh. Population: 70 or thereabouts. The town is serviced by a Swiss Post bus and there are a couple of chalet hotels. For those who live in this tiny little hamlet, this is the view they have to suffer day in and day out: the Eiger. Bummer, eh? To see a few more pictures, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10

Riquewihr

Just another cute little town in the Alsace. This one's called Riquewihr. See more photos here. One of my favorite features of this region are the iron signs hanging above the shops and restaurants. This one was especially colorful, animated, and delightful.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/10