ILO

Stained glass : Gift from the Federal Republic of Germany : ILO : Geneva, CH

I participated in a series of meetings at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva this week. The building is filled with art and exhibits that depict the history of labor in civilization. This stained glass, from the Federal Republic of Germany, was tucked away in a hallway near the gift shop.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/11

St. Vitus Cathedral

Main Portal : St. Vitus Cathedral : Prague, CZ

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I love a good cathedral. I enjoy photographing them, I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into them, and I like their history. I confess, I know nothing about St. Vitus. I also have to say I was I was thoroughly underwhelmed by this cathedral. You have to pay to enter the main sanctuary and approach the altar area. I wasn't willing to do that, so as a result, I have only a few photos of Prague's most prominent landmark.

Mosaic : St. Vitus Cathedral : Prague, CZ

Stained Glass : St. Vitus Cathedral : Prague, CZ

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

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

Stained Glass Reversal

Jesus in Reverse : Basler Münster : Basel, CH

This is the back of this stained glass. Pretty cool, huh?

Tres Amigos

Old and new together : Tres Amigos : Winterthur, CH

One of the things I love about Europe is how they keep elements of an old, historic building but add a modern utilization. Case in point, the Mexican restaurant Tres Amigos in Winterthur, Switzerland. In our ongoing quest to find good Mexican food in the center of Europe, Tres Amigos ranks up there as one of the better ones. My favorite is in Basel. The worst--three of them--are in Geneva.

Beautiful stained glass skylight at Tres Amigos : Winterthur, CH

Note to Krissy: There's a Tres Amigos in Chur.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

Contemporary / Antiquated II

Beautiful frescoes : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

Another old/new feature in the Cathedral of Saint Nicolas are the old frescoes and the new stained glass. Here are a few examples of both. (Click to enlarge the last two pictures.)

Contemporary stained glass : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

Old and new, side-by-side : Cathedral of Saint Nicolas : Fribourg, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 8/10

The Holy Chapel

 The stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle : Paris, FR

One of the sites I missed during my first trip to Paris, but which Janeen and I were determined to see this trip, was Sainte-Chapelle (Eng.: The Holy Chapel). This beautiful chapel was built on the grounds of the royal palace (today the Palace of Justice) and was the private church of the kings of France. It was originally built to house relics purportedly from the life Christ that were brought to Paris during the reign of Louis IX (later Saint Louis). This beautiful little Gothic church has some of the most beautiful stained glass in all of Paris. To see more pictures, visit my Picasa Web Album.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Our Lady of Paris

Exalted : Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris : Paris, FR

As mentioned yesterday, the last time I was in Paris, the bulk of my interior shots of the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris were abysmal and a disappointment. I had a few gems here and there, but for the most part, my photos were a total wash. This time, however, I had better results.

Light a Candle for Peace and for Our Lady : Notre Dame : Paris, FR

Here are a few shots from inside this grand cathedral. Building on the cathedral started in 1163 and finished in 1345. For someone from the U.S., that's long before Europeans ever even considered sailing across the ocean and settling in the New World. The oldest thing we have in America is the Jamestown Settlement in Virginia and it's only 400 years old!

Stained Glass Beauty : Notre Dame : Paris, FR

To see more interior shots of Notre Dame, visit my Picasa Web Albums.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

St. Pierre de Montmartre

The beauty of stained glass on a sunny day : St. Pierre de Montmartre : Paris, FR

Right next to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is St. Pierre de Montmartre, one of the oldest churches in Paris. They have some lovely stained glass and the sun was especially nice that day, so I got some good pictures. To see more photos from this lovely little church, go here.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Cantons in Glass

Stained Glass : Cathedral of Lausanne : Lausanne, CH

This stained glass window in the Cathedral of Lausanne caught my eye, because it depicts the cantonal flags of some of Switzerland's 26 cantons. My guess is, these were the cantons that existed at the time the cathedral was constructed. Being unable to read the informational panels below it in French, though, I don't know.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 11/09

Back in the Groove

H : Notre Dame Cathedral : Paris, FR

Somewhere back a few weeks ago, I lost my mojo.

Chandelier Detail : Notre Dame Cathedral : Paris, FR

Sure, there's lots of great stuff to photograph in these parts and I have piles of pictures, but I'm not liking many of them and I feel a bit limited by my equipment. It's a great little camera I have that's turned out some good results and all, but after two and a half years I keep feeling the itch to upgrade.

Niches : Notre Dame Cathedral : Paris, FR

Anyway--that's neither here nor there right now. The point is, here are a few more pictures from Notre Dame.

Mother : Notre Dame Cathedral : Paris, FR

I think this is the last of the Notre Dame batch, which means if I can sustain my blog posting beyond today, I'll be back tomorrow with photos from the bus tour we took all over the city of Paris!

Supplication : Notre Dame Cathedral : Paris, FR

Here's hoping...

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09

Open II

Open II : Notre Dame : Paris, FR

Just another window in Notre Dame. And another dead guy. Lots of dead guys here!

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 08/09

Open

Open Contemplation : Notre Dame Cathedral : Paris, FR

Just another photo from inside Notre Dame Cathedral. I can't remember whose crypt this was. I was more interested in the open, stained-glass window than in finding out who the dead guy was.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 08/09