Charlie

Charlie, looking skeptical : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Our dog, Charlie. He's a wonderful little model and isn't often put off by the camera, but occasionally he gives a look that seems to say, "Are you kidding me?! Another photo? Ugh."

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/2013

Spectacular Sunset

Setting sun over Ferney and the Jura : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Another gorgeous sunset this evening. It was an hour earlier, though, as we've set our clocks back an hour and switched from Central European Summer Time back to just plain old Time.

Warm, buttery evening light over the Jura : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/2013

Jiminy Cricket!

Macro marvelousness! : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

This little fella showed up today on one of our balcony chairs. I grabbed the camera, snapped the macro lens on it, and started shooting. He was a pretty amenable model until he warmed up. After that, I couldn't get him to stand still. Also, I think it didn't help that I had a lens shoved in his proximity. I could tell, by the way he was moving about, that he was having none of it.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/2013.

These Words Alone Require Respect and Reverence

Today, Maya and I visited the American Military Cemetery and Memorial at Colleville-sur-Mer above Omaha Beach on France's Normandy Coast. It is here that American men and women who wore the uniforms of our military -- Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Corps -- and carried our flag, stormed the beaches and died as part of Operation Overlord / D-Day. Nearly 9,500 of them lie here. They died as part of the largest invasion launched to liberate France and Europe from the tyranny, oppression, and destruction of Nazi Germany. 

Those who live in this area still exhibit deep respect and love for the Americans and all of their Allies who fought across 80 kilometers of beaches to advance freedom. At the entrance points on the roads leading into Colleville-sue-Mer are signs featuring a group photo of troops from the Army's 1st Infantry Division that very proudly declare, in French and English, "We thank our liberators." Along the coast in towns and villages stretching from Le Havre to Cherbourg are signs that say, "Thank you." Nearly 70 years after the events of that fateful and decisive day, generations of French remain appreciative and reverent with regards to the sacrifices that were made by young men and women who came from other countries to help free theirs. 

It's that word reverent I want to talk about for a minute. As I walked into the cemetery, I was, and those around me were, assaulted by two American women in their 50s yelling to each other across the expanses where lay the bodies of our honored dead. 

Yelling. In a cemetery. And not just any cemetery. This cemetery. 

I tried politely shushing one of the women, but she chose merely to glare at me. I was appalled by her and her friend's lack of reverence. And these weren't the only ones who were irreverent that day. In striking contrast, the French and Germans who I encountered were speaking in hushed tones or not at all. 

And this is as it should. Blood was shed here. Lives were cut short here. Great sacrifice ruled the day here. The least we can do, please, is show some reverence and respect. 

HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN BUT TO GOD. 

Respect that. Whether here or elsewhere, respect that. 

Buranians

Model ship builder : Burano, IT

I don't know what you call people from Burano. Buranians? Anyway--just a few random photos of a couple folks who were going about their daily life while the rest of us were being tourists. The guy at the top was working on a balsa wood model boat. It was a rather impressive piece. He wasn't all that impressed with me taking his photo, though.

Holding court : Burano, IT

We stopped for ice cream and water at a little bar/restaurant that was next door to a bakery. This woman reminded me of my late maternal grandmother. She watched people coming and going and a few stopped to talk with her. Eventually, I popped into her shop and bought a bag of Venetian cookies.

Lacemaker : Burano, IT

Burano is known for its lacemaking. This was the last photo I took. As we were heading back to the ferry, I glanced inside an open door and saw this woman making lace. I snapped a quick picture, said "Grazie", and she waved me off dismissively! Sort of like the boat builder, I think she was unimpressed.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Burano, Reflected

Beautiful Burano, reflected. : Burano, IT

Not much to say here. Just a few photos of Burano and the reflections that can be enjoyed in the canals around this island village. To see a few more photos of Burano, visit my Picasa Web Album, Colorful Life.

Laundry Reflections : Burano, IT

Vibrancy : Burano, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Colorful Burano

Obligatory Tourist Shot : Burano, IT

My favorite stop during our weekend in Venice was the island village of Burano. The brightly painted houses were such a contrast to the muted, soft tones of Venice and the drabness of Geneva. If we ever come back this way again, I think we'll stay on Burano and make a day trip to Venice.

Fresh Coat : Burano, IT

I loved stumbling on this bit of action. The sign on the door, which I did not photograph, seemed to indicate this is an artist's studio. What I especially love are all of the colors on the painter's ladder. Clearly, he has painted a number of houses in Burano.

Leaning Tower : Burano, IT

It may not be the tower in Pisa, but Burano's campanile definitely leans.


Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Murano

A Murano glassblower creates a vase : Murano, IT

On our last full day in Venice, we went to Murano and Burano. To get to the islands, you have to take a ferry. The ride to Murano is about 10 minutes and to Burano, another 40 minutes. Murano is known for its glassworks and Burano is known for its lace and colorful buildings.

Campanile in Venice's Piazza San Marco as seen from Murano

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

The Doge and his Boys...

Doge Francesco Foscari kneeling before the St. Mark's Lion

Just a few final pictures for Venice during the day. To see more photos from our trip to Venice, see my Picasa Web Album, Canals and Mosaics.

A couple of guys I saw hanging out above Piazzo San Marco : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Portals of Saint Mark's Basilica

North Portal / West Facade : Basilica San Marco : Venice, IT

The above mosaic depicts what the Basilica of Saint Mark probably looked like in the mid-13th century. The four bronze horses that are part of the facade are included the upper arches of the mosaic.

Central Portal / West Facade : Basilica San Marco : Venice, IT

The central portal featuring the ascension of Christ. Above that, the winged lion of Venice and the four bronzes horses.

East Portal / West Facade : Basilica San Marco : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Torre dell'Orologio

The Clock Tower on Saint Mark's Square : Venice, IT

The clock tower that graces Piazzo San Marco was started in the 1490s. Its Renaissance facade features a winged lion -- the mascot of Venice -- and the Virgin Mother and Child. In the circular facade are the symbols of the Zodiac. The clock is topped by a bell and two ringers. On Epiphany and Ascension, depictions of the three Wise Men, led by a trumpeter angel, emerge and bow before the Virgin. 

Detail of the Zodiac feature on the Clock Tower : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Tripod Envy: How It's Done

A tripod is always useful! : Venice, IT

Tiny little sidebar here. I've long wondered how photographers get those photos that seem to be shot from vantage points that are unavailable to your average photographer. Now I know the secret: a enormous tripod, a cable, and a computer. This guy was shooting in the direction of the Doge's Palace and the Adriatic in front of Saint Mark's Basilica. I had tripod envy.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013.

Piazza San Marco

The Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco, and the Campanile : Venice, IT

When you visit a place for just a couple of days, you're pretty limited in your ability to get to know a city and take photos that don't look like all of the other 745.3 bajillion people who have snapped the exact same photo. Unfortunately, there's very little that's unique about the top photo, expect the people who are in it and who are probably not in the 745.299 bajillion other photos that are out there. Still, it's evidence I was there, so there's that.

View of the Doge's Palace and the Adriatic from the Basilica San Marco : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Art and the Biennale

 Medusa : Venice, IT

The Arte Biennale is an every-other-year event in Venice. This year is the 55th Biennale and we glanced in on one of the exhibits featuring an artist from the Republic of Slovenia. The photo above is of a wood carving and modern interpretation of Medusa. It was actually in a gallery and probably not part of the Biennale, but it was a good kick off to then stumbling upon the exhibit featuring art from Slovenia.

Custom wallpaper and fabric in the exhibit for the Republic of Slovenia : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M. Kincaid, 6/2013

Knockers and Other Three-Dimensional Beauties

Brass knocker : Venice, IT

Two things I love finding when I travel are knockers and bas-reliefs. Venice is full of some really gorgeous door knockers, like the one above. My favorite find, though, was the bas-relief below. It was tucked into a dark little alley behind a gate and was kind of obscured by a large piece of machinery sticking out of the side of the building on its left. It took a bit of acrobatic maneuvering and cropping, both on camera and in post-production, to feature this bas-relief.

Venetian Family Portrait? : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Venetian Warmth

Parallel Parking : Venice, IT

Despite the bright sunlight bathing Venice, the streets and canals are narrow enough and the colors of the buildings are muted such that the light is soft and warm. Just a couple of photos to illustrate that.

Venetian Warmth : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Traffic in Venice

Gondolier : Venice, IT

We decided to take a last-minute trip to Venice before it is completely overrun with tourists, so we booked a B&B, threw the dog, our cameras, and a suitcase in the car, and headed over Mont Blanc to the Queen of the Adriatic Sea, Venezia.

We arrived late in the afternoon and I only snapped a few photos, none of which were that great. The next day, though, I caught this gondolier standing at the ready to ferry tourists and lovers around the canals.

After a disappointing lunch (never choose restaurants that are right on the canals), we walked all around Venice and while this isn't the greatest photo, I love the content. Gondoliers galore and the Campanile in Saint Mark's Square to boot!

Rush Hour Venezia Style

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013.

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

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