Neis Rathaus (New Town Hall), Munich, Bavaria, Germany

The Neis Rathaus or New Town Hall in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is one of the most elaborate buildings we have seen since the cathedral in Strasbourg, France. The detail of the facade is amazing. What is also amazing is the number of people in the main plaza and on the streets of the city. Here is a brief note about the building from Wikipedia: New Town Hall (Munich).

Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle is another one of those icon places in Europe that are very different in person than they are in all the promotional photos. First of all the castle was never completed because the builder, Ludwig II of Bavaria died in 1886. The castle is now owned by the State of Bavaria, Germany. Some of the floors of the castle are now used for administrative purposes. The castle also houses a restaurant and a gift shop. Here is an idea of the castle from Wikipedia: Neuschwanstein Castle.

The castle was intended as a home for the king, until he died in 1886. It was open to the public shortly after his death. Since then more than 61 million people have visited Neuschwanstein Castle. More than 1.3 million people visit annually, with as many as 6,000 per day in the summer.

We had a beautiful day for our visit to the castle and we hiked up into the nearby mountains to get this photo (and a lot of others). We saw at least 6000 people visiting the castle on the day of our visit. 

 

The Kapellbrücke in Lucerne, Switzerland

This is the Kapellbrücke or Chapel Bridge. Quoting from Wikipedia: Kapellbrücke:

The bridge is a covered wooden footbridge spanning the River Reuss diagonally in the city of Lucerne in central Switzerland. Named after the nearby St. Peter's Chapel, the bridge is unique in containing a number of interior paintings dating back to the 17th century, although many of them were destroyed along with a larger part of the centuries-old bridge in a 1993 fire. Subsequently restored, the Kapellbrücke is the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe, as well as the world's oldest surviving truss bridge. It serves as the city's symbol and as one of Switzerland's main tourist attractions.

It is really quite long and takes some time to walk across especially if you are like me and stopping to take photos every few steps. 

The Matterhorn

Yes, the Matterhorn is just as imposing in real life as you would think it would be. It is probably the most recognizable mountain in the world. Here is a brief explanation of the mountain from Wikipedia: Matterhorn.

The Matterhorn (/ˈmætərhɔːrn/, German: [ˈmatərˌhɔrn]; Italian: Cervino [tʃerˈviːno]; French: Cervin [sɛʁvɛ̃]) is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetrical pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the Pennine Alps, whose summit is 4,478 metres (14,692 ft) high, making it one of the highest summits in the Alps and Europe. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points and are split by the Hörnli, Furggen, Leone/Lion, and Zmutt ridges. The mountain overlooks the Swiss town of Zermatt, in the canton of Valais, to the north-east and the Italian town of Breuil-Cervinia in the Aosta Valley to the south. Just east of the Matterhorn is Theodul Pass, the main passage between the two valleys on its north and south sides, and a trade route since the Roman Era.

Grindelwald from the Ridge Trail

Grindelwald is a ski/sports town in the Swiss Alps. It is barely visible in the center of the screen. Taking photos in the mountains is always a little frustrating. You can see these grand vistas spread out before you but when you take a photo the mountains shrink and the distances increase and the whole impression of the mountains seems to condense into a travel photo. We hiked about 5 miles along this ridgeline trail high up in the mountains. It seemed like we were much higher than we actually were because of the snow and glaciers on the higher mountains. We were only at about 6000 feet or so while hiking and that would put us only slightly higher than where we live in Provo, Utah. Obviously, we did not feel any effects of the altitude.

The Rhine River in Basel, Switzerland

Quoting from Wikipedia: Rhine:

The Rhine (Latin: Rhenus, Romansh: Rein, German: Rhein, French: le Rhin,[1] Italian: Reno, Dutch: Rijn) is one of the major European rivers, which has its sources in Switzerland and flows in a mostly northerly direction through Germany and the Netherlands, emptying into the North Sea. The river begins in the Swiss canton of Graubünden in the southeastern Swiss Alps, forms part of the Swiss-Liechtenstein, Swiss-Austrian, Swiss-German and then the Franco-German border, then flows through the German Rhineland and the Netherlands and eventually empties into the North Sea.

We spent some time at this lovely overlook above the river.

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is much bigger in real life than it appears in photos and movies. The time it takes to get to the very top enhances the size. You also have to pay to get a ride to the top and stand in long lines. But it is iconic and the view from the top is spectacular. You might think it can be seen from all over Paris but it is really only viewable from certain angles because of the trees and other buildings.

The Gate to the Palace of Versailles

So far, our trip to Europe has left one overriding impression of a lot of people. The Palace of Versailles was no exception. The lines were impossibly long and the tour of the palace was basically wading through crowds of people. I have seen quite a few wonderful things in Europe and Versailles is certainly impressive in its own way, but I can certainly see why there was a French Revolution.

The Paris, France Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

This is the Paris, France Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is actually located in Le Chesnay, outside of Paris. It is a relatively new temple and was dedicated in 2017. Unlike many of the temples, it is not prominently located on a hill or downtown area. It is very conservative looking from the street, but beautiful from the surrounding garden. Our visit was very short but it was wonderful to be near a temple even for that limited time.

Detail from the Palace of Versailles, France

I am not much impressed by excess in any form. The palace, now a museum, at Versailles shows the lengths to which excess can be taken. The consequence of this show of wealth ultimately resulted in the French Revolution. Perhaps, here in the United States, we are going in the same direction with the majority of the wealth of our country concentrated in a very small percentage of the population. If there is any good lesson from Versailles, it is that excess in any form leads to unexpected consequences.

Narrow Crowded Streets at St Michael's Mount

There are two things that are never shown in advertising: cables with electronic equipment and crowds of people at popular attractions. At the Abby of St. Michael in France we got caught in a traffic jam of people trying to get into the Abby and those trying to get out. We stood there while the police tried to sort out the mass of humanity. The visit was wonderful, but the crowds were a little less than wonderful. 

Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel, France

Some places are so familiar from travel images that you are surprised when you actually visit them. The Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel, France is one of those places. What they do not show you in the travel images is the huge mob of people visiting the Abby. We literally got stuck in a traffic jam of people for about twenty minutes or so and could not move more than a few feet. The narrow and steep streets were packed with people and the only way to stop or get out of the stream was to step into a store or shop. Otherwise, the whole visit was spectacular.

Flags of the Alliance, Normandy, France

World War II is still a presence in Normandy, France. The Normandy beaches, Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword are now heavily traveled tourist attractions as well as popular beach resorts. The flags in the image above represent the Allied Forces who participated in the D-day Landing on June 6, 1944. The countries involved included, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Norway, and New Zealand. These flags are in front of the Caen Memorial D-day Museum.

Downtown Amsterdam, The Netherlands

This photo almost looks like it could be a composite but it is an actual street scene in downtown Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It was a very cloudy day. The photo certainly gives you a feeling for the complexity of the city and the difficulties encountered in navigating this complex environment. By the way, one of the notable things I have seen in cities in Europe so far is the prevalence of graffiti.

Amsterdam Canal

This is not your usual view of a canal in Amsterdam, but it is at least as typical as the photos showing the old part of the town. The weather was cool and had a little bit of rain and we were still walking around when the sun went down.

Windmill in the Netherlands

On a recent visit to the Netherlands, we were able to have a tour of a working windmill. It was very interesting to see how working with wood, all of the complex machinery we associate with advanced industrialism could be fabricated. Besides, it was a beautiful day and had a lovely wind blowing.

Rough Sawn Wood

For those of us living in modern homes with central heating and cooling, it is hard to imagine the time and effort it took to provide for basic living conditions in the time of the pioneers. This rough sawn wooden wall can give you some idea of the process. You can see the curved lines that the saw blade made as it slowly cut its way through the wood to make a board that could then be used for construction. When I was young, there were quite a few operating local sawmills in Arizona, but I think almost all of them have disappeared. I am aware of one or maybe two that are left in operation.

Wagon Cover Hoops

These wooden wagon cover hoops were bent into shape by heating the wood in steam and then bending them into the hooped shape. They are what makes the covered wagons have that familiar look. Although I have seen a lot of "covered wagons," this is the first time I remember seeing the hoops stored by themselves.

Heavy Duty Wagon Wheel

This is a heavy-duty wagon wheel considering the size of the spokes and the thickness of the steel or iron tyre (or tire). The rivets were inserted to prevent the felloe (rim) from splitting. While the wagon was in use, the hub had to be regularly lubricated with animal fat or lard.

A Well-used Plough

A plough is one of the most basic tools for farming. You may have to click on this image to see but this plough has been "fixed" with some sticks and some baling wire. In our disposable society, we forget the adage to "Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without."

Scythes

We have a tendency to assume that "modern" tools are superior to ancient ones. That is not always the case. The scythe is an ancient tool for cutting grass, weeds, and hay. The one in the back has a cradle for catching grain such as wheat and putting it in bundles. It is definitely an advantage to have power tools and huge combines for the farms we have today, but if you are going to cut an acre or so of land, it is a lot quieter and just as efficient to use a scythe. The last time I was using one, I quickly realized that it would take me some time to get down the rhythm that would keep me moving through the weeds. Our city gardens and lawns are designed to be maintained by motor-driven mowers and weed cutters, but perhaps this is not the best way to live.

Wagon Wheel Rims

Wagon wheel rims or tyres are made of iron or steel by a blacksmith. After the wooden part of the wheel is finished, the rim is heated to expand it enough to go on the wood and then the whole rim is quickly cooled in water to shrink to form a tight fit.

Pioneer Rough Beam Construction

By today's construction standards, many of the early pioneer structures seem rough and partially finished. But finished wood was not available from your local Home Depot or Lowes, the early American pioneers had to manufacture all of their wood as well as build the structures. The gaps in the beams were covered by shingles or any other available substance. This photo shows the interior of a grain drying shed and the original covering is still on the roof but the covering on the sides is open for air to get in.