29 Mar 2012
When visiting Cologne you cannot just walk by the cathedral (the Dom as it is called in Cologne). It is a VERY large church (it is the largest gothic church in Northern Europe). We went inside but couldn’t walk through the church because there apparently there was a service going on (didn’t see many people though), so I have almost no photos of the inside. Outside there are lots of people on the square, so it is very difficult (actually impossible) to get a shot without any people in it if you want the church as a whole. After waiting patiently outside one of the main entrances I managed to take the shot below.
27 Mar 2012
We spent the weekend in Germany, near Bonn and Cologne. Because we got there early, and couldn’t check in the hotel first, we went to Königswinter, which normally is a very touristy little place. This time of year though there were very little tourists. We took the rack railway up the steep hill (20% uphill!) called the Drachenfels, or Dragon’s Rock in English. On top of the hill the ruins of a castle built in the 12th century can be found. Click for a larger version!
26 Mar 2012
Why, why would you want to have a $ 31.000,- camera? Okay, the lens is nice, but why?
26 Mar 2012
What can I say? Click for larger version!
26 Mar 2012
The Hoeg Brögk (literally High Bridge) in Maastricht was designed so ships are able to go underneath. She was placed on quite high pillars, so she would have needed very steep ramps. Instead a controversial lazy stair construction was chosen. The depth of the steps is now so small (little?) you can’t decide to take one or two steps, either is a bad choice!
26 Mar 2012
The current church, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, dates back to the 11th century, but a previous church must have been built in the 5th century, making this the oldest church in the Netherlands. The church is also called Star of the Sea.
What you see here is the south tower next to the westwork. Underneath one of the buttresses remains of a Roman fortress were found. During a later excavation In the garden remains of a Roman temple were found.
23 Mar 2012
This bastion (in Dutch called a “rondeel”) is named Haet ende Nyt (Hate and Envy). It was built in 1515 as part of the second wall of Maastricht.
22 Mar 2012
Coming days I will be making several posts a day since I have some catching up to do!
I shot this one earlier during daytime, the Old Hickory Monument. This monument is to remember the Old Hickory division that freed Maastricht in the World War 2. At this very spot they laid a temporary bridge. The monument was created by the renowned Maastricht sculptor Appie Drielsma. Click for a larger version!
15 Mar 2012
Next to/part of the Gouvernement (see previous post) is this building in which a laboratory is located, amongst other things. Where the rest of the Gouvernement building only has some blue accents, this building is lighted in blue only! Click the image to see a much larger version!
13 Mar 2012
I keep coming back to this building. Lately they have been illuminating it in the evening, giving it a totally new dimension. I’m sure this is not my last shot of it! As always: click for a larger version!
