Portugal: Óbidos: Santa Maria Church

Óbidos is a photographer's fantasy land. I can compare it to Quedlinburg in Germany insofar as every few metres or every corner presents another "Kodak Moment". Here the steeple of the Santa Maria Church, Óbidos.

Historical note: The Church of Santa Maria in Óbidos was the setting for the wedding of King Afonso V to his cousin, Princess Isabella of Coimbra, on 15 August 1441, when they were both still children aged 9 and 10, respectively.

Church steeple of the Santa Maria Church in Obidos 2014-05-15

Portugal: Convent of Christ in Tomar

The Convent of Christ in Tomar, attached to the Tomar Castle, is one of the most impressive historical sites we've visited in Europe.

The Convent of Tomar - The Convent of the Order of Christ (Convento de Cristo) - was originally conceived as a symbolic monument of the Reconquest (defeat of the Moors) in the 12th century. The castle around it was a Templar stronghold. With the dissolution of the Order of the Knights Templar in the 14th century, the Portuguese branch was turned into the Knights of the Order of Christ, which supported Portugal's maritime discoveries of the 15th century.

The Convent of Christ of Tomar is one of Portugal's most important historical and artistic monuments and has been in theWorld Heritage list of UNESCO since 1983.

The Convent of Christ in Tomar, attached to the Tomar Castle, is
one of the most impressive historical sites we've visited in Europe  2014-05-12

Germany: Steeple of the Laurentius Kirche in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler

In early May, Beate took us on a tour of picturesque Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. As we approached the Marktplatz, storm clouds gathered behind the steeple of the Laurentius Kirche. Before long, as we settled in for some coffee, at an outside cafe table in the market square, the deluge was upon us.

Storm clouds gather behind the Laurentius Kirche
steeple in Ahrweiler 2014-05-04

Germany: Wiesbaden - Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Elizabeth

After the longest drive (most kilometres per day) of our Europe vacation, we ended up, unannounced, on Erich's doorstep in Taunusstein. He decided to show us a bit of Wiesbaden, Hanne's birthplace. One sight, worthy of a visit, is the Neroberg. On another postcard I'll feature the very unique railroad that goes to the summit. This postcard will feature the Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Elizabeth in Wiesbaden. Found on the Neroberg, this church is the only Russian Orthodox church in Wiesbaden, Germany. Besides the there is also Russian cemetery, the largest in Europe outside Russia.

After getting off the train car, we strolled about a bit. Then Erich steered us down a path. Before too long we realised why; brilliant golden domes became visible through the trees!

Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Elizabeth 
on the Neroberg in Wiesbaden (2012-04-27)

Denmark: Løgumkloster - Details of the Abbey Gate

In the morning we had gotten up in Husum, Germany. Now, in the early afternoon of this April day, we arrived at Løgumkloster in Denmark, after a very pleasant bit of sightseeing and lunch in Tønder. It was my ancestors that drew me to this place. Along one of the branches of my family tree were ancestors who had passed significant milestones in or about this abbey. Thus, I wanted to have a look.

Løgumkloster was once the site of the Cistercian Løgum Abbey, in the then Roman Catholic diocese of Ribe.

As an aside, this is a very pleasant part of Europe. As I read somewhere, the Danes really know how to do "cute". So true!

Løgumkloster, Denmark - Details of the Abbey Gate (2012-04-19)

Germany: Idstein: View from the Hexenturm

Twenty days after arriving in Europe for our 2012 vacation, we found ourselves being shown around Idstein by Erich. Of course, no visit to this cute town would be complete without a climb up into the Hexenturm. While up there, I decided that this view just had to be photographed. To my mind, the town looked as though it were a toy set, or the kind of villages seen in model railroad configurations.

View of the town of Idstein
from the Hexenturm (2012-04-28)

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Germany: Cologne: Well-Worn Door Handle at Saint Gereon's Basilica

Our 32nd day of our European vacation took us to Cologne with Wolfgang and Brigitte. Without Wolfgang's local knowledge we would never have really seen the city as we did. Shortly after parking the car our tour of Cologne took us past Saint Gereon's Basilica and this well-worn door push. Or is it a door knocker? Or handle? This Basilica is one of twelve great churches in Cologne built in the Romanesque style.

Door Handle at Saint Gereon's
Basilica in Cologne (2012-05-10)

The Netherlands: Amsterdam: Zuiderkerk Steeple

We're about to return to Canada, but we've got a least one more day to see the sights of Amsterdam. Man we love this city! The steeple in this postcard caught my eye. No wonder. This bell tower belongs to the Zuiderkerk or Southern Church. It was painted by Monet when he visited the city in 1874.

Zuiderkerk; painted by Monet when he
visited Amsterdam in 1874 (2012-05-14)

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