Euro Trip--The Cathedrals

OK, here comes the standard tourist stuff...  great cathedrals of Europe (or a few of them anyway).  On the river cruise, the standard day tour usually included a major cathedral.  Then we found a few on our own (we couldn't always keep to the program!).

The first biggie was in Cologne.  Gothic style...  centuries to build.

Curiously, the Raiders of the Lost Ark contributed their discovery to this cathedral...

Tourists...

The next major religious edifice was in Strassbourg...

A cool organ loft...  and an amazing clock that tracked almost anything that had to do with time.

In the town of Colmar, a featured stop on the cruise (and home of a great Alstacian Pinot Gris!), there was a cathedral apparently of Romanesque style but, due to long construction times (centuries), it evolved into a Gothic style (flying buttresses).

We finally decided to play hooky from the tour schedule to rest up a bit then explore on our own.  While the boat (ship?) was docked at the little town of Breisach on the German side of the Rhine, and everyone was taken into the Black Forest, we walked up to this cathedral on the hill overlooking the town.  Had a great apple strudel in a little cafe as well.

But my favorite was the Romanesque styled cathedral in Speyer.  There was something minimalist about this church that quite moved me after all the ornate excesses of the Gothic styled cathedrals.

This cross really defines the Romanesque style...

Somehow I don't think these organ pipes are original, but the style really fit the minimalism of the cathedral... and they look really cool!

OK, so much for European cathedrals...  at some point, we'll get to the castles...

PS...  The Tour de France is coming up.  The Tour actually begins in Holland, in the major city of Ultrecht...  Ultrech was a major center of the Catholic religion before Martin Luther came along.  The cathedral here is quite spectacular...  and the Tour will ride through the arch that can sorta be seen in this pic...

Europe's Greatest Bridge

Or, as we now call it, the $1000 bridge.  This beautiful, graceful structure must have cost zillions to build, but probably cost us $1000 to drive over.

This bridge is called the Millau Viaduct.  I've seen pictures over the years and knew I had to see it in person and experience the drive across it.  So while in France, we decided to take a road trip to the Aveyron and Ardeche departments in Southern France.  And what an experience!  After passing over the bridge, we stayed in a wonderful Chateau (more later) with room views of the bridge all night long (even from the tub!).  Here's more pics:

Then, in a fit of practicality, we started to add up the costs to cruise over this bridge:  car rental, meals, hotels, tolls, gas, etc.   Probably around $1000 to check off this item on our bucket list!  But what a bridge!  (And, of course, the road trip produced many more wonderful experiences which I hope to get to in this blog as I review my many photos and remembrances).

Europe's Greatest Building

After years in construction, and many delays, the Musee de Confluences finally opened a year or so ago.  This museum is built in Lyon at the confluence of the Rhone and the Soane rivers.  I walked the area when it was still railroad lines and warehouses (a former prison was also located there).  After seeing pictures of the new Museum, I couldn't wait to visit this magnificent structure.  Check it out!

Pretty great, right!  The museum itself has permanent exhibits of a natural history theme.  There are also several temporary exhibits of various topics.  Meetings and concerts are also held at this facility.  A few photos of a few exhibits...

An atomic clock, keeping us dead on time...  From 1964, this is much smaller than I'd imagined it would be...

An atom smasher...

A very modern wedding dress...

An exploded view of a Renault truck engine...

An aboriginal mask...

A detailed lady bug collection from the 1800's...

The evolutionary tree of life is now the bush of life...

I also loved the lighting fixtures used in the exhibit cases...

A couple views of the confluence itself...  there's still a near-buried set of rails that extends out the point into the water.  And proof I was there...(just ask the swan).

And a view of Lyon from the museum, including a shot of Fouvier, the famous cathedral that overlooks the city.

A great time at a great museum...

More Odd Pics From Europe

At some point I'll do castles and cathedrals, but until then you'll have to suffer through these...

First, a weird sculpture outside the Breisbach cathedral...

A bad pic of a Comfort Inn motel outside Colmar.  Don't know if I could fall asleep in this place...

The peace car...  loved the French motto painted on the front...

Storks have a special meaning, and therefore protection, in the Alsace region.  This is a nest and birds on top of a cathedral in Colmar...

Finally, the tile work in the toilet of a small Colmar cafe (click for larger image).  We did have a fine Torte Flambe' and a delicious Alsatian Pinot Gris before needing to use the facilities.

Back to Euro Trip Posts

OK, now I should post photos I took of Europe that show canals, cathedrals, and castles.  Well, I have lots of those, but I thought I'd throw in some other finds that appeal to me (and admittedly my warped sense of taste)...

First, how about Noah's Ark...  yep, it's real, imported from the Middle East (actually a project for the unemployed in a Netherlands town).

Then there's industrialization along the Rhine...  as a major transportation system, there's lots and lots of industrialization.  But I liked the clean lines of this plant.   And then we passed a nuke plant...  hope it doesn't leak into the river...

Maybe a flower boat?

Caught this guy sleeping in the park...

Strange creatures in our stateroom...

Speaking of strange creatures, how about Orpheus?

Finally, a cool, old Alfa, decked out for the newlyweds still inside tying the knot...

Ok, maybe more traditional pics next time (probably not)...