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Through The Eye Of My Lens

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Chapter One

St. Wolfgang is a market town of 2,794 inhabitants in the Salzkammergut region of Upper Austria, named after Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg. The complete name of the town is Sankt Wolfgang in Salzkammergut. Situated on the northern shore of the Wolfgangsee (close to the towns of Strobl and St. Gilgen, both in the State of Salzburg) at the foot of the Schafberg mountain, it is famous for the White Horse Inn (Hotel Weißes Rössl), the setting of the musical comedy and for its pilgrimage church with a late Gothic altarpiece by Michael Pacher.

A destination spa, St. Wolfgang is also a popular skiing resort during the winter. A rack railway, the Schafbergbahn runs up the mountain. There had been several places for lodging around the church since medieval times. The Weißes Rössl hotel was built in 1878. There had been several places for lodging around the church since medieval times, while the Weißes Rössl hotel was not built before 1878. During World War II, a sub-camp of the infamous Dachau concentration camp was located here which was liberated by the American Army.

Horst Castle, Belgium

We visited this castle in 2008. Horst Castle lies near the village of St. Pietersrode, north-east of the city of Brussels, Belgium. When the first Horst Castle was built isn't known. And however there was a 'castellum Rode' in this area in the 11th century, the name Horst was first mentioned in 1263. Then, a Jan van Thunen settled here and called himself Jan van Horst.

Horst Castle was built on a strategic spot in the Winge-valley and was one of the strengths protecting the nearby city of Leuven which was the largest and most important city in the Duchy of Brabant during the 14th century. In 1369 the castle was bought by an Amelric Boote who rebuilt it. Of his stronghold only the keep, part of the curtain wall and a part of the gate remains. In 1488/89 the castle was burnt down by the people of Leuven during their war against Maximillian of Austria. Around 1490 the castle was rebuilt to its present appearance.

Verdun, France

The Victory Monument was inaugurated on 23 June 1929. There are two Russian field guns at the front of the monument which had been captured by the Germans and then taken from them by the French Army. This monument with its 73 steps leads to a statue of a soldier at the top. The steps are carved into the old ramparts of Verdun. In the crypt below visitors can see the books with all the names of those who received medals from Verdun. Leading away from the river here are several roads, and one of these gives an outstanding view up to the Victory Monument. This imposing monument is set into the town walls, and small fountains flow in the street leading up to it, and in the middle of the steps which lead up to it.

At the top of the steps is a 90 foot tall column which stands the figure of a knight and a pair of Russian field guns which flank the column. There are annual commemorations here in June each year; which are amazing events.

Queen's Guard–London Tower–London, England

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The Queen's Guard and Queen's Life Guard are the names given to contingents of infantry and cavalry soldiers charged with guarding the official royal residences in London.

The British Army had regiments of both Horse Guards and Foot Guards predating the English Restoration (1660), and since the reign of King Charles II these have been responsible for guarding the Sovereign's palaces. A detachment of the Regiment on guard at Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace is also responsible for providing the guard at the Tower of London.

La Petite France–Strasbourg, France

The most picturesque part of Strasbourg is La Petite France (Little France). This area is on islands in the Ill River and full of postcard-perfect scenes. Most buildings have half-timbered structures with balconies where ample geraniums flower to add color to an already far from bland area. Inviting restaurants adds to the appeal of this area. The Ponts Couverts (Covered Bridges) are a series of bridges over the four arms of the Ill River just south of the La Petite France. Three watchtowers survived from the original medieval town defenses.

The best views of the bridges and old town is from the terrace at the Grand Ecluse—a late seventeenth-century (but frequently changed) dam built to update the town defenses. Strasbourg's historic Le Petite France neighborhood is a serene collection of cobblestone roads, fine restaurants and medieval buildings. Fine dining and good shopping abound in this part of town.

German Hobo–Partenkirchen, Germany

I met this gentleman in Partenkirchen, Germany which is located in the Garmisch area. Have you ever seen those people playing music in the market place in Germany, or how about those living statues? How about those people who hold out their hands expecting you to give them a few coins? This gentleman was satisfied with just hanging out on that sunny day. How many homeless people exist in Germany? Believe it or not, there are actually around 860,000 homeless people in Germany. The numbers of homeless in Germany are not registered in any governmental statistics; the only estimates were made by independent institutions offering social services.

There are shelters in Germany and places for these people to get help. Many times I see them drinking outside of supermarkets or sitting along side a building begging for money. Rather than give them money I would rather give them food so at least I know they won't use the money for the wrong things.

Chateau de Walzin, Belgium

I remember walking for hours and traversing to the right angle in which to take this image. The impressive castle of Walzin is fabulously situated on a rocky cliff high above the river Lesse as a real eagle's nest! Originally built in the 11th century, massive restoration works took place in the 19th and 20th century because of the many incessant conflicts that to place during the wars of 1489, 1554 and 1581 which brought many new waves of destruction.

The castle was initially built to serve as a supervisory position and forward defense to the town of Dinant, Belgium and was the only access from the south to Dinant was through the Ford of Walzin. The white cliff rises directly from the water, sheer and majestic; like that which is crowned by the romantic Chateau Walzin which is sometimes more broken and rises amidst trees from a broad emerald meadow that is interposed between its base and the windings of the river below.

Stari Most (Old Bridge)–Bosnia, Herzegovina

Stari Most (Old Bridge) is a 16th century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city. The original bridge was commissioned in 1557 to replace an older wooden suspension bridge of dubious stability. Construction began in 1557 and took nine years. According to the inscription, the bridge was completed in 974, corresponding to the period between July 19, 1566 and July 7, 1567. The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on November 9, 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak War. Subsequently, a project was set in motion to reconstruct it, and the rebuilt bridge opened on July 23, 2004.

It is traditional for the young men of the town to leap from the bridge into the Neretva. As the Neretva is very cold, this is a very risky feat and only the most skilled and best trained divers will attempt it. The rewards are endless for the divers, as the hundreds of passers-by donate quite well to their cause.

Lorraine WWII American Cemetery–St Avold (Alsace Lorraine), France

The Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in France covers 113.5 acres and contains the largest number of graves of our military dead of World War II in Europe, a total of 10,489. Their headstones are arranged in nine plots in a generally elliptical design extending over the beautiful rolling terrain of eastern Lorraine and culminating in a prominent overlook feature.

Most of the dead here were killed while driving the German forces from the fortress city of Metz toward the Siegfried Line and the Rhine River. Initially, there were over 16,000 Americans interred in the St. Avold region, mostly from the U.S. Seventh Army's Infantry and Armored Divisions and its Cavalry Groups. St. Avold served as a vital communications center for the vast network of enemy defenses guarding the western border of the Third Reich.

Hochosterwitz Castle, Austria

Hochosterwitz Castle is considered to be one of Austria's most impressive medieval castles. It is situated on a 160 meter Dolomite rock near Saint Georgen am Längsee, east of the town of Saint Veit an der Glan in the state of Carinthia which is in southern Austria. The castle is one of the state's landmarks and can be seen from about 30 kilometers away on a clear day. Since the 16th century, no major changes have been made to Hochosterwitz. It has also remained in the possession of the Khevenhüller family as requested by the original builder, George Khevenhüller.

Some parts of the castle are open to the public every year from Easter to the end of October. Tourists are allowed to walk the 620 meters long pathway through the 14 gates up to the castle. Hochosterwitz Castle can be reached by car or an easy hike from the Saint Veit an der Glan train station, with connection to nearby Klagenfurt which borders with the country of Slovenia.

Chateau Fort de Feluy, Belgium

You can find the castle of Feluy in the village of the same name. The castle is private property but it can be viewed from the public road. From 1380 to 1548, the Feluy Estate belonged to the Bousies family. It then passed to the Rubempré family until 1576 and after that to the Berghe family, in whose possession it remained for a century. It was subsequently abandoned and bought in 1774 by the Countess Ysendoorn de Blois.

Around 1777, she had the building restored in keeping with the fashion of the day. Around 1940, a final restoration was carried out by the architect Puttemans. Today, the Château de Feluy comprises two separate buildings, a fortified wing and residential main building. Both are surrounded by moats that form a pond behind the château which are fed by the River Graty. Because of the wars through the centuries, the castle suffered a lot of damage and was also neglected.

Leers-et-Fosteau Castle–THUIN, Belgium

Castle Fosteau is located in Leers-et-Fosteau in the municipality of Thuin, province of Hainaut, in Belgium. At the summit of an undulation the silhouette of the castle of Fosteau appears. This imposing fortress from the 14th century still has got 4 towers. The lords of Semousies, Sars, and after them the lords of Zwenne, Marotte, de Henry, de Jamblines and de Aoust developed the living quarters around the central tower of the castle. Inside is one of the finest gothic rooms in Belgium.

The beautiful and sober French gardens lie out in a terrace and go as far as the lake. This amazing castle has been considered a monument since 1979. The Castle of Fosteau appears to have a split personality—the lower half of the building is made from grey limestone, while most upper parts are made of red brick. The limestone base dates from the 14th and 15th centuries; the brick portions were grafted on in 1599. Fosteau is open to the public several days each week. Parts of the castle serve as an antique showroom.

Zugspitze Chapel–German Alps

The Zugspitze, at almost 10,000 feet or 3,000 meters, is the highest peak in the Bavarian Alps chain. On a clear day, from the summit you can see four countries—Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy! When you visit, you will have an experience to remember. Our last trip to the Bavarian Alps in early October included a day trip to the Zugspitze.

When you arrive on the top of the Zugspitze and take a look around, you will be amazed at the view of the surrounding Alps. Up the hill is Germany's highest (altitude) chapel. The views of the Alps from here are awesome, as you wander around during some nice "easy" walks. You can really enjoy nature and see the lovely mountain flowers during the spring and summer months. We had lunch up on the mountain and it was really nice sitting there, looking into the distance and just daydreaming. NOTE: ensure you travel to the top on a partly cloudy to sunny day, as you may find yourself arriving in the fog which will ruin your day.

Dubrovnik, Croatia (former Yugoslavia)

Dubrovnik is located in the extreme southern most part of Croatia on the Dalmatian coast in the Adriatic Sea. It is a port, tourist and cultural center with some light industries. Dubrovnik was founded in the 7th century by Romans fleeing Slavic incursions. Later, however, the Slavic people settled in the city which became a link between both the Latin and Slavic civilizations. Dubrovnik became a powerful merchant republic; although it was a protectorate of the Byzantine Empire until 1205, of Venice until 1358, of Hungary until 1526, and of the Ottoman Empire until 1806.

It remained virtually independent until it was abolished in 1808 by Napoleon the 1st. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna assigned it to Austria and in 1918, it was included in what became Yugoslavia. It suffered a severe earthquake in 1667 but retains much of its medieval architecture today. The city was heavily damaged in fighting that followed Croatia's secession from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a World War II cemetery and memorial in Collevillesur-Mer, Normandy, France, that honors American soldiers who died in Europe during World War II. The cemetery is located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach (one of the landing beaches of the Normandy Invasion) and the English Channel. It covers 70 hectors (172 acres), and contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead, most of who were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations in World War II. Included in the cemetery are graves of Army Air Force crews shot down over France as early as 1942.

Only some of the soldiers who died overseas in Normandy during WW II were buried in the overseas American military cemeteries. When it came time for a decision, the distraught family members had to determine if they wanted their loved ones buried in an overseas military cemetery—most families chose to.

Chateau Carrouges–Normandy, France

Chateau Carrouges began life as a fortified stronghold during the Hundred Years' War—the keep is seen in the corner of the inner courtyard. It became a lordly residence in the 15th century for the Blosset family and was extended with the addition of a residential wing next to the keep. In the 16th century the wonderful gatehouse was added, like a château in miniature—this is considered to be the earliest piece of Renaissance architecture in Normandy.

Carrouges was refortified during the Wars of Religion with the construction of the west bastion, and finally in the late 16th century two 'classical' wings with remarkable staircases were added. The Blosset de Tillier family owned the château and estate from the end of the 15th century until 1936, when the chateau and much of the furniture was purchased by the State as a historic monument. One of the most distinctive features of the Château de Carrouges is the fact that it is largely made of brick due to the presence of local clay.

Hohenzollern Castle, Germany

The first mention of the House of Hohenzollern dates back to the year of 1061. Their ancestral seat; however, was first documented not until 1267 as "Castro Zolre". The appearance, extent and furnishings of the original castle were supposedly built in the first half of the 11th century. It must have been a vast complex; however, since contemporary sources then described it as "the crown of all castles in Swabia" and "the most fortified house in the German territories."

From 1952 on Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia (1907-1994) started to furnish the castle with a multitude of valuable works of art and memorabilia dedicated to the history of Prussia and its rulers. The extremely high costs of maintenance and renovations were met by the owners, the heads of the Prussian and the Swabian family branch, themselves which turned out to be a permanent challenge. Each visitor also contributes to the conservation and preservation of Hohenzollern Castle, a heritage landmark and symbol of the German history.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Through The Eye Of My Lens by Joseph B. Hendrix Copyright © 2012 by Joseph B. Hendrix. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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