Mainz

by craigwsJune 20, 2014June 13, 2022

Ancient history and modern life go hand in hand in Mainz. Close to the Frankfurt airport, it is a low-key and more personal alternative to the big city. The depredations of war have left only a few reminders of the past, but those are magnificent.

_D6A6123 — Statue of St. Martin looks over the old city.

Some features date to Roman times. This wall from the 4^th century was excavated near our hotel. You can clearly see that the exterior surfaces are well fitted, rectangular ashlars while the nearly 6 foot space between is filled with irregular rubble and mortar.

IMG_0128cw — Roman wall from circa the 4th century.

The Cathedral of St. Martin, much of which is 1000 years old, dominates the skyline. The marketplatz around the Cathedral is filled with fruit, vegetable and flower vendors. There are plenty of tourists, but residents are fully represented.

_D6A5752w — Ancient cathedral looms over the marketplace.

To the immediate north of the cathedral is a modern shopping area. To the south is a surviving quarter of older buildings filled with boutique shops. Any way you turn, there are cafes and restaurants where you can take a break and watch the rest of the world go by. Much of the old city is pedestrianized and bicycle travel is popular. Keep an eye out for buses and street cleaners though. They can go where automobiles are prohibited.

_D6A5453w — Augustinerstraße with shops and cafes.

There is a walking/bike path along the river enjoyed by runners, bike riders and sedate strollers.

_D6A5654 — Rhine River with city skyline and riverwalk.

On holidays you are likely to see revelers out as well. The riders of this “bier bike” provide motive power while the bartender keeps them from getting thirsty.

_D6A5635 — If you fall off the wagon, you can ride this one.

There is plenty of interesting architecture. These fancy slate roofs remind me of dragon scales. Martin of Tours is the patron saint of the cathedral. This statue on a terrace overlooking the city was made for the cathedral. Another statue that from the ground looks identical stands on the roof ridge of the west choir. This modern statue of Martin depicts the soldier dividing his robe to give to a beggar. Click on the thumbnails to see bigger images.

Martin was a Roman soldier, thus the fancy hat. The pigeons are modern.

Martin cutting his cloak in half for a beggar.

Boniface, the Anglo-Saxon missionary to the german lands in the 8th century was the first Archbishop of Mainz. His statue stands outside a 1000 year old chapel next to the cathedral. Gutenberg was born here and there is a museum dedicated to him. His printing press however was developed in Strassburg after his family was forced to emigrate, probably for political reasons.

There are lots of other curiosities around town.

There’s lots more. We spent hours at the cathedral and at St. Stephen’s Church but this is enough for now.

Ayers Rock aka Uluru

by craigwsApril 12, 2014July 30, 2016

Every visit to Australia should include Ayers Rock. It stands 1000 feet above the plain in the dead center, or rather the Red Center, of Australia, and is roughly 1 mile by 2 miles in extent. It is so unique, that people just call it The Rock.

The Rock is impressive at any time, but just after sunset, it glows brilliantly. It’s not hard to get a top quality image.

There is a great walk around the base. It’s about 6 miles, but very flat, so in nice weather, i.e. not summer, almost anyone can tackle it. The variation in the rock formations are fascinating. There are actually a lot of trees and a couple of hidden ponds that add to the variety.

The real treat though is a climb to the top. The way is steep and not for the fainthearted, but if you can handle 20 minutes on a stairmaster, you should not have much difficulty. There are some folks who try to discourage climbers, but there is a written agreement between the aboriginal communities in the area and the Australian government permitting climbers. So, I had no qualms about doing it. The climb does get closed sometimes due to rain (infrequent) or wind (2 days out of the 3 I was there) and I think also heat (most of the time in summer).

At the top of the chains, there is a call box, if you need help. There is no cell coverage in the area. This is a nice place to rest though, because you are about half way up and have another mile to go until you reach the center.

The top is much more rugged than the view from the ground might lead you to believe. Even once the steep part is done, there are numerous places where you need to scramble up short, steep sections.

The view from the top is amazing. You feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. You are likely to meet people up there from almost every corner of the world. Take some lunch and wander about, but stay away from the edge. The drop off is dramatic and there is nothing stopping you if you slip.

One last item. The formation in the distance is Kata Tjuta aka The Olgas. The highest point is 600 feet higher than the rock. You can’t climb there, but there are several nice hikes of varying lengths that meander amongst the peaks and give you a chance to enjoy the unusual landscape. It’s almost 20 miles away and worth a day all by itself.

Edenton, North Carolina

by craigwsAugust 22, 2013July 30, 2016

Edenton, North Carolina

Edenton is a small town on the inner shore of Albemarle Sound that was the first capitol of the North Carolina colony. There are a several colonial era homes as well as numerous victorian homes. The main street remains unspoiled by modern chain stores and restaurants, though some of these can be found on the outskirts of town.

The road to Edenton runs through quiet farm country.

Broad Street lives up to its name.

The Leary Building was the first building in this block after a major fire.

This plain shopfront is adorned with flowers.

Walking around on our own, we found lovely old homes. Many have signs indicating construction dates on hundred to 250 years ago.

Willow Garden — Many houses have formal gardens.

This wraparound porch was a bit unusual.

Large crape myrtle trees are everywhere.

Once a bustling port, when the main channel to Albemarle Sound through the sandy islands was closed by a storm, the shipping business dried up and the shoreline has been converted to parkland.

Albemarle River Lighthouse was moved to Edenton and restored

Lighthouse with Barker House in Background

Cypress islands are common in the Edenton area.

Cannons occur naturally in this climate.

We took a two hour walking tour hosted by a local guide who took us inside a number of the oldest sites and provided great stories about some of the early citizens.