Night Crossing
The Franz Joseph Bridge was opened in 1896 during the Millennium celebrations by Emperor Franz Joseph. The Emperor personally hammered the last silver nail into the iron structure on the Pest side.
On January 16, 1945, the retreating German Wehrmacht attempted to destroy the bridge, but only damaged the central section. It was the first bridge reconstructed, and reopened for traffic on August 20, 1946 as the renamed Liberty Bridge.
The Liberty Bridge is one of eight bridges spanning the Danube to link Buda and Pest resulting in the city of Budapest. The oldest is the Chain Bridge, which opened to the public in 1849. The newest and longest is the Megyeri Bridge completed in 2008, spanning the Danube at the Northernmost point of the city.NightCrossingBridgeBudapestEuropeGary Rickettsgrickettsgricketts.comHungaryLamp PostMoonPhotography by Gary RickettsSignTrolleyWinnerFine Art PhotographyBlack and WhiteBWCapturing History Through PhotographyWorld War 2WWIIFine Arthttpsphotographybygaryricketts.comUniqueWall Artinterior designTrainStreet Sign
Where's Clark Kent?
The United Kingdom Post Office originally produced a concrete phone kiosk in 1920, which was considered atrocious.
In 1952, Elizabeth II departed from the practice of using the "Tudor Crown" as the symbol of government began using a representation of the actual crown used at coronations—St. Edwards Crown.Where'sClarkKentAutomobileCarEnglandEuropeGary Rickettsgrickettsgricketts.comLamp PostLondonNightPhotography by Gary RickettsSmugmugTelephone BoothBlack and WhireFine Art Photography
Paris In The Spring
In 52 AD, the Parisii where conquered by the Romans who built a town on the River Seine and named it Paris Lutetia. However, the Roman Paris was never large or important by Roman definition: less that 10,000 population.
However, by the 11th century Paris was on of the largest towns in Europe with a population of 200,000, which by Medieval standards was huge. During prosperity of the time King Philippe-Auguste had a wall built around Paris and constructed the Louvre—a fortress.ParisTheSpringEuropeFranceGary Rickettsgrickettsgricketts.comPhotography by Gary RickettsUmbrellaRainAutomobileFine Art PhotographyBlack and Whire
Food Too?—Third Place
An Irish pub in Spain.
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Over the Top—Third Place
The London Eye, built for the millennium, sits at the center of London as a symbol of modern Britain. Since its opening in 2000, the London Eye attracts 3.5 million paid visitors per year.
The wheel is 442 feet high with a circumference of 1,392 feet. Thirty-two capsules can carry 800 passengers during each thirty minute rotation. The slow rotation allows passengers to step on and off without stopping the wheel. On a clear London day, passengers can see as far as Windsor Castle, about twenty-five miles from the London Eye.OvertheTopBuildingCloudsEnglandEuropeGary Rickettsgrickettsgricketts.comLondonLondon EyePhotography by Gary RickettsSmugmugWinnerCapturing History Throught Photography
Becoming Wine
At the foot of the Canabrian Mountains in Northern Spain.
In the month of January, when the malolactic fermentation process is completed (breaking down malic acid into lactic acid), the vats are selected. A tasting committee determines the characteristics of the wines, separating the wines which have come from young vines destined for sale in bulk.
The area is well protected from prevailing winds and frost. It is where the the Nuestra Señora de Remelluri estate and vineyard is located.
Of the 380 acres of chalky clay soil, 260 are used for the vineyard. This unusual land is what gives the wine personality. It is poor, stony ground, with layers of clay which retain freshness and moisture. All of this allows the fruit to ripen with subtlety and balance.
Lonely Walk—First Place
Construction of the Monastery of Yuso began in 1030 when Sancho el Mayor, reinventing the pilgrim path of Santiago, ordered Saint Millán’s relics be put on display to encourage prayer.
The construction of a new monastery at Yuso was because of a lack of space left available at the Monastery of Suso at the top of the adjacent hill.
The first literature produced in Castilian, from which Spanish is derived, was produced at Suso. In the early 16th century the community moved into the fine new monastery of Yuso, below the older complex of Suso, and continues as a thriving community.
Today the monastery itself is occupied by a small 8 person community of monks of the religious Order of Augustinian Recollect, the owner of the property.LonelyWalkArchBuildingCeilingChurchDoorEuropeGary Rickettsgrickettsgricketts.comHaroHDRMontserratPhotography by Gary RickettsSpainWindowWinnerBlack and WhireFine Art Photographyblack and white
Village View
A view of Český Krumlov—Czech Republic.
Český Krumlov is the second best-preserved historical town in Bohemia, after Prague, and designated as one of UNESCO's World Monuments.
Legend holds the name Krumlov is derived from the German "Krumme Aue", which may be translated as "crooked meadow". "Český" simply means Czech, or Bohemian, which is actually one and the same, as opposed to Moravian or Silesian. The town was first mentioned in documents from 1253, where Krumlov was called Chrumbonowe.VillageViewGary Rickettsgrickettsgricketts.comPhotography by Gary RickettsCapturing History Throught PhotographyFine Art PhotographyBlack and WhireWindowApartment
Way of Saint James
The Way of St. James is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where the tomb of Saint James the Greater was discovered around 820. Shortly thereafter, kings, abbots, monks, and everyday people began a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Today, more than 300,000 people from around the world leave home each year to make their own pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. They travel by foot, bicycle, horseback or even donkey of which more than 100,000 are awarded compostela, a certificate of completion of the Way of Saint James.
To receive the compostela, pilgrims purchase a credencial, a document giving access to overnight accommodations on the route. It is also known as the “pilgrim’s passport” because it must be stamped with the official Saint James stamp of each place along the route where the pilgrim ate or stayed. The credencial is proof for the Pilgrim’s Office the journey was accomplished, making the pilgrim eligible for the compostela, a certificate of completion.
The three requirements to receive a compostela: pilgrimage for religious/spiritual reasons, the last 100 km on foot or last 200 km on bicycle, collect a required number of stamps on a credencial.WaySaintJamesGary Rickettsgrickettsgricketts.comPhotography by Gary RickettsHaroBlack and WhiteSmugmugSpainEuropeEveryday PeopleCapturing History Through Photography
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Budapest's trolley/tram system of lines is numbered from 1 to 69, with gaps in the numbering system due to the closing of lines over the years.
There are thirty lines carrying 370 thousand people per year on the main radial and riverside routes on both sides of the Danube and several of the bridges. Tram tickets are validated by using the punch machines on board the trolley. To exit at a stop, a button on the door must be pushed, or the door will not open.BudapestEuropeGary Rickettsgrickettsgricketts.comHungaryPhotography by Gary RickettsStreet SceneTrolleyFine Art PhotographyBlack and Whire
Bombed
By the beginning of the 20th century, the Hungarian economy was modernized and industrialized, and Budapest considered the birthplace of the modern world. Budapest enjoyed a period of prosperity and renewal that was the envy of Europe.
However, the 20th century soon turned ugly as war, oppression, and revolution brought bombs, artillery, bullets, and destruction to the streets of Budapest. Many buildings display the damage from street fighting and bombing, and many more continue to suffer from the neglect that followed WWII.
But, even though neglected by the Communist regime, battered by Russian artillery, bullet scarred by departing Nazi occupiers and the street fighting of the 1956 revolution—Budapest retains an air of faded but true grandeur.BombedBudapestDoorEuropeGary Rickettsgrickettsgricketts.comHungaryPhotography by Gary RickettsSmugmugBlack and WhireFine Art Photography
Left Over Car
The Trabant 601, sold throughout the Soviet Block, was East Germany’s Volkswagen Beetle in that it was supposed to be affordable, easy to repair and maintain. The plastic body was attached to a one-piece steel chassis with front wheel drive and independent suspension. The two-stroke engine spewed black smoke because the engine ran on a gasoline/oil mixture. Top speed was 60mph with no turn signal, fuel gauge or trunk liner. Even though the Trabant was a Soviet era automobile produced by the state, it cost more than a year’s salary for the average worker, which had to be paid in advance.
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The World Remained Silent
Père-Lachaise cemetery memorial to those killed by the Nazis at the Monowitz-Buna or Auschwitz III Concentration Camp during World War II.
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Top To Bottom
Located in the northwest La Rioja province in northern Spain, the town of Haro is know for its fine red wine, but i ts other claim to fame is that Haro was the first town in Spain to have electric street lighting.
The first mention of Haro was in the year 1040, in a document of the King of Navarre, who ruled a kingdom occupying lands on either side of the Pyrenees mountains that today forms a natural border border between France and Spain.TopBottomEuropeGary Rickettsgrickettsgricketts.comHaroHDRPhotography by Gary RickettsSpainStepsWindowWinnerBlack and WhireFine Art Photographyblack and white
Take Out—Second Place
Any kind of ice cream is a favorite anywhere in the world. In Prague, cafes serve affogota, which is an ice cream treat with a kick. Affogota is a scoop ice cream in a cup topped with a shot of espresso.
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7770
In 1563, when it was time to crown Maximilian king, the coronation city of Szekesfehérvár, Hungary was controlled by the Ottoman Turks. As a result, the coronation moved to Pozsony (Bratislava) because of its double fortification wall. In gratitude, Maximilian gave the citizens of Bratislava a fountain for the main square, which still stands today.
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