On December 27, 2001, I departed from O'Hare Airport with a group of friendson a plane to Amsterdam. Why, you ask? Why not! The air fares were so lowdue to the September 11 tragedy, and we knew that this might be our onlyopportunity to see Europe any time in the foreseeable future. So, a groupof 11 of us travelled to Amsterdam and spent some of our time together exploringthe sights and sounds of a continent that was entirely new to most of us.
Over the course of a little more than two weeks, I travelled from Amsterdamto Heidelberg, München (Munich), Freiburg, Paris, and back to Amsterdamagain. What an experience! I took so many photos that I couldn't fit themall on this website, but I've taken a handful from each place I visited andposted them in the listing below. If you would like to see more, or you wouldlike a higher quality copy of any of the following pictures, then ask and you shall receive!
Waiting in O'Hare - Here you can see a few of us at O'Hare Airport preparing for the tripto Amsterdam. Notice the man in military fatigues in the background. Whenwe took another picture in another spot, we were quickly told that absolutelyno photographs are allowed in the vicinity of the security checkpoints. Gofigure! I suppose that "the terrorists" might capture footage of the government'ssecret frisking techniques...
Outside the Novotel - Here are the eight of us who spent our first few days together inAmsterdam: Al, Niki, Alyson, Tony, Michelle, Sabrina, and AJ (and me takingthe photo). Off to the right, you can see the Novotel, the hotel we had tostay at because all of the cheaper places were booked solid for New Year's.
Festive Tram -This photo taken near the Novotel shows a festive green tram (a.k.a. streetcaror trolley car) wearing a giant red Santa's hat. The public transportationsystem in Amsterdam was amazing, with trams, buses, and trains criss-crossingthe entire city to insure that people could go wherever they wanted to go.Many of the winding side streets of the city were primarily used by pedestrians,with the occassional car pushing their way through the people like an unwelcomedguest. It was quite a refreshing change of pace from the U.S. car-o-philicstreet culture!
On the Tram - Here the eight of us are on the tram riding into the city. Look at thejoy on their faces! Can you handle the excitement?
Canal View - This is a view from a bridge over one of Amsterdam's many canals, lookingdown the length of the canal at a boat and buildings in the distance. Closerinspection revealed that many of the canals were quite polluted, but thisis a pleasant shot that doesn't dwell on the down side of waterways in urbanareas.
Backdoor Entry - As soon as we saw this one, we knew we had to get a picture. Itlooks like somebody found a new use for one of the little street barriersthat line the sidewalks of Amsterdam!
Snapshot of a Smile - Here is a picture of Sabrina taking a picture. I love taking picturesof people taking pictures! Call me crazy, but there it is...
Centraal Station - This is Centraal Station, the main train and tram station of Amsterdam.It is a beautiful old building much too wide to capture in detail withouta panoramic lens. In this scene, you can see trams, buses, and people crossingeach others' paths as they all go on their merry way.
Snowflake Fairy Dust - In this picture, I've captured a nighttime view of a historic building- I believe it's the Rijksmuseum - with a sprinkling of snowflakes illuminatedonly by a streelamp and flash. I've made no enhancements whatsoever to thispicture; this is how my digital camera captured the scene.
Midnight - Amsterdam descended into chaos at around midnight on New Year's Eve. Someof us had gotten separated from each other, but those of us who were togetherwent out into the streets to watch the madness unfold all around us. Fireworksbouncing off of historic buildings, firecrackers tosses into the crowd withshouts of "Happy New Year!", smoke wafting above and within the crowd asthick as fog - I can't say that it was the safest pace in the world to be,but I've seen worse, and it certainly was entertaining!
Auld Lang Sein - These gentlemen were singing drinking tunes together. They may have alsosung Auld Lang Sein, but to be honest I'm not entirely sure. Once again,I've made no enhancements whatsoever to this picture; it simply turned outthis way on its own. After this picture was taken, those of us who were stilltogether started the long walk back to the hotel (trams and buses shut downearly for the holiday).
Philosopher's View of Heidelberg - Here is an overview of the city of Heidelberg, Germany, taken froma point in the Philosopher's Walk on the hillside opposite the one shown.What a view!
Castle Walls - This is a shot taken from within the castle at Heidelberg. Notice my revolutionaryex-Pokemon traveling companion Anarkachu sitting on a railing next to myhuman travelling companions.
Dark Stranger in Heidelberg - In this picture, Anarkachu is sitting in shadows on the outer railingof the castle with the buildings of Heidelberg in the background illuminatedby the setting sun.
Treesong in the Hills of Europe - Here I am leaning against the castle's outer railing with the city ofHeidelberg in the background. Who would have ever thought that I'd make ithere?
Arbeit Macht Frei - After Heidelberg, Al and I travelled together to München (Munich)and took a train out to Dachau to visit the concentration camp museum. Inthis picture, I am standing locked behind the wrought iron gates of the formerfront entrance, with my head beside the infamous words "Arbeit Macht Frei"- which loosely translated means "Work Will Set You Free." In a time notthat long ago, those gates would not have opened for me when I wanted toleave...
Guard Tower - This is one of many guard towers that loomed all around us as we exploredthe preserved and rebuilt monuments of the camp. When the camp was active,machine gunners would be stationed in each of these towers to shoot peoplewho tried to scurry across the ditch and over the fences to freedom.
Plaque - "This memorial is due to the initiative of the International DachauCommittee. It is dedicated to the thousands of martyrs who died here - victimsof the Nazi tyranny. It was unveiled on the 8th September 1968."
Unite the Living - "May the example of those who were exterminated here between 1933-19945because they resisted Nazism help to unite the living for the defence ofpeace and freedom and in respect for their fellow men." In a time when peaceseems so distant, I took these words to heart...
München String Quartet - After such a serious and somber day at the concentration camp museum,it was good to get out into the town of München (Munich) and experiencethe sights and sounds of a new city. In this photo, four street performersare playing classical music in a string quartet for spare change. What abeautiful scene! I didn't get to see much of München since I spent lessthan a day there, but I will always remember the sound of music echoing amongthe buildings and the joy of discovering that yes, it was indeed a band oflive performers playing for the people passing by on the street.
Up, up, and away! - After München, Al and I traveled to the town of Freiburg. We stayedat a wonderful youth hostel where we saw and heard people in traditionalGerman costume dancing day and night. In this picture, we are on a cablecar that is carrying us up into the mountains to enjoy an afternoon of hikingin the Black Forest. There's nothing quite like sitting in a little metalbox and being carried up a mountainside by a cable!
Lookout Point - Here I am at the top of the mountain with my good friend Anarkachu inmy hand and the hills, valleys, and forests of Germany behind me. What anexperience! I only had an afternoon there, but it was well worth it.
Shroom Zoom - I handed the camera to my friend Sabrina for this picture of our friendLauren, and look at what happened! We're not exactly sure why, but we thinkit may have had something to do with the fact that Lauren and Sabrina bothwere experiencing altered states of consciousness at the time. Could it bethat the camera's electromagnetic field was affected by the unusual brainwavepatterns that these two were eminating? Or is it just a case of strange photography?You be the judge!
