It's a Wonderful Life

Fountain at Schloss Linderhof

2010-04-02T05:44:00.001-04:00

Fountain at Schloss Linderhof
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Linderhof Palace It is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one of which he lived to see completion.

The palace is surrounded by formal gardens that are subdivided into five sections that are decorated with allegoric sculptures of the continents, the seasons and the elements. This is the Naid Fountain and a close up of a water nymph in the south garden. In Greek mythology, the Naiads or Naiades were a type of nymph who presided over fountains, wells, springs, streams, and brooks.

Coati (Nasua narica)

2010-03-28T07:50:00.001-04:00

Coati (Nasua narica)
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Coati are diurnal mammals native to South America, Central America, and south-western North America. They are related to raccoons. The word "coatimundi" is a commonly used misnomer applied to solitary adult males

Coatis seem unafraid of humans. A wild coati should never be approached, as like the raccoon, they can be unpredictable and their bite is sharp.

Either I had a good zoom or I didn't heed the advice above. Can you guess which?

MIDDLETON PLACE

2010-03-27T07:46:00.002-04:00

P0000789
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

MIDDLETON PLACE is a National Historic Landmark and a carefully preserved 18th-century plantation that has survived revolution, Civil War, and earthquake. It is also home to the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States

Early April is peak azalea time and we hit it perfectly. This picture has always been a favorite.

http://www.middletonplace.org/

Vacation Location 2010

2010-03-24T06:09:00.001-04:00

Vacation Location 2010
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

We chose well. It was the perfect location. Just high enough to feel the breeze, just low enough to hear the surf. It was a prime location for listening to the monkeys and watching the birds.

It'll be a good memory for a long time.

--
This is the last in the series of Costa Rica 2010. At least for awhile.

There are a few more pics in this series on Flickr

Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia blakeana)

2010-03-23T06:07:00.001-04:00

Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia blakeana)
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The fragrant, orchid-like flowers are usually 10-15 cm across, and bloom from early November to the end of March. This tree variety originated in Hong Kong in 1880 and apparently all of the cultivated trees derive from one cultivated at the Hong Kong Botanic Gardens and widely planted in Hong Kong starting in 1914.

"Bunny" or at least that what they call them in Costa Rica.

2010-03-22T06:56:00.001-04:00

"Bunny" or at least that what they call them in Costa Rica.
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The Central American Agouti (Dasyprocta punctata) Agoutis are terrestrial and cursorial which means ground dwelling and built for running with speed. They walk, trot or gallop on their toes, and can jump up more than six feet from a standing position. They are monogamous and mate with the each other for life.

These were in captivity and when I stepped into the cage to pet the Toucan - the guys said "Do you want to see some RATS? and quickly let the Agouti out. Needless to say I was shocked at first but soon realized they were Agouti.

Surfers at Sunset on Dominicalito Beach

2010-03-21T07:45:00.001-04:00

Surfers at Sunset on Dominicalito Beach
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The beach at Dominicalito is the best beach to start and practice surfing since the waves are more gentle and the rip tides are not as strong. In fact almost all surf schools bring their beginners to Dominicalito.

I'm not sure I'd surf at sunset which is prime shark feeding time.

Napping Sloth

2010-03-20T10:17:00.001-04:00

Napping Sloth
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The three-toed sloths are the only members of the Bradypus genus and the Bradypodidae family. Although they are quite slow in trees, three-toed sloths are agile swimmers. The offspring cling to their mother's bellies for around 9 months.

Its long, coarse, grayish-brown fur often appears greenish, not due to pigment but to algae growing on it. The sloth’s greenish color and its sluggish habits provide an effective camouflage: hanging quietly, the sloth resembles a bundle of leaves.

We were eating lunch and our waiter pointed him out. He was hanging just outside. He was napping, just like any good Sloth should be doing. Even though the claws look nasty - they seem to be very docile and pleasant animals.

Nauyaca Waterfalls

2010-03-19T05:51:00.002-04:00

Nauyaca Waterfalls
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The Nauyaca Waterfalls are located in a canyon approximately eight meters wide.

One of the falls is forty-five meters high in free fall and the other, twenty meters high with a tiered fall, forming at the bottom a 1,000 square meter and six meter deep pool.

It's the perfect place to spend a hot afternoon. It took us about 1.5 hours to reach the falls by horseback. The falls and the eco tour have a very interesting story and if you have time - you should read about it. http://www.cataratasnauyaca.com/history.htm This region was once clear cut for pastures. They have done an excellent job of restoring it.

Parakeet Flower - Heliconia psittacorum

2010-03-18T21:47:00.001-04:00

Parakeet Flower - Heliconia psittacorum
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Also known as Parrot's Beak, Parakeet Flower, Parrot's Flower, Parrot's Plantain, False Bird-Of-Paradise. A small herbaceous upright small Heliconia, indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and growing up to no more than four feet tall.

I've always liked this flower. It's great as a cut flower and will last 3-4 weeks. They are very common in Costa Rica. I'll definitely have these when I have my own Costa Rica flower garden. (wink)

Blaberus giganteus

2010-03-18T05:54:00.001-04:00

Blaberus giganteus
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

one of the world's largest cockroaches found from Costa Rica and Panama to parts of northwest South America and the West Indies. They live in quiet, dark, humid caves in rainforests. They are also sold as exotic pets.

The cockroach dates back over 200-300 million years, and is one of the most adaptable and resilient of all animals on the planet.

Um and they also live in bathrooms.

This picture doesn't do it justice for demonstrating just how large this guy was. He was so big we named him Juan. Not hard to believe people keep them as exotic pets - although - I don't think he'd enjoy being put on a leash.

Capuchin Monkey washing for Dinner

2010-03-17T05:58:00.003-04:00

Capuchin Monkey washing for Dinner
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Capuchin's are the group of New World monkeys classified as genus Cebus. The range of the capuchin monkeys includes Central America and South America as far south as northern Argentina. The word capuchin derives from a group of friars named the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, an offshoot from the Franciscans, who wore brown robes with large hoods covering their heads.

We found this guy washing his hands while walking the nature trail at Hacienda Baru National WIldlife Refuge. Capuchin's are always fun to see. They are very interactive and typically don't like a bunch of homosapiens staring and taking pictures.

Macaw

2010-03-17T05:58:00.001-04:00

Macaw
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The Scarlet Macaw is native to humid evergreen forests in the American tropics. Range extends from extreme south-eastern Mexico to Amazonian Peru, Bolivia and Brazil in lowlands up to 1,640 ft up to 3,281 ft. It has been widely extirpated by habitat destruction and capture for the parrot trade, but locally it remains fairly common.

The Scarlet Macaw can live up to 75 years in captivity, although, a more typical lifespan is 40 to 50 years. They mate for life and newborns typically stay in the nest for up to 2 years!

This pair calls Don Lulo's place home. Don runs a horseback & eco tour for visiting the Nauyaca Waterfalls. If you ever find your self in Domincal - it's a must do activity. http://www.cataratasnauyaca.com/

Green Anole

2010-03-16T06:25:00.001-04:00

Green Anole
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Anole lizards are frequently and incorrectly called chameleons or geckos, although they are not closely related to either of those groups. In fact, they are more closely related to iguanas. Often when an intruder is in the area, the anole raises its spine, fans its dewlap, and does "push-ups" accompanied by intermittent ultrasonic hisses.

I found him on the roof of the pool gazebo one morning and he was slightly threatened by me and then calmed down. In this picture he's actually checking me out. I guess he hadn't seen a camera before.

Mealy Parrot in a sea of green

2010-03-15T06:15:00.001-04:00

Mealy Parrot in a sea of green
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa) is among the largest parrots in the Amazona genus. It is endemic to tropical Central and South America. They are usually quiet but can be loud at dusk and dawn.

The were definitely dusk and dawn regulars at the house and they loved to be photographed. At times I wondered if they were posing for me. This shot was taken from the patio very close to the house.

Leafcutters at Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge

2010-03-14T10:23:00.001-04:00

Leafcutters at Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Leaf-cutter ants form the largest and most complex animal societies on Earth.

In a few years, the central mound of their underground nests can grow to more than 98 ft across with smaller, radiating mounds extending out to a radius of 260 ft, taking up 320 to 6,500 sq ft and containing eight million individuals.

This mound was at the Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge near Dominical Costa Rica.

A Pair of Baltimore Orioles

2010-03-14T08:17:00.003-04:00

A Pair of Baltimore Orioles
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

So why do they call it a "Baltimore" Oriole? Its from the fact that the male's colors resemble those on the coat-of-arms of Lord Baltimore.

I was enjoying my morning cup of coffee and when I spotted the orange I knew it could only be an Oriole. We never saw them again - which was unusual. Normally once we saw a bird at the house we saw them time and time again.

Go O's

My Friend the Golden Orb Spider

2010-03-14T08:17:00.001-04:00

My Friend the Golden Orb Spider
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

On day 2 this spider showed up near our grill. None of us had the heart to take down the web. She wasn't bothering us, so why should we bother her. I do have to admit, we did feed her a variety of cicadas and stink bugs that we found. Hopefully she didn't get to lazy while we were there.

If you zoom in on this picture you can actually see the hairs on the legs.

Dragonfly

2010-03-13T07:07:00.001-05:00

Dragonfly
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

My friend the dragonfly. Doesn't matter if we are home in Maryland or in Costa Rica dragonflies seem to universally love to hang out by swimming pools. This guy hung around quite a bit. I couldn't quite get him to land on my finger like I do at home but he was curious none-the-less. The red was very intense. Our dragonflies are blue - so seeing a red one was a real treat.

A few facts:
- The larval stage of large dragonflies may last as long as five years.
- In flight the adult dragonfly can propel itself in six directions; upward, downward, forward, back, and side to side.
- Even though dragonflies possess 6 legs like any other insect, they are not capable of walking.
- Dragonflies are valuable predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, and butterflies.

The Caiman of Tárcoles, Costa Rica

2010-03-12T05:34:00.001-05:00

The Caiman of Tárcoles, Costa Rica
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The river's upper reaches form the northern border of the Carara National Park. It is a habitat for Caimen (a.k.a. American Crocodile). Many of which grow to be 6 feet in length!

Our view was safely from the bridge. The guidebooks warn you NOT to stop and look because of the scam artists that try to steal your rental - but we stopped anyway. Glad we did. There were atleast 20 of these guys in close proximity. It's a must see if you are ever in the area.

Sunset at Dominicalito Beach

2010-03-11T05:21:00.001-05:00

Sunset at Dominicalito Beach
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

South of Dominical Costa Rica and a close to the Costanera highway, Playa Dominicalito is a scenic beach with interesting rock outcroppings . The sunset on Playa Dominicalito is visually spectacular due to the intensity of colors.

We had the perfect opportunity on our last evening in Dominicalito and it lived up to expectations. More pictures to follow soon.

Double web with 2 Golden Orb Spiders

2010-03-10T05:52:00.001-05:00

Double web with 2 Golden Orb Spiders
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Golden Org Spiders are a genus of araneomorph spiders noted for the impressive webs they weave. The name of the golden silk orb-weavers refers to the color of the spider silk, not the color of the spider itself.

These guys were above our heads at the pool and I thought it would be a nice picture because of the 3D nature of the web.

I find these spiders fasciniating. They weave these intricate webs that appear to be extremely effective at catching "dinner".

Fiery-billed Aracari

2010-03-09T05:35:00.001-05:00

Fiery-billed Aracari
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The Fiery-billed Aracari is a toucan, a near-passerine bird which breeds only on the Pacific slopes of southern Costa Rica and western Panama.

The house where we vacationed had plenty and they seemed to love the paparazzi. They were around constantly and loved to tap on the upper windows at dawn and dusk.

St Croix

2010-02-09T05:57:00.001-05:00

St Croix
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

From the archives. Thought this was a fitting picture for the day considering we will be getting another 10-20 inches of white stuff.

We had a good time in St Croix, although we are unlikely to ever go back. Not enough to do and the rats in the palm trees is a little disconcerting at first. I'd prefer to see a monkey in the palm trees.

Anyway - on a cold snowy day like today - I couldn't resist the urge to day dream for a few seconds about a warm sandy and sunny place.

The Apocalyptic Snow of 2010

2010-02-06T12:15:00.001-05:00

Have never seen it this deep
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

It's been a full time job shoveling today. I'm not a big fan of winter or snow - but a storm this big can be fun. The dogs were happy once I shoveled a path for them. They are currently cuddled up together near the woodstove.

Evening settles in over San Francisco

2010-01-26T19:58:00.001-05:00

Evening sets in over San Francisco
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Looking up Hyde Street as night settles in over the city. The October air was crisp and cool. We had ridden bikes from Fisherman's Wharf to Sausalito and were taking the Ferry back to the city.

The Rock

2010-01-25T19:15:00.002-05:00

The Rock
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The Rock was operated for 29 years from 1934 to 1963. Despite 14 attempts by 36 prisoners, no one ever successfully escaped Alcatraz. Twenty-three were caught, six were shot and killed during their escape, and two drowned. Two of the men who were caught were later executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin for their role in the death of a correctional officer during the famous May 2-4, 1946, "Battle of Alcatraz"; escape attempt.

The present day cellhouse was built in 1912 and with its 600 cells, the cellhouse was reportedly the largest reinforced concrete building in the world.

I took this picture from the ferry between Sausalito and SF.

Meikleour Beech Hedge

2010-01-09T08:28:00.002-05:00

Meikleour Beech Hedge
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

From the archives. This picture is from our trip to Scotland in 2001. I was in absolute awe when we stumbled upon this 250 year old Beech Hedge. First, as you know, I'm a gardner at heart so seeing a hedge this big and old was a fantastic treat. Secondly - my favorite tree is the Beech. Think about it..... There have been 10 generations of people who have had to care for this hedge. That's a big responsibility!

I hadn't written down the name, but with a little searching this morning - I was able to find it on the web. I also added this picture to wikipedia.

From Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meikleour_Beech_Hedges

The Meikleour Beech Hedge(s) (European Beech = Fagus sylvatica), located near Meikleour, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, alongside the A93 Perth-Blairgowrie Road, was planted in the autumn of 1745 by Jean Mercer and her husband, Robert Murray Nairne on the Marquess of Lansdowne's Meikleour estate. It is said the hedge grows towards the heavens because the men who planted it were killed at the Battle of Culloden.

The hedge is noted in the Guinness World Records as the tallest and longest hedge on earth, reaching 30 metres (100 ft) in height and 530 metres (1/3 mile) in length. The hedge is trimmed once every ten years but remains viewable to visitors all year round.

View of Reykjavik

2010-01-07T21:36:00.005-05:00

View of Reykjavik
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

One of my all time favorite photo's. Reykjavik is the capital and largest city of Iceland. At latitude 64°08' N it's the world's northernmost capital. It is believed that the first settlement was founded here in the year 870.

This picture was taken from the top of Hallgrimskirkja a Lutheran Cathedral

It was the first of April but the weather was still quite chilly even though the days were already long. Daytime highs were in the 30's.

The Blue Lagoon

2010-01-06T21:12:00.001-05:00

The Blue Lagoon
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is located in a lava field in Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It is one of the most popular tourist sites in Iceland. The water is about 104 degrees (similar to a hot tub) and is rich in minerals like silica and sulfur. The lagoon is fed by the water output of the nearby geothermal power plant.

It was a great experience to be in an outdoor hot spring on a snowy day. I captured this shot as we were headed back to our bus.

(circa 2001 from our trip to Iceland and Scotland)

Wallace Monument

2010-01-06T06:39:00.001-05:00

Wallace Monument
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

(Our trip to Iceland & Scotland circa 2001)
Sitting on the summit of Abbey Craig near Stirling, Scotland, this monument commemorates Sir William Wallace, the 13th century Scottish hero. If you feel energetic you can climb the 246 step spiral staircase to the viewing gallery inside the monument's crown, which provides expansive views of the Ochil Hills and the Forth Valley. On the day we were there the wind was blowing VERY strongly which truncated our stay at the top.

Also in the picture is a the statue dedicated to the movie Braveheart. The statue is popular with tourist but not with the locals.

Cancale France at low tide

2010-01-05T06:18:00.001-05:00

Cancale France at low tide
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

We experienced an extra low spring tide while we were in Cancale ( June 2003 ) Cancale is famous for it's Huitres (Oysters). It's know as the Oyster Capital of Brittany. When the tides are this low you can actually see the oyster beds. The original oyster of the region is all but extinct but from what I've read they now grow a Japanese variety.

The Cows are in the Meadow

2010-01-04T21:40:00.001-05:00

The Cows are in the Meadow
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

From a very small boy - I've always been fond of Charolais. Maybe because my grandfather raised them. They are obviously a "staple" in France. This photo was taken from the Chateau de La Tour - Rivarennes

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/a.clermonttonnerre/

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&client=safari&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Argenton-sur-Creuse,+Indre,+Centre,+France&gl=us&ei=p6RCS7HGIYPGlAearK2RBw&ved=0CAkQ8gEwAA&t=h&msa=0&msid=117667810991582337066.00047c61af11f4f001acb&ll=46.640185,1.38814&spn=0.016382,0.038409&z=15

Château de Chambord

2010-01-04T06:38:00.001-05:00

Château de Chambord
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

from the archives from our Trip to France in 1998.

Chambord is the largest castle in the Loire Valley, but was built to serve only as a hunting lodge for François. However, the building was never completed.

It has been suggested that Leonardo da Vinci was responsible for the original design. One of the architectural highlights is the spectacular double-helix open staircase that is the centerpiece of the castle. The two helixes ascend the three floors without ever meeting. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_helix

During WWII the art collections of the Louvre and Compiègne museums (including the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo) were stored at the Château de Chambord.

Old Herald Harbor Road

2009-12-21T06:18:00.001-05:00

Old Herald Harbor Road
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

No longer snow bound, I'm headed to work today. It was a fantastic snowy weekend with 2 feet of fresh snow to shovel. March can't get here soon enough.

Merry Christmas from Michael & Jerry

2009-12-06T16:55:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas from Michael & Jerry
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Hope you were good all year and that Santa brings you all the toys you were expecting.

The first snow

2009-12-05T16:21:00.001-05:00

P1030121
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Welcome to winter. A few flurries turned into a couple of wet inches. Very pretty and great for making snowmen and maybe a snowball fight with little craig.

Deer Games

2009-11-28T07:47:00.001-05:00

Deer Games
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

How many deer can you find in this picture?

This picture was taken on Thanksgiving Day in North Carolina. Everyone had a good time watching the deer eat their Thanksgiving dinner of dried corn.

American Purple Gallinule

2009-11-14T08:47:00.001-05:00

American Purple Gallinule
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Look at the feet on that bird? They look like chicken feet.

These Purple Gallinule were very curious and friendly. The crickets that Capt Fred had didn't hurt either. They love to eat crickets.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) )

2009-11-13T06:29:00.001-05:00

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) )
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Our airboat driver Capt Fred was kind enough to turn around so that we could get a shot of the Green Heron. The picture is a little grainy because I had my camera set to "sports" mode because the boat was moving.

Anyway - it was a real treat to see this bird. The last time we saw one was in Costa Rica.

Here's one that we saw in Costa RIca: www.flickr.com/photos/michaelfowler/2336612688/in/set-721...

The green heron is sometimes called the green-backed heron. It is a small heron that is about the size of a large crow. It is a foot and a half to two feet in length. The green heron has a dark head with a small black crest. Its back and wings are dark gray-green to dark gray-blue. Its neck is rust colored. It has a dark bill and its legs are orange or yellow.

Green herons are shy birds so are rarely observed, although they may be quite common. They are active during the day. They have a characteristic slow, deliberate walk and in flight they have slow and steady wingbeats.

The green heron breeds in most of the eastern United States from the Canadian border south to the Gulf of Mexico

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

2009-11-12T06:04:00.001-05:00

Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Another bird photo from our trip on the airboat. This one was hunting in the shallow waters along the shore. He didn't seem to mind that we were watching him.

The Great Egret is partially migratory, with northern hemisphere birds moving south from areas with cold winters. It breeds in colonies in trees close to large lakes with reed beds or other extensive wetlands. It builds a bulky stick nest.

The Great Egret feeds in shallow water or drier habitats, feeding mainly on fish, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally small birds and reptiles, spearing them with its long, sharp bill most of the time by standing still and allowing the prey to come within its striking distance of its bill which it uses as a spear. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.

Spanish Moss

2009-11-10T06:20:00.001-05:00

Spanish Moss
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

I've always been intrigued by Spanish Moss. They say it's a flower? Not sure I'd want all of my trees filled with it - but it is curious to inspect up close. Wikipedia says it grows in Maryland - but I've never seen it - but will now be looking for it.

Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) closely resembles its namesake but in fact it is not biologically related to either mosses or lichens. Instead, it is an angiosperm in the family Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) that grows hanging from tree branches in full sun or partial shade. It ranges from the southeastern United States (southern Virginia and eastern Maryland) to Argentina, growing wherever the climate is warm enough and has a relatively high average humidity.

Bougainvillea

2009-11-09T06:16:00.001-05:00

Bougainvillea
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Such a beautiful plant. We found plenty of it growing in Central Florida.

Bougainvillea is a genus of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Peru and south to southern Argentina. The plant was discovered in Brazil in 1768, by Philibert Commerçon, French Botanist accompanying French Navy admiral and explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville during his voyage of circumnavigation.

Sandhill Crane

2009-11-08T07:56:00.001-05:00

Sandhill Crane
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Welcome to the neighborhood!

On our recent trip to Florida - we were greeted by these wonderful Sandhill Cranes. They've become quite accustom to their human neighbors which afforded me the opportunity for some great upclose shots.

The Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills in the American midwest.

The Sandhill Crane has one of the longest fossil histories of any extant bird. The oldest unequivocal Sandhill Crane fossil is "just" 2.5 million years old, over one and a half times older than the earliest remains of most living species of birds, which are primarily found from after the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary some 1.8 million years ago.

American Purple Gallinule

2009-11-07T15:32:00.001-05:00

American Purple Gallinule
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

We took our fan boat ride with Captain Fred. captfreds.com/ and we were fortunate enough to see some American Purple Gallinule.

From Wikipedia:
This medium-sized rail is unmistakable, with its huge yellow feet, purple-blue plumage with a green back, and red and yellow bill. It has a pale blue forehead shield and white undertail. Resident in southern Florida and the tropics, but most American birds are migratory, wintering south to Argentina.

Capuchin Monkey - hanging out at the beach

2009-09-19T08:36:00.001-04:00

Capuchin Monkey - hanging out at the beach
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The capuchins are the group of New World monkeys classified as genus Cebus. Their range is from Central America and South America as far south as northern Argentina.

The word capuchin derives from a group of friars named the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, an offshoot from the Franciscans, who wore brown robes with large hoods covering their heads.

Capuchins are considered the most intelligent New World monkeys. . The Tufted Capuchin is especially noted for its long-term tool usage, one of the few examples of primate tool use other than by apes. Upon seeing macaws eating palm nuts, cracking them open with their beaks, these capuchins will select a few of the ripest fruits, nip off the tip of the fruit and drink down the juice, then seemingly discard the rest of the fruit with the nut inside. When these discarded fruits have hardened and become slightly brittle, the capuchins will gather them up again and take them to a large flat boulder where they have previously gathered a few river stones from up to a mile away. They will then use these stones, some of them weighing as much as the monkeys, to crack open the fruit to get to the nut inside.

Artist Palette

2009-09-17T22:17:00.001-04:00

Artist Palette
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

From the archives.... Jerry joined me in Las Vegas after a conference in December of 2007

A picture can not do this place justice. These colors are caused by the oxidation of different metals (red, pink and yellow is from iron salts, green is from decomposing tuff-derived mica, and manganese produces the purple).

Belltower @ Fontainebleau

2009-08-24T06:28:00.002-04:00

Belltower @ Fontainebleau
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Fontainebleau with some snow gently falling

The Palace of Fontainebleau, located 55 kilometres from the centre of Paris, is one of the largest French royal châteaux. The palace as it is today is the work of many French monarchs, building on an early 16th century structure of Francis I. The building is arranged around a series of courtyards.

Today part of the château is home to the Écoles d'Art Américaines, a school of art, architecture, and music for students from the United States. The school was founded by General Pershing when his men were stationed there during World War I.

Playing around this morning with FlickrToys

2009-08-23T08:23:00.001-04:00

They even offer virtual framing.
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

You can convert your picture to a painting and even virtually frame it. How cool. I wonder what just the picture would look like printed.

Ground Zero of the Mid Atlantic Ridge

2009-08-22T07:41:00.001-04:00

Ground Zero of the Mid Atlantic Ridge
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

This view was captured near the site where the original Viking settlers held their annual parliament. It also happens to be geologically important because it is the rift between two separate continental plates that are drifting apart by approximately 1.5cm per year.

Here's a little more on the annual Parliment:
After only 50 years of Viking settlement, a national assembly, the Althing, was established in Tingvellir. With no monarch or ruler this was a unique governing structure of the Middle Ages and the oldest parliament in Europe. Meeting only two weeks every summer, the assembly, comprised of both men and women from all around Iceland, passed new laws and settled disputes. The Althing held no power to implement punishment or change, this was left up to the individual, and individual’s obligation to society is a main theme of the Sagas.

Donkey Ride?

2009-08-21T20:06:00.001-04:00

Donkey Ride?
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

One of my favorites. How about a donkey ride in Paris? Yes you can - in Jardin De Ranelagh. It's just steps away from the Monet Museum.

Howard Street Bridge

2009-08-21T06:04:00.001-04:00

Howard Street Bridge
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Howard Street's twin steel arch-style bridge that crosses over the Jones Falls Expressway. The 979-foot (298 m) long bridge was built in 1938 by the J. E. Greiner Company to replace an earlier 19th century iron arch bridge.

Stalking

2009-08-20T05:55:00.001-04:00

Stalking
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

I finally took of picture of him. He keeps following me and I can never seem to shake him.

Washington commanding Lafayette

2009-08-19T19:54:00.002-04:00

Washington Commanding Lafayette
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

An interesting perspective that I've never noticed before. A monument to Lafayette directly below the Washington Monument in Baltimore. From this perspective it appears to me as if Washington is commanding Lafayette. Makes me wonder if it was an intentional design consideration of the monument and the park layout. Read more on Wikipedia

Dreaming of Sunsets and Deep Blue Oceans

2009-08-19T06:36:00.001-04:00

Dreaming of Sunsets and Deep Blue Oceans
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Pictures are a wonderful way to capture a memory. I can't remember what Jerry was talking about - but it might have been the sunset.

Anyway - I'm sitting here this morning thinking about the jungle, monkeys, birds and the warm surf.

Honfleur Harbor - France

2009-08-17T06:36:00.001-04:00

Honfleur Harbor
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Wonderful place for an evening dinner and stroll

Honfleur has a picturesque 17th-century harbour ringed with 15th- and 16th-century buildings. The town dates from the 11th century and changed hands many times in the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) between England and France.

Courtyard at Český Krumlov Castle

2009-08-16T08:20:00.001-04:00

Courtyard at Český Krumlov Castle
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

A little rainy - but still very beautiful

The existence of the fountain on the IInd Courtyard of Český Krumlov Castle was first mentioned in the year 1602. The exact time of its foundation is unknown but it can probably be connected with the so-called Buchhalterie construction in 1578 (Castle No. 59 - New Burgrave\'s House).

In 1746 it was noticed that the water leaving the fountain was damaging the Mint building\'s foundation due to faulty structure. The decision was made to move the fountain farther from the Mint.

In 1996 the fountain was reconstructed with a renewed water regime, and has become a refreshing element of the IInd Castle Courtyard, especially in hot summer days.

The impressive Oberammergau

2009-08-14T06:12:00.001-04:00

The impressive Oberammergau
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The town is filled with these Lüftlmalerei. Makes for a wonderful afternoon stroll.

Oberammergau is famous for its "Lüftlmalerei," or frescoes, of traditional Bavarian themes, fairy tales, or religious scenes found on many homes and buildings. Lüftlmalerei is common Upper Bavaria and its name may be derived from an Oberammergau house called Zum Lüftl, which was the home of facade painter Franz Seraph Zwinck (1748–1792).

View of Hohensalzburg Fortress

2009-08-10T19:03:00.001-04:00

View of Hohensalzburg Fortress
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The 900-year-old Hohensalzburg Fortress, the city's chief landmark, is the biggest and most fully-preserved fortification in Europe. Best viewed from the world-famous Mirabell Gardens

Hohensalzburg Fortress - Museum

2009-08-10T05:54:00.001-04:00

Hohensalzburg Fortress - Museum
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Construction of the fortress began in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein. Built 400 feet above the Salzach River. The city and fortress were never take by force. Although they did surrender to Napoleon.

In the museum you'll find this enactment of a scene in a defensive maneuver, with pieces of armour and weapons

Wieskirche - Shapes

2009-08-09T09:56:00.001-04:00

Wieskirche - Shapes
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The Wieskirche (or "church of the meadow'), in open country near Fussen and Oberammergau in southern Bavaria, has an undistinguished exterior. Inside is a miracle of light and color and swirling all encompassing decorative motifs, giving the visitor coming through the door an extraordinary feeling of welcome and joy.

- - A world history of art By Hugh Honour, John Fleming

The finer details at the Wieskirche

2009-08-08T07:56:00.001-04:00

The finer details at the Wieskirche
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

A superb example of Rococo.

Rococo is a style of 18th century French art and interior design. Rococo rooms were designed as total works of art with elegant and ornate furniture, small sculptures, ornamental mirrors, and tapestry complementing architecture, reliefs, and wall paintings. It was largely supplanted by the Neoclassic style.

The word Rococo is seen as a combination of the French rocaille, or stone garden (refering to arranging stones in natural forms like shells), and the Italian barocco, or Baroque style. Due to Rococo love of shell-like curves and focus on decorative arts, some critics used the term to derogatively imply that the style was frivolous or merely modish; interestingly, when the term was first used in English in about 1836, it was a colloquialism meaning "old-fashioned". However, since the mid 19th century, the term has been accepted by art historians. While there is still some debate about the historical significance of the style to art in general, Rococo is now widely recognized as a major period in the development of European art.

www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Rococo#encyclopedia

Wieskirche

2009-08-07T18:16:00.001-04:00

Wieskirche
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Can a picture ever capture the moment? Wieskirche is very special.

From wikipedia:
The pilgrimage church of Wies (German: Wieskirche) is an oval rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by Dominikus Zimmermann, who spent the last eleven years of his life in a nearby dwelling. It is located in the foothills of the Alps, the Steingaden municipality of the Weilheim-Schongau district, Bavaria, Germany. In 1738 tears were seen on a dilapidated wooden figure of the Scourged Saviour. This miracle resulted in a pilgrimage rush to see the sculpture. In 1740 a small chapel was built to house the statue, but it was soon realized that the building would be too small for the number of pilgrims it attracted, and thus Steingaden Abbey decided to commission a separate shrine. Many people who have prayed in front of the statue of Jesus on the altar have claimed that people have been miraculously cured of their diseases, which has made this church even more of a pilgrimage site.
Construction took place between 1745 and 1754, and the interior was decorated in stuccowork in the tradition of the Wessobrunner School. "Everything was done throughout the church to make the supernatural visible. Sculpture and murals combined to unleash the divine in visible form"[1].
A popular myth claims that the Bavarian state had planned to sell or demolish the rococo masterpiece during Secularization at the beginning of the 19th century, and that only protests from the local farmers saved this jewel of rococo architecture from destruction. Available sources however document that the state commission in charge clearly advocated the continuation of Wies as a pilgrimage site, in spite even of economic objections from the Steingaden abbot.[2]
The Wieskirche was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983 and underwent massive restoration in 1985-91.

The Dome of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Prague

2009-08-05T19:24:00.001-04:00

The Dome of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Prague
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The interior of St. Nicholas is finely decorated with statues, paintings, and frescoes by leading artists of the day. Particularly impressive is the dome fresco from Franz Palko, showing The Celebration of the Holy Trinity, filling the 70m high dome.

Kilian Ignaz further expanded the interior by adding a huge dome supported on paired columns and vertical pendentives, extended on three sides by shallow transepts and choir. Part of a large Jesuit complex, the church stood within a large space. Christoph's undulating facade dominated the square on one side, while on the choir end, overlooking the Charles Bridge and the Old Town, Kilian Ignaz constructed a bell tower, asymmetrically, next to the dome. This unique combination creates an urban ensemble in which dome and tower dance about one another as they are experienced from different locations within the city.

The dome was completed in 1751, shortly before Kilian Ignaz died.

A view of Charles Bridge

2009-08-05T06:37:00.001-04:00

A view of Charles Bridge
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

As you can see it's a VERY popular foot bridge. This photo was taken as we walked down a footpath from the Prague Castle.

The Charles Bridge s a famous historical bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the beginning of 15th century. As the only means of crossing the river Vltava (Moldau), the Charles Bridge used to be the most important connection between the Old Town, Prague Castle and adjacent areas until 1841.

The bridge is 516 meters long and nearly 10 meters wide, resting on 16 arches shielded by ice guards. It is protected by three bridge towers, two of them on the Lesser Quarter side and the third one on the Old Town side. The Old Town bridge tower is often considered to be one of the most astonishing civil gothic-style buildings in the world. The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues and statuaries, most of them baroque-style, erected around 1700.

Church of St Nicholas of Mala Strana in Prague

2009-08-04T20:59:00.001-04:00

Church of St Nicholas of Mala Strana in Prague
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Another statue from St Nicholas. Additional history that I found on another website.

St. Nicholas Cathedral (Chram sv. Mikulase) from the Lesser Quarter in Prague has put its name into Czech and European Baroque era and is now Prague number one church of this kind. Its history is linked to Czech re-catholisation process that followed the defeat of the Hussites in the Battle of the White Mountain (1620).

The beginnings of the imposing Cathedral that we see today go back to the year 1283, when the place of worship started its existence as a parish church under the name and protection of St. Nicholas. With the change of authority in the 17th century, Baroque era began also for the Lesser Quarter and its buildings. In 1702 Kryštof Dientzenhofer himself designed the plans for the new Prague Baroque pearl. After his death it was his son, the famous Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, who completed the work and designed unique vault and robust dome that later became one of the Prague’s main landmarks. Another of his masterpieces is St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square, decorated with a superb crystal glass candelabra.

The Cathedral was added two new wings, Chapel of St. Barbara on the left of the entrance and Chapel of St. Anne on the right. The whole construction was finished in 1752 with the 80 meters high bell-tower, modified by Anselmo Lurago. Both the greenish Dome and Bell Tower are now symbols of Prague and most prominent figures of the Lesser Quarter.

Church of St Nicholas of Mala Strana in Prague

2009-08-04T06:20:00.001-04:00

Church of St Nicholas of Mala Strana in Prague
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

There are countless beautiful churches in Prague. This is just one of them.

St Nicholas's was the result of work by an architectural dynasty: Christoph Dientzhofer built the nave, then his son, Kilian Ignaz, oversaw the construction of the dome and choir stall. His brother-in-law, Anselmo Lurago, made the steeple and interior decoration. The dome (1750) and steeple (1755) are the same height at 74 metres and look similar to the steeples of Martinville of Prague, playing hide-and-seek depending on where you look at them from. All the architects' work consisted in reducing the perspectives: concave and convex alternate from the facade in a clever mixture of lines with horizontal splits, while the pilasters, columns and niches hold statues giving vertical perspectives. The interior is in unison: the pillars are oblique, there are many trompe-l'oeils, the nave ceiling is painted ( Apotheosis of St Nicholas), the cuploa has frescos ( Glory of the Holy Trinity), as does the St Cecilia Chapel, not forgetting the statues by Platzer. Everything here shows the art of the Jesuit Counter-Reform with a richness that is breathtaking, and an ostentatious image of spectacular proliferation, that of the omnipresent and omnipotent God.

The view from the Tower

2009-08-03T06:08:00.001-04:00

The view from the Tower
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

There are a 162 steps to the top of the Tower at Český Krumlov Castle. This window was near the top and offered a fantastic view of the town and St Vitus Church

Venus Grotto

2009-08-02T07:46:00.001-04:00

Venus Grotto
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Would you like to go for a ride in a grotto on a boat shaped like a shell?

The building is wholly artificial and was built for the king as an illustration of the First Act of Wagner's "Tannhäuser". Ludwig liked to be rowed over the lake in his golden swan-boat but at the same time he wanted his own blue grotto of Capri. Therefore 24 dynamos had been installed and so already in the time of Ludwig II it was possible to illuminate the grotto in changing colours.

Beinhaus (Bone House) - Hallstatt Austria

2009-08-01T07:52:00.001-04:00

Beinhaus (Bone House) - Hallstatt Austria
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The Beinhaus (bone house) in Hallstatt dates back to twelve century AC. There are over 1200 skulls in the charnel, of them 610 have been painted in flowery designs, they are neatly stacked in rows along with next of kin and have the date of decease written on them. Since the cemetery is so small without the possibility to expand and due to the fact that cremations were in former days forbidden there was just not enough space. The graves were opened 10 - 15 years later and the skulls were removed along sometimes with other bones. The skull was cleaned and exposed to the sun and moon light for weeks until they were bleached ivory white. As one would decorate a grave with flowers the skulls were painted symbolically with a crown of flowers. This tradition began in 1720 AD. The last skull to go into the Beinhaus (Bone house) was in 1995. It is directly beside the cross. The woman died 1983; it was her last request to be stored in the Beinhaus (Bone house)

The many doors of Parliament

2009-07-30T21:56:00.002-04:00

The many doors of Parliament
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

From the archives. I dug up this old favorite from our trip to London. This view is from the backside of the Houses of Parliament - also known as the Palace of Westminster

Mirabell Garden

2009-07-28T06:21:00.001-04:00

Mirabell Garden
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

The world-famous Mirabell Gardens were built along a north-south axis and oriented towards the Hohensalzburg Fortress and the Salzburger Dom cathedral. The original gardens were re-modelled according to plans by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach under the reign of Prince Archbishop Johann Ernst Thun in 1689.

Only some decades later, Franz Anton Danreiter altered them again in 1730, shaping what is now considered to be one of the most beautiful Baroque gardens of Europe. In the 19th century, the Mirabell Gardens were changed once again, several parts were destructed, such as the original Zwergerlgarten (dwarf garden), some arcades facing Mirabell square and the so-called Sala terena in the Northwest of the Mirabell Castle.

The "Grand Parterre" is the oldest part of the Mirabell Gardens that is still preserved. If you enter the parterre from the Markartplatz (where Mozart′s living house and the Doppler birthplace are), you will encounter an inner and outer balustrade that is flanked by copies of the two Borghesian fencer couples from the late 17th century. The inner couple was made by A. Götzinger, the outer one by M. B. Mandl.

Outer defense walls

2009-07-27T06:18:00.001-04:00

Outer defense walls
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Trausnitz Castle is a medieval castle situated in Landshut, Bavaria in Germany. It was the home of the Wittelsbach dynasty, and it served as their ducal residence for Lower Bavaria from 1255–1503, and later as hereditary rulers of the whole of Bavaria. The castle was founded in 1204 by Duke Ludwig I.

It was a short walk to the top of the hill where we found the parking lot!! HA HA HA Loved the intact defensive walls though.

Zugspitze Sunset

2009-07-25T14:52:00.001-04:00

Zugspitze Sunset
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Sun slowing fading on a cool, early evening in the heart of Tirol. The last remnants of snow have nearly melted. The mosquitos will soon take over.

Hover

2009-07-23T22:27:00.002-04:00

Hover
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Standing on top of the world. Wind blowing stronger than you can imagine and these birds are hovering in a standstill.

This was our 2nd time to the top of the Zugspitze and hope to get a 3rd chance.

hov·er (hvr, hv-)
intr.v. hov·ered, hov·er·ing, hov·ers
1. To remain floating, suspended, or fluttering in the air: gulls hovering over the waves.
2. To remain or linger in or near a place: hovering around the speaker's podium.
3. To remain in an uncertain state; waver: hovered between anger and remorse.

Our new friends and neighbors

2009-07-20T18:36:00.001-04:00

Playing with the dragonflies
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Actually - they live with us - so not sure that calling them neighbors is accurate. As you can see from the picture, they are extremely tame .

Dragonfly

2009-07-19T16:46:00.001-04:00

Dragonfly
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

He was huge! We have plenty of blue dragonflies - but this yellow guy really stands out. He wasn't as friendly as the blue ones - much more bashful.

Hydrangea

2009-07-19T13:07:00.001-04:00

Hydrangea
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

I was very fortunate to catch the lighting just right. No edits. A hydrangea from our back garden along the woods.

View of St. Vitus in Český Krumlov

2009-07-19T10:03:00.002-04:00

View of St. Vitus in Český Krumlov
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Taken from the castle at Český Krumlov. I thought this was a great view of the church and surrounding country side.

The construction of the Church of St.Vitus began in 1340 under the guidance of the German master-builder Linhart of Aldenberk, and was completed only after the Hussite wars. In 1439, it was consecrated by Bishop Nicholas of Passau.

The Church of St.Vitus has three naves with a long five-sided presbytery, oblong two-storey sacristies on both sides, with the Chapel of Resurrection and of St. John of Nepomuck and a vestibule on the northern side. In the western part there is a tower that is decorated on the ground floor with tiny Romanesque windows, on the upper floors is octagonal. The top floor of the tower was built in the Pseudo-Gothic style in the years 1893-1894.

St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikuláse) at night.

2009-07-17T08:49:00.001-04:00

Stare Namesti ("Old Town" Square") at night
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

I love Flickr. Somone just helped me identify the name of this church.

St. Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikuláse) is a Baroque church, historical sources mention this place of worship as early as 1273, but it wasn't completed in it's Baroque style until 1735.

We were walking back from dinner on a very chilly evening and I thought this would be an interesting shot. Glad it came out as good as it did. I didn't have a tripod in my pocket.

On top of the world looking down on creation

2009-07-14T06:12:00.001-04:00

View from Salzwelten - Hallstatt Austria
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

or almost.....

It's always a strange feeling to be in the clouds or looking down on them.

View from the Salzwelten - Hallstatt Austria

http://www.salzmanufactur.com/cont/salzwelten/en_salzwelten_hallstatt.aspx

Alpine Meadow

2009-07-13T06:26:00.001-04:00

Alpine Meadow
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

On the path to the Salt Mines near Hallstatt Austria - not sure I've ever seen wildflowers this dense before.

An evening stroll

2009-07-08T21:37:00.001-04:00

An evening stroll
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

A trip to Europe would not be complete without a picture of Jerry walking in a garden.

Here's the original inspirational shot that I took many years ago in France.
www.flickr.com/photos/michaelfowler/97374365/in/set-92794/

Cow's in the Meadow

2009-07-08T06:23:00.001-04:00

Cow's in the Meadow
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

We took the ferry from Dolní Vltavice and when we reach the other side we expected to be in Austria within 1-2 km. What we found instead was a 1 lane road with minimal signage. I think we ended up paralleling the border for about 30 minutes. It was spectacular. It's the favorite part of vacationing in a strange land. The ability to be lost and not worry about it.

Along the way we met a few cows too!

Dolní Vltavice - History of the creation of Lake Lipno

2009-07-07T06:12:00.001-04:00

Dolní Vltavice - History of the creation of Lake Lipno
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Town History :
The first mention about Dolní Vltavice is from 1268. Original settlement was founded by Royal Zvíkov burgrave Hrz who presented it in 1268 to Monastery in Zlatá Koruna. From 1420 pertained as other monastery villages to Krumlov estate. The first mention about church of St. Linhart is from 1355. Church was rebuilt for several times. During construction of Lake Lipno the church with part of village was flooded. There was pillory on the square from the half of 16th century. In 1850 in Dolní Vltavice lived 299 people and in 1970 only 31 inhabitants.
Dolní Vltavice is recreation site on the shore of Lake Lipno.

For pictures of the ferry crossing - click on the picture and visit my flickr site.

Hluboká nad Vltavou - Trophy

2009-07-06T06:31:00.001-04:00

Hluboká nad Vltavou - Trophy
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Very well kept and intact chateau located in Bohemia - Czech Republic. In the late 1800's it underwent major reconstruction - can you name the English Castle it was fashioned after?

Here's a close up of the trophy wall in the court yard.

Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle

2009-07-05T09:23:00.001-04:00

Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Quite the door handle.

The Schwarzenberg Coat-of-arms

The German noble family of Schwarzenbergs was originally called the Lords of Seinsheim and their proper emblem was a shield with silver and blue stripes. After the conquest of Raab, the Turkish fortress, the emblem was enlarged in 1599 by Adolf zu Schwarzenberg with head of a Turk, his eyes being pecked out by a raven. In 1688, there was another modification of the coat-of-arms which was improved by the symbols of other dominions. Three red spikes in a green field symbolise the Schultz dominion which was annexed to the dominion by Ferdinand zu Schwarzenberg after the marriage with Marie Anna von Schultz. A burning twig symbolises the Brandis dominion. In the heart shield of the coat-of-arms there are emblems of the Schwarzenberg dominions - a tower on a black hill and Kleggau -three golden sheaves. Two golden lions occassionally appear as shield-bearers. The prince's crown above the coat-of-arms symbolises the prince's title.

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T08:47:00.001-04:00

Happy 4th of July to all my Flickr Friends
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

What great summer weather we are having. Low to mid 80's with abundant sunshine. Just perfect.

Hope you have a safe and happy holiday.

Home Sweet Home (at least for 1 night)

2009-07-03T07:34:00.001-04:00

Home Sweet Home (at least for 1 night)
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Our home away from home in Český Krumlov. It was actually a pretty big place. Our room was in the attic in the back. Had a nice view of the rooftops. There was only 1 twist, we had to park the car outside of town. Thankfully they let us drive in to drop the bags off. It was about a 1 mile stroll to the parking lot.

Reflecting on Český Krumlov

2009-07-02T06:01:00.001-04:00

Reflecting on Český Krumlov
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

After dinner we walked around the town. The air was very still which made for a perfect photo op.

Dobříš Castle

2009-06-30T22:04:00.001-04:00

Dobříš Castle
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Off the beaten path and definitely NOT a tourist trap. This was a lovely castle that we toured on a rainy afternoon in late May. They have a great on-site restaurant with exceptional food and service. Definitely worth a day trip from Prague.

Where is Harry Potter?

2009-06-30T06:30:00.001-04:00

St Tyn Cathedral at night
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

A view of St Tyn Cathedral at night

Walking the Old Town streets at night was a real treat. The air was cold and fresh (cold for June). It had rained most of the day - but that had cleared and so had most of the tourists.

But we all kept wondering.... where is Harry Potter?

Wieskirche

2009-06-27T10:23:00.001-04:00

Wieskirche
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Another pic from the Wieskirche. I love this pic. This was on my wish list of places to see before I died. (which hopefully isn't soon)

I'll soon post a picture of the outside. It's very unassuming and sits in the middle of a cow pasture.

Morning on the Danube

2009-06-26T06:03:00.001-04:00

Morning on the Danube
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Woke up in our attic hotel room and looked out the window and found a beautiful misty morning. Mornings don't start much better than that.

Night settles in over Hallstatt

2009-06-23T06:03:00.001-04:00

Night settles in over Hallstatt
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

I sat on the porch of our hotel room and watched as night settled into the deep valley. The birds sang, the swans quietly swam by and a late evening boat made the crossing. It was very peaceful and serene.

The Bird House's of Český Krumlov

2009-06-22T20:00:00.001-04:00

The Bird House's of Český Krumlov
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

o.k. look quickly at the photo. What do you see? Bird houses? No silly - they are chimney's. Good disguise though eh?

Schloss Ort in Gmünden Austria

2009-06-21T17:43:00.001-04:00

Schloss Ort in Gmünden Austria
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

This looked best in black and white -especially because of the snow capped peak in the background. Schloss Ort is on an island in he Traunsee. We took the wooden footpath that now connects it to Gmunden. It was a VERY nice walk along the water in the shade of Chestnut trees.

Watching over the Tower at Český Krumlov

2009-06-21T08:47:00.001-04:00

Watching over the Tower at Český Krumlov
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

Český Krumlov is a UNESCO World Hertiage Site. Complete and intact it's like taking a step back in time. Definitely worth at least a 2 day stay. Unfortunately we only stayed about 24 hours. The shop owners seem a little overwhelmed by all the tourists at times. We stayed right in the heart of the old town - which was pricer than I expected, but not nearly as expensive as Prague.

The moods of the Zugspitze

2009-06-18T21:49:00.001-04:00

The moods of the Zugspitze
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

A series of 6 photo's take over a 48 hour period of time. Felt very fortunate to see so many different views. Particularly our spectacular day on top of the world looking down on creation. :)

Understanding

2009-06-17T05:35:00.001-04:00

Understanding
Originally uploaded by MichaelDuquetteFowler

BMW's Museum is very cool. This was a very impromptu snap. Jerry was looking at the full-size clay model of the 135i (same car he bought).