Went Window Shopping in Crystal World in Wattens

Hello folks! Another week is starting again. We are already in the middle of September and it seems that Christmas is approaching near. I am not really in a hurry for the coming yuletide season. How about you? I remembered a friend's daughter who asked her how many days more before Christmas? Hmmm..this also means that she has to get slowly ready for Christmas presents to her daughter. yay!

Awhile ago, I was browsing some photo albums in my laptop. I found some photos taken during my trip with a friend in Wattens, Austria last year. We actually had a short stop-over at the Swarovski Kristallwelten museum or Swarovski Crysral World museum. I was really amazed when we went inside the museum. The museum features the history of crystal manufacturing, the life of Daniel Swarovski and a large collection of crystals including works by notable artists like Brian Eno and Niki de Saint Phalle.

Franz Kafka Museum in Prague, Czech Republic

We had the chance to visit the Kafka Museum in Prague, Czech Republic during our trip last September 2008. The picture you see below was taken in the entrance to the Franz Kafka museum. This museum was dedicated to his work in this city. Franz Kafka who was born in July 3, 1883 was one of the major fiction writers of the 20th century. He is most famous with his works such as The Trial and "The Metamorphosis".

Just type his name on any search engine and for sure you will find a lot of interesting information about this writer. Here is my photo for you today! have fun viewing!

A Museum Somewhere in Paris, France

I am trying to read what is written on that shield. I guess, it says "Le Mont Athos et l'Empire byzantin". Am I right guys? This was taken somewhere in Paris, France. I guess somewhere near Louvre Museum. It is said that this museum in Paris, France houses more than 200 works of Byzantine art from the 9th century to the 18th century which originated in the monasteries of Mount Athos. Do you know where Mt. Athos is.. please continue reading below..I also wish to go inside this museum in my next visit to Paris. The question is when?

we were passing by at this museum in Paris, France during our trip last March 2009. I immediately clicked my camera for some photos.

Mount Athos (Greek: Όρος Άθως, Oros Athos) is a mountain on the peninsula of the same name in Macedonia, of northern Greece, called in Greek Agion Oros (Άγιον Όρος, transliterated often as Hagion Oros), or in English, "Holy Mountain". In Classical times, the peninsula was called Aktí (Ακτή) (sometimes Acte or Akte). Politically it is known in Greece as the Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain. This World Heritage Site is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

The peninsula, the easternmost "leg" of the larger Chalcidice peninsula, protrudes into the Aegean Sea for some 60 kilometres (37 mi) at a width between 7 to 12 km and covers an area of 335.637 square kilometres (129.59 sq mi), with the actual Mount Athos and its steep, densely forested slopes reaching up to 2,033 metres (6,670 ft). The seas around the end of the peninsula can be dangerous.

Though land-linked, it is accessible only by boat. The number of visitors is restricted and all are required to get a special entrance permit before entering Mount Athos. Only males are allowed entrance into Mount Athos, which is called "Garden of the Virgin" by monks, and Orthodox Christians take precedence in the permit issuance procedure. Only males over the age of 18 who are members of the Eastern Orthodox Church are allowed to live on Athos. There are religious guards, who are not monks, that assist the monks, and any other people not monks are required to live in the peninsula's capital, Karyes. The 2001 Greek national census counted a population of 2,262 inhabitants. continue reading here.

My Euro Travel in Falkenhof Schloss Rosenburg in Bavaria, Germany

This should be posted last night but it seems that blogger is having an error everytime I press post..Here it is now! The Falkenhof Schloss Rosenburg is located on hill in the town of Riedenburg in the state of Bavaria, Germany. If I have to translate the German word Falkenhof, it came from two words Falken and Hof. The first word means means Falcon or hawk and the latter means yard or farm. Schloss is a German word which means Palace. This palace was built around 1200 and was the home of the counts and earls of this place. It is said that the counts and earls of this palace before love hunting and they used birds of prey for hunting. As we went to this castle last August 1, 2009 we witnessed a bird show and that was really amazing. Now this castle has become a bird sanctuary and became a Hunting Museum. I hope to share more stories and information in my Explore Germany site.

that's me striking a pose in the castle's courtyard.

What You Can See Inside Louvre Museum in Paris, France

I received a comment from Regina, a fellow blogger asking me to post pictures inside the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. First of all, an apology to her because I forgot to post some pictures from Louvre last week. I was so busy with a lot of things last week including short trips somewhere. To Regina from Philippines, this post is especially for you..have fun viewing!

I love these religious paintings inside Louvre museum! great work of art indeed!

this is still not the original Mona Lisa painting,,this is only the entrance going there..I'll share some photos of Mona Lisa next time.

what are these men really doing here!..naked and looking down there! guess what they are doing?

The Musée du Louvre or officially the Grand Louvre — in English, the Louvre Museum or Great Louvre, or more simply the Louvre — is an historic monument in Paris and the national museum of France. It is a central landmark of the city, located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (neighbourhood). It's the most visited museum in the world. Nearly 35,000 objects from the 6th century BC to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet).

The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) which began as a fortress built in the late 12th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are still visible. The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace. In 1672, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection, including, from 1692, a collection of antique sculpture. In 1692, the building was occupied by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, which in 1699 held the first of a series of salons. The Académie remained at the Louvre for 100 years. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum, to display the nation's masterpieces.

The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being confiscated church and royal property. Because of structural problems with the building, the museum was closed in 1796 until 1801. The size of the collection increased under Napoleon when the museum was renamed the Musée Napoléon. After his defeat at Waterloo, many works seized by Napoleon's armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through donations and gifts since the Third Republic, except during the two World Wars. As of 2008, the collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; and Prints and Drawings. source: wikipedia

Cologne, Germany

photo by: EuroangelEvangelischer Kirchentag- Cologne,Germany last June 2007...background is the Roman-German Museum. This city has a lot of story to tell!! Cologne is also famous for its Cathedral which is also very beautiful!! I simply love history!!