typical Swiss ornamental fountain in courtyard of Basel, Switzerland
courtyard and cloister of former monastery in Basel, Switzerland
another ornamental fountain in Basel
Ursula Reif and Johnny at in cloister of main cathedral in Basel, Switzerland
view from above of square below in Basel, Switzerland
modern artwork in downtown Basel
Town Hall of Basel, Switzerland
old street leading up to old town gate (Spalentor) in Basel
Mama swan and baby swans in the Rhine River, as we saw from our bike ride along the Rhine River from Efringen, Germany to Basel, Switzerland
my friends Erich and Ursula Reif, at whose house I lived for five days in Efringen during the wedding of my German doctoral student Ralph Buehler
Johnny with Erich and Ursula Reif just after the wedding of Ralph Buehler in Efringen
Nora and Ralph just after the wedding, on a horse-drawn coach
Nora and Ralph next to coach, with drivers in traditional regional costume
Nora and Ralph cutting one of the TWENTY wedding cakes baked by neighbors and friends for their wedding. I tried out FIVE different cakes! All delicious!
Nora and her wonderful, fantastic grandmother from Minneapolis
Ralph with his father, sister, and me
Johnny with Nora's grandmother and Ralph's parents Georg and Lisel
Johnny with Ralph's father Georg and his next-door neighbor Guenther
Johnny with Guenther and his wife Gabi and their son in Efringen-Kirchen
Johnny surrounded by gorgeous women: Ursula Reif, Liesel Buehler, Gabi, and Nora
Fachwerk houses in Istein, town just next to Efringen, where the wedding was
another Fachwerk house "Erker" bay window in Istein
Erich and Ursula Reif at our breakfast table; they are the nicest people in the world!!
Martinstor (St. Martin Gate) in Freiburg, Germany
Schabentor (Swabian Gate) in Freiburg, Germany
side view of the magnificent Gothic cathedral in Freiburg, Germany (completed in 15th Century!)
front view of main bell tower of the cathedral in Freiburg, considered the most beautiful bell tower in all of Christendom
town hall of Freiburg, Germany
typical bay window in Freiburg
back view of old bank building in Freiburg; note the circular staircase
Martinstor and the main street of Freiburg (Kaiser Joseph Strasse) with tram and digital display of real-time information on arrivals and departures of trams (streetcars)
my wonderful friends Stefan and Bianka Gumbert (and their three daughters) in Eichstetten, a town about half an hour from Freiburg, at the edge of the Kaiserstuhl winegrowing area, the warmest and sunniest area in all of Germany
typical vineyards in Eichstetten am Kaiserstuhl
old house in Colmar, Elsace in France, about half an hour from Freiburg
several Fachwerk houses in Colmar, Elsace in France, about half an hour from Freiburg
old mercantile exchange in Colmar, France
scenic houses on canal in Colmar, France
cloister of 800 year old monastery in Colmar, France
Madonna and child on portal of cathedral of Colmar, France
overall panoramic view of Schwaebisch Hall, Germany, about an hour from Stuttgart
Johnny with friends Leo and Thomas in Schwaebisch Hall
Johnny with friends Leo and Bele in Schwaebisch Hall
Fachwerk house in Schwaebisch Hall, Germany
more Fachwerk houses in Schwaebisch Hall
another view of Schwaebisch Hall
St. Lawrence Church in Nuremburg, Germany; I climbed to the top of the left tower on one evening during a special festival called Blaue Nacht, or Blue Night, when everything remains open all night long.
Johnny ringing the huge bell of the St. Lawrence Church at the top of the bell tower
view of the main fortress (Burg) of Nuremberg, Germany from the top of the St. Lawrence Church, taken during the Blaue Nacht, when I climbed the tower
Leo and Bela with a scupture in Nuremberg
Johnny and friend Thomas Wirkner with same sculpture
Johnny and Thomas in Zirndorf, a suburb of Nuremberg, with a famous brewery
view of old church in Zirndorf
with friends Gisi and Gerald Hehn and their two sons Maxi and Markus on a long bike ride along the old Ludwigs Kanal near Nuremberg, Germany
friend Gerald Hehn grilling three different kinds of Wurst plus pork steaks for the special Nuremberg dinner he and his wife Gisi prepared for me and our mutual friends
our friend Erich Reuss (a Lower Franconian!), who was also at the Nuremberg dinner
my friends Thomas and Manuela Wirkner, who were also at the dinner at Gisi and Gerald's in Nuremberg
Johnny with Gisi and Gerald
Johnny with Thomas, Gisi, Erich, and Manuela
Fachwerk houses on our tour of Franconia, just north of Nuremberg (with Thomas and Manuela)
Fachwerk houses on our tour of Franconia, just north of Nuremberg (with Thomas and Manuela); town hall is just to the right
town square in Koenigsberg in Franconia, about an hour north of Nuremberg
Fachwerk water castle (castle surrounded by water filled moats for protection from attack), in northern Franconia near Nuremberg
Fachwerk houses on our tour of Franconia, just north of Nuremberg (with Thomas and Manuela), here in Ummenstadt
Fachwerk houses on our tour of Franconia, just north of Nuremberg (with Thomas and Manuela), here in Ummenstadt, where we had dinner late in the evening
Johnny, Manuela and Thomas enjoying dinner and the view of Fachwerk houses all around the main square in Ummenstadt on the Franconian Fachwerk Route
just before sunset in Ummenstadt
Weisser Turm (White Tower) in Nuremberg (site of U-bahn Station right in its basement!)
oldest Fachwerk house in Nuremberg
Fachwerk in Nuremberg, including house of the artist Albrecht Duerer on right
Schoener Brunnen ("beautiful fountain") and towers of the St. Sebaldus Church in Nuemberg
very strange but wonderful ornamental fountain in Nuremberg, called the Fountain of Virtue, but dubbed by some as the bosom fountain due to origin of water; look closely!
Tugend Brunnen (fountain of virtue) and the House of Nassau in Nuremberg
with Czech friends Hana Wiechers and Helena Stalmachova (mother of Hana) in Limburgerhof, Germany
lunch with friend Matthias Brodrueck in Burg Landeck near Landau, Germany withi view overlooking endless vineyards in the Pfalz region
with friend Matthias Brodrueck in Burg Landeck near Landau, Germany, view of vineyards in background
fachwerk interior courtyard with balconies in Landau, Germany
Fachwerk in Idstein, near Frankfurt, Germany
Johnny and Matthias in Idstein
gorgeous Fachwerk in Idstein, Germany
gorgeous Fachwerk in Limburg, Germany, viewed on tour with Matthias Brodrueck
St. George Cathedral in Limburg, Germany, about 1400 years old.
cog railway up to top of Nero Mountain in Wiesbaden, Germany
Russian Orthodox chapel at top of Nero Mountain in Wiesbaden
Matthias and Johnny trying to balance three wine glasses full of wine in Eltville along the Rhine River in Germany
Matthias and Andrea on their balcony overlooking the valley near Frankfurt, Germany
stork in its nest near Wiesbaden, in the largest natural perserve for storks in all of Europe, with about 60 or so such stork nests, most with 4 or 5 young storks
Kloster Eberbach (Cistercian Monastery) near the Rhine River in Germany, one of the oldest monasteries in Germany, about 1,400 years old
church of Kloster Eberbach (Cistercian Monastery) near the Rhine River in Germany, one of the oldest monasteries in Germany, about 1,400 years old
cloister of Kloster Eberbach (Cistercian Monastery) near the Rhine River in Germany, one of the oldest monasteries in Germany, about 1,400 years old
unique dormitorium (sleeping quarters of monks) of Kloster Eberbach (Cistercian Monastery) with huge vaulted ceilings and gothic architecture
interior courtyard and cloiser of Kloster Eberbach (Cistercian Monastery) near the Rhine River in Germany, one of the oldest monasteries in Germany, about 1,400 years old
Johnny in gothic vaulted dormitorium of Kloster Eberbach
Andrea, Greta and Matthias Brodrueck in dormitorium of Kloster Eberbach
wine cellar of Kloster Eberbach, with candle on top of each wine barrel to indicate presence of oxygen in the air of the cellar
Andrea, Johnny, and Greta in vineyard overlooking Rhine River
castle on hillside along Rhine River on Johnny's train ride along the Rhine from Frankfurt to Muenster (reflective glare due to window in train)
Most famous view on Rheingau Valley (of Lorleley Cliffs) from train on Johnny's trip along the Rhine from Frankfurt to Muenster. According to legend, naked mermaids sat on the rocks of the cliff and lured sailors to shore, causing innumerable boat wrecks!
View FROM the Loreley Cliffs, taken from by my friend Joerg Pigorsch, from a beer garden on top of the cliffs, overlooking the Rhine below.
old and famous town hall of Muenster, Germany, where Treaty of Westfalia was signed in 1648, ending the 30 Years War between the Protestants and Catholics in Europe
car-free main street of Muenster, Germany, with pedestrian arcades along each side of the street; I lived for almost three years in Muenster as visiting professor at the Univ of Muenster (1984-1986, 1996)
car-free main street of Muenster, Germany, with pedestrian arcades along each side of the street; 40% of all trips in Muenster are by bike, and it is the bicycling capital of Germany
view of tower of Lamberti Church at end of the main street of Muenster
Close-up of the church tower of the Lamberti Church, with the three iron cages that were used to hold the remains of polygamist Protestants tortured by the Catholics in 14th Century after they retook the City of Muenster from the Protestant Anabaptists, who had captured the city and forced all men to have many wives. The leader Jan van Leiden had 24 wives!!
photo of front portal of the Lamberti Church at the end of the main street of Muenster, taken by my friend Joerg Pigorsch. Immediately to the left of the door is St. John, whose face supposed was based on Friedrich Schiller, and to the right is St. Paul, whose appearance was based on Goethe, both very famous German poets.
main cathedral of Muenster, St. Paul Cathedral, and the Cathedral Square, as well as Ueberwasser Church in the background
Madonna and Christ Child at the portal of the Ueberwasser Church in Muenster
gravestone of my very dear friend Erika Stork in Muenster, who lived to be over 100 years old, and is buried in the Zentral Friedhof
special Crucifix in the St. Paul Cathedral at the altar of the merciful deaths
Ueberwasser Church in Muenster, just next to main cathedral
typical house on main street of Muenster, Germany, where I lived for almost three years (1984-19986, 1996)
typical house on main street of Muenster, Germany
Kiepenkerl statue in Muenster, the traveling salesman of the middle ages in the region, carrying his goods in a huge basket on his back
6km long bicycling expressway in Muenster that encircles the entire old city area. About 40% of all trips in Muenster are by bike!!! More than by car!! And more women cycle than men!
6km long bicycling expressway in Muenster that encircles the entire old city area. About 40% of all trips in Muenster are by bike!!! More than by car!!
eating dinner with friends Rita and Joerg in Muenster
with Joerg near the near the end of a very long bike trip through the Rieselfelder nature preserve north of Muenster
with Rita on a bike tour through the Rieselfelder nature preserve just north of Muenster
Asparagus stand at the huge weekly market in Muenster, and it was high season for asparagus during my visit there, so LOTS of asparagus, but mostly the white variety.
Johnny standing in front of the asparagus stand (sign says "Fresh Asparagus from Muensterland and Lower Rhine")
view of market stands with main cathedral in background in Muenster
Endless selection of superb breads at the Muenster weekly market. This is one of about ten different bread stands, each with a huge selection of breads
vegetable stand
more asparagus!
fruits at the Muenster market
more vegetables at Muenster market
fresh flowers at the Muenster market, with about 30 flower stands in all
another view of the market overall with cathedral towers in background
Rita and Joerg with Fachwerk farm house in background
Fachwerk houses in Osnabruck, a town about 45 minutes north of Muenster, night view
Erbdrostenhof palace in downtown Muenster
Main bike parking facility at train station in Muenster, with places for 4,000 bikes and expansion planned to accommodate 2,000 more bikes.
My friend and colleague Stefan Boehme, director of bike planning and policy for the city of Muenster, where 40% of all trips are by bike.
St. John the Baptist Church in Gimbte, near Muenster, where my friends Frauke and Christoph were married
Fachwerk in Tecklenburg, north of Muenster
typical old windmill near Muenster
Maibaum, or Mai Tree, set up in virtually ever town square in Germany during the month of May, with various organizations in each city hanging up their coats of arms on the May Tree.
bucolic view from my window of the bedroom where I was sleeping for several days when visiting my friends Frauke and Christoph in Greven, Germany, near Muenster
Views taken during a bike tour of the area around Greven, where Frauke and Christoph live, showing lots of agricultural activities, even though only 15 minutes from downtown Muenster
Poppy flowers and field of barley: Views taken during a bike tour of the area around Greven, where Frauke and Christoph live, showing lots of agricultural activities, even though only 15 minutes from downtown Muenster
Johnny with Ems River in background, and rows of poplar trees
More views from bike tour, note the Kornblumen, blue flowers that grown among the wheat, rye, and barley
dark view of inside of typical Muenster restaurant, very gemuetlich, with huge old, open fireplace, candles, and typical northern German food
typical wheat and corn fields in Muensterland, with St. John the Baptist Church in Gimbte in background, about 5km from Greven
typical bike path in Muensterland, with rows of birch trees on both sides
My friends Frauke and Christoph with their families visiting Frauke's parents in Reckenfeld near Greven
Frauke and Christoph with Johnny at dinner in Greven
typical view of Muensterland, right next to Frauke and Christoph's house in Greven
typical bike lane in Muensterland, with almost no motor vehicle traffic at all, and perfect for cycling, with the two rows of birch trees for shade
typical view of bikes, gabled houses, and canals in Amsterdam; bikes usually parked to railings and posts such as here
typical view of bikes, cyclists, gabled houses, and canals in Amsterdam
eccentric musician who paddles his boat through the Amsterdam canals and plays his trumpet and tells jokes!
view from my hotel room window in Amsterdam, only a block away from the main museums, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum
view taken from a canal boat ride I took through the Amsterdam canals
Children in Amsterdam ride both in front and back of bike with mother cycling: no hemets, lots of bags to carry, and no worries!!
Kids almost always ride up front with parents, no helmets worn at all by the Dutch cyclists, not even by kids. Typical view of bikes, cyclists, gabled houses, and canals in Amsterdam
beautiful bike bridge in Amsterdam
cyclist passing by famous Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
to the right of the canal is a pissoir, a facility that men can use to pee all over Amsterdam, very convenient, and I used them many times on my walks and bike rides. Right next to canal and street. Both scenic and convenient!
Statues of Rembrandt and the figures from his most famous painting, The Night Watch, which is in the Rijksmuseum
main towers of Central Train Station in Amsterdam
with cycling colleague Ria Hilshorst, the director of cycling policies and programs for the City of Amsterdam, who gave me an afternoon bike tour of Amsterdam
Johnny with Ria Hilshorst and Loek Hesemans, two cycling colleagues in Amsterdam. We took a long bike tour through Amsterdam the afternoon before I returned to the NJ.
Johnny with Loek Hesemans on the bike tour
Johnny with Ria Hilshorst on another break during the bike tour
old church tower in old town of Amsterdam
Alte Waage house in Amsterdam, where weights and measures were controlled in middle ages to ensure fair business practices
another old church tower, mirrored in a canal
Old Munt tower in central Amsterdam, the last photo I took before flying back to NJ
