Twelve Mile Circle – An Appreciation of Unusual Places

Category: International

  • Vianden Castle

    Luxembourg (August 1999) A twisted route led through hills and valleys in northern Luxembourg, the last Grand Duchy. We drove through Clervaux and Vianden, and thick stands of forest. It was a fun drive with plenty of scenery. We shared the road with mobs of motorcyclists and bicyclists that were also out to enjoy the…

  • Icelandic Adventures

    Iceland (September 1999) For a country as small as Iceland, the capital city of Reykjavík and its suburbs felt much larger than one would expect. Hallgrímskirkja, a tall church sitting atop a hill, dominated the otherwise low-slung skyline. Corrugated iron protected historic homes near the harbor from cold rain and steady wind. Tjörnin (literally “the…

  • Crossing Rhineland-Palatinate

    Germany (August 1999) Many years ago we got an opportunity to drive from Belgium to Luxembourg to Germany. The Germany portion cut through the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, from the Luxembourg border to the Rhine River. The Marktplatz at Bernkastel-Kues We drove up from Trier along the spectacular Moselweinstraße (Mosel River wine road). The route crossed…

  • Historic Cantillon Brewery and Museum

    Brussels, Belgium (November 2003) Deep in the heart of Brussels, not far from the Grand’ Place, sits a small throwback to a simpler time. In ages past, people maintained a more intimate connection with the food and beverages they consumed. The Cantillon Brewery preserves this aesthetic. It serves a working museum (map) open for guided…

  • Belgian Brewery Coasters and Glasses

    Anyone who appreciates good beer understands Belgium’s reputation for excellent brewing. As well, anyone who know me likely realizes my feelings towards the brewing arts. The ability to sample a large contingent of Belgian beers conveniently and inexpensively was definitely a bonus to our several visits. Each beer has its own distinctive glass and anyone…

  • Belgium (November 2003)

    Monde Sauvage, Aywaille Our visit to Belgium this time was quite a bit different than any of our previous trips. We needed to focus on keeping a 2-year-old entertained so our usual options would not work. Our little guy loves animals so visiting Monde Sauvage [roughly translated: “Wild World”] seemed a natural choice (map). His…

  • Belgium (September 1998)

    Grand’ Place, Brussels The Grand’ Place serves as the center of Brussels (map). Museums, Guild Houses and restaurants line the sides of the city square. These beautiful old buildings, decorated with elaborate stonework and gold leaf provide a spectacular visual setting. Guild Houses served as the headquarters and meeting places for various groups of craftsmen…

  • Butte du Lion (“Lion’s Mound”)

    Waterloo Battlefield, Braine-l’Alleud, Walloon Brabant, Belgium (1993, 1998) A great battle raged on June 18, 1815 just south of Brussels, Belgium near Braine-l’Alleud and Waterloo (map). The Duke of Wellington commanding allied troops from several nations defeated Napoleon Bonaparte and his fearsome army after a punishing eight-hour conflict. Historians recognize this as one of the…

  • Sydney Skyline

    As Viewed from the Taronga Zoo (October 1997) After twenty hours of flight from the east coast of the United States, we reached Australia, and arrived in Sydney with fourteen hours of jet lag to make up. We took this photograph from the north side of Port Jackson at the Taronga Zoo Sydney. From that…

  • Along Sydney Harbour

    Within the Royal Botanic Garden (October 1997) My wife sat on a wall along Farm Cove in the Royal Botanic Garden on a beautiful Spring day (map). The Sydney central business district formed a great backdrop behind her. Weather reports from home told of an unusually cold and rainy Autumn day back in the States…