Monthly Archives: January 2011

The Ness Islands

The Ness Islands are situated in Inverness (Scotland) beside the river Ness. 1828, the first bridge was built to the islands and washed away in the flood of 1849. In the years 1853-1854 the bridge was replaced by two suspension bridges designed by William Dredge.

Nowadays, the islands are a popular and picturesque walk and a a natural beauty spot. The area is a home for a number of imported and foreign species of trees and home to wildlife.

Inverness

Inverness is situated in northern Scotland, where the River Ness enters the Inverness/Moray Firth and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland.

The strategic location of Inverness has led to many conflicts in the area. The  settlement was established by the 6th century with the first royal charter being granted by King David I. in the 12th century. Inverness castle was built by Malcolm III. of Scotland after he had razed to the ground the castle in which MacBeth had murdered Duncan I.  In the year 1562 Mary, Queen of Scots, was denied admittance into Inverness Castle by the governor and whom she afterwards caused to be hanged.

Duthie Park, Aberdeen

Duthie Park is situated in Ferryhill, Aberdeen (Scotland), by the banks of the River Dee. The land was gifted to the council by Lady Elizabeth Duthie of Ruthrieston in the year 1881. Her idea was to create a memory for her uncle and her brother.

The winter gardens are the home for the second largest collections of bromeliads and of giant cacti respectively in Great Britain.

Beach Details, Aberdeen

Ebb and Flow, Aberdeen

All photos were taken during sunrise and ebb at Aberdeen beach.

Early Morning, Aberdeen

Aberdeen Beach is famous for its golden sand and its long curved length between the harbour and the River Don’s mouth and is popular with walkers, surfers and windsurfers.

Externsteine, Teutoburg Forest

The Externsteine are a distinctive rock formation located in North Rhine Westphalia (Germany) in the Southern part of the Teutoburg Forest. The formation is a tor consisting of several tall, narrow columns of rock which rise abruptly from the surrounding wooded hills and are a natural outcropping of five sandstone pillars. All pillars have been modified and decorated by humans over the centuries and were a centre of religious activity for the Teutonic peoples and their predecessors prior to the arrival of Christianity in northern Europe. At the top of the tallest stone is a chamber, formerly used for sacrifices and the little decoration remains apart from one wall with a circular hole cut into it. Early studies have shown that this is some form of calendar. On the exact day each year when summer turns to winter, the sun shines exactly onto this hole.

Today, the Externsteine are one of the most frequently visited nature reserves in Westphalia.

Hermannsdenkmal, Germany

The Hermannsdenkmal (“Herman the German”, “Hermann monument” engl.) is a monument (53.46 m tall) located in North Rhine Westphalia (Germany) in the Southern part of the Teutoburg Forest and stands on the densely forested and 386 m tall Teutberg. The construction was started in 1841 and finished 1875 with the help of substantial funds from the state of Prussia. The monument is decorated with the Cherusci war chief Hermann (“Arminius” latin) and presents the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in which the Germanic tribes a decisive victory in 9 AD over three Roman legions under Varus.

Hermann’s sword has the following inscription:
Deutsche Einigkeit, meine Stärke – meine Stärke, Deutschlands Macht.

German unity (is) my strength – my strength (is) Germany’s might.

The statue is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany with over 130,000 visitors a year and statue’s base may be climbed up and affording wide landscape views.

St. Johannis Kirche (St. John’s Church), Herford

Herford is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), located near the Teutoburg Forest. The town was founded in 789 and was a member of the Hanseatic League in late medieval times.

All photos were taken in the St. John’s Church (St. Johannis/Neustädter Kirche), a late Gothic hall church from 1340.

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