In 1550, Zachariáš of Hradec assumed authority over several Czech towns and villages. He was 24 years old. Telč, his inheritance’s leading town, had suffered a fire 20 years earlier. Zachariáš visited Italy in 1551 and brought the renaissance home to Telč. New projects were commissioned that looked to improve the towns appearance and function.…
Category: TRAVEL
Trip To Austria: St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Our visit to St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna was the first time we experienced the interior of a European Cathedral. We were awestruck. It is hard to describe the magnitude of everything I sensed, including sacredness, the expression of culture, and weight of history. We have visited others since, and the experience is the same.…
Trip To Ireland: Ruins
One of the more fascinating things we noticed on our trip to Ireland was the many stone ruins. Everything from castles and churches to farm houses and barns. We visited several preserved/ restored structures but we did not have an opportunity to explore any of the ruins. These are ten of the ones I was…
Ramsdell House: Ceredo, West Virginia
Back in May, Mrs. Present and I traveled to nearby Ceredo, WV for a sneak peek of the recently restored Ramsdell House. Many of the objects displayed were found in the home. Please enjoy the pictures. I have a bit of history concerning Z.D. Ramsdell, his house, and the town of Ceredo at the end…
The New Tygart Flyer
A few weeks ago, Mrs. Present and I needed a short get-away. Central Appalachia has experienced a bit of heat this summer, so we wanted to do something relaxing. Elkins, WV is just two-and-a-half hours away and is home to the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. Part of the Mountain Rails family of scenic railroads,…
Trip To Ireland: Galway & Moher
Trip To Ireland: Dublin
We had so much fun visiting Europe last year that we decided to book another Globus tour this year. This time we booked the Irish Escape, a 7-day tour of the Republic of Ireland that begins and ends in Dublin. Globus Escapes are a great introductory tour that visits many of the highlights associated with…
Trip To Austria: Vienna
It was very cold when we visited Vienna. However, we had an excellent time. While we enjoyed everything about the trip, these are pictures from three things we found special.
Trip To Austria: Belvedere Museum, Vienna
Shortly after leading an Austrian Army to a remarkable victory over the Turks at Zenta in 1697, Prince Eugene of Savoy purchased a large plot of land outside Vienna. Eugene plan for the property included palaces and gardens. Johann Lukas Hildebrandt was selected as the project’s lead architect. Setting on a slope, the property rises…
Trip To Hungary: Budapest Pictures
Heroes’ Square: Statues and memorials tell the history of the Hungarian nation. At the base of the central column are the Seven Chieftains that lead the Magyar people to what is now Hungary. On top column the Archangel Gabriel holds the Hungarian Crown. In front of the central column is a monument to all heroes…
History Present 